Regina and Area Sexual Assault Centre (Kids on the Block: Safety, Diversity, and Sexual Abuse Prevention Early Education)

Organization Name: Regina and Area Sexual Assault Centre
Opportunity Title: Kids on the Block: Safety, Diversity, and Sexual Abuse Prevention Early Education
Category: Children & Youth
Commitment: Ongoing Opportunity (> 1 year)
Start Date: August 22, 2022
End Date: July 1, 2099

Email: chantelle.rsac@sasktel.net
Website: http://www.reginasexualassaultcentre.ca
Details:

• Background/police check required
• Appropriate for volunteers aged between 18 and 55
• Appropriate for volunteers aged 55 and over
• Training or orientation required

Opportunity Description:

The Regina and Area Sexual Assault Centre (RSAC) is reigniting the Kids on the Block (KOTB) program that was interrupted by the pandemic!

KOTB is an international interactive puppet-based program that educates children on a number of topics related to personal safety and diversity. KOTB Regina was established in 2014 by RSAC because education and skills development in the early years are key factors in the prevention of abuse, sexual assault, and interpersonal violence. Our program is delivered at no cost to schools and community-based organizations. The year before the pandemic, we delivered presentations to over 5,000 kids!

Your role as a volunteer for KOTB is to make our puppet characters come alive! You will co-present short, scripted plays with another volunteer and the KOTB facilitator, who is a staff member of RSAC. Kids love to interact with the puppets (even older kids!), so you will get some questions, high fives, and handshakes from your audience. Scripts and conversations are developmentally appropriate and often humorous! Our KOTB facilitator handles any of the tough questions, so your role is simply to bring an engaging, enjoyable and supportive presence to the presentations. This opportunity would run throughout the school year, with training starting in August 2022, and your time involvement would vary based on the number of classes that request a presentation.

Requirements: 

• Flexible and reliable
• Some knowledge on abuse and interpersonal violence
• Approximately 2 hours a week availability on average (varying based on school bookings)
• Provision of a vulnerable sector criminal record check
• Ability to stand, extend your arms, manipulate your hand and hold up a 3-4 lb puppet for 2-3 minutes at a time
• Previous puppeteering and/or acting/performing skills considered an asset, but not a necessity
• Experience working with children considered an asset, but not a necessity

Benefits:

• A welcoming team environment
• Free full day certified training course on supporting survivors of sexualized violence
• Volunteer training on puppeteering skills and FAQs specifically on child sexual abuse
• Access to any group trainings RSAC offers for volunteers and staff
• Fulfilling experience working with children
• By request, mileage can be reimbursed @ .54/km from your home to the school (return trip)