By Kyra Gillespie
Using art as their medium, kids across Cardinia have shared their solutions to ending family violence.
As part of a Together We Can project, students from four schools in the region came up with their own poster designs to be displayed on buses across Casey and Cardinia.
The participating schools were Cardinia Primary School, Minaret College, St Patrick’s Primary School and St. Clare’s Primary School.
Nine of the 46 designs made by students have been selected for the buses, and are currently on display at the Cardinia Cultural Centre.
Visiting the display on Wednesday 1 August, the students got to share their insights on the topic.
“I am honoured to be part of this competition,” Year 5 St Clare’s student Maddie said.
“Our drawings will help contribute to a world where gender equality is a reality.
“Through these pictures people will hear our voices; they might be just a whisper now, but maybe in 10 years they will be a loud shout.
“We can change what happens in this world.”
The young students came up with a range of creative and colourful creations: one by Year 6 St Clare’s student Talia depicts a string of people of all races holding hands with the words ‘We are all people, we are all loved, we are all equal.’ Grade 6 student Gian, who has a passion for art, drew a visceral picture of a fist with a line through it, reading ‘Stop the silence on domestic violence.’ Another by Grade 6 St Patrick’s student Kiarra depicts a colourful picture of three people standing on top of the earth holding hands which says ‘We all belong.
“This world is big enough for everyone,” Kiarra said.
All the winning young artists are girls, which was truly impressive to see.
“These are the imaginations of their world through their drawings,” project co-ordinator Shoheli Sunjida said.
“The words they have chosen made us speechless; they made it clear that we all belong to this world and we are one and stronger when we are many and together.”
Former Cardinia Shire councillor David Young spoke about the positive generational shift in attitudes towards violence against women.
“Years ago we didn’t talk about these things. I hope this project will empower the next generation to speak up,” David said.
The buses displaying the winning posters will circulate in the coming months.
