Student activists under the guidance of  Mr. Jim Taylor, Director of Choirs, created an elective “Hands and Words Are Not For Hurting Project Class” promoting widespread participation in the Purple Hands Pledge to end abuse and violence in their homes, school, community and internationally.

The Hands Project’s most recent international partnership was formed with the Family and Marriage Society of South Africa (FAMSA) and their Director, Marietha Oelofse.  FAMSA created a program entitled “Violence Awareness Program” to work with children in their schools as a tool to be used by educational trainers to seriously address the issues which help to perpetuate violence in the home and society.  They found the Hands Project on the internet and thought “it was a stunning idea”!  In just one short year a strong alliance has begun.

Funding was not possible for FAMSA to purchase Hands Project materials.  The Hands Project Director asked McNary High School if they would be willing to raise money to send “Hands” materials to the participating schools in South Africa. Their answer was a resounding YES!

Students in the Hands Project Class and Fine Arts Department performed a benefit concert entitled “A Night of Hope” raising $1500.00.  Their goal was achieved!  Official Hands Project materials were shipped to over 25 schools who have implemented the Purple Hands Pledge.   The schools are located in city of Potchefstroom in the Northwest Provence of South Africa.  McNary High School students efforts reached over 4000 students that impacted the children’s lives with amazing results according to FAMSA Director.  She said, “I am amazed  at the fact that a school community would go to the trouble to do a fundraising to help us towards our project.”

The McNary students are overjoyed with the difference they have made in this endeavor!

THANK YOU!

(Pledge Banner shown above in combination English and South Africa’s native language Afrikaan).

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Klamath CHILD ABUSE PREVENTION (CAP) is an action group made up of a dozen local State, County, and Federal agencies along with private individuals to promote awareness and prevention of child abuse and neglect in Klamath County, Oregon.

Children from the Klamath KID Center mark the final day of April's Child Abuse Prevention Month by leading the participants in the Hands and Words Are Not For Hurting Pledge at the 'Creating Hope for Our Community' rally outside the Klamath County Government Center.

CAP learned about the Hands Project in the fall of 2007 and felt that it was an excellent program that they would like to bring to their area and support as a year-round project.  Michael Kaibel, Prevention Coordinator, Klamath CHILD ABUSE PREVENTION (CAP) demonstrates the “Power of One” to encourage and inspire a community to unite in this simple yet powerful Pledge to end abuse and violence wherever it exists….

Since September 2008 Klamath CHILD ABUSE PREVENTION (CAP) has gained support and endorsements for the Hands & Words Are Not For Hurting Project® and their film Power of One from over 65 agencies, organizations, public officials, school administrators, businesses, etc.

Since September 2008 Klamath CHILD ABUSE PREVENTION (CAP) has gained support and endorsements for the film Power of One and the HANDS PROJECT from the following agencies and public officials:
1.    City of Klamath Falls Mayor Todd Kellstrom
2.    Klamath Falls City Council Betty Dickson
3.    Klamath County Chamber of Commerce
4.    Klamath County Commissioner John Elliott
5.    Klamath County Commissioner Cheryl Hukill
6.    Klamath County Commissioner Al Switzer
7.    Former Klamath County Commissioner Bill Brown
8.    Klamath County District Attorney Ed Caleb, and Chief Deputy DA Dave Groff
9.    Klamath County Sheriff Tim Evinger
10.    Klamath Falls Chief of Police Jim Hunter, and Lt. Mark McDaniel
11.    Klamath County Juvenile Department
12.    Klamath County Library
13.    CITIZENS For Safe Schools
14.    Klamath Falls City Schools District
15.    Klamath County School District
16.    Klamath Community College – Human Services Education Programs
17.    Oregon Institute of Technology, Student Development Director Jane Rider
18.    Oregon Institute of Technology, Diversity Center Director Sarah Salmonson
19.    Psychology of Genocide, Klamath Community College instructor Dr. Bunnell and students
20.    The Klamath Tribes
21.    Klamath County Department of Public Health
22.    CARES – Child Abuse Response & Evaluation Services
23.    Commission on Children & Families
24.    Klamath Youth Development Center
25.    Klamath Crisis Center & Marta’s House
26.    Integral Youth Services
27.    Lutheran Community Services – ATOD Treatment & ISSUE Project
28.    Child Care Resource & Referral
29.    Camp Fire USA, Klamath Falls Extension
30.    Girl Scouts of Winema Council
31.    Boy Scouts of America, Klamath District
32.    Children’s Museum of Klamath Falls
33.    Jungle Gym Pediatric Therapy Center
34.    Borders Express of Klamath Falls
35.    Klamath-Lake Youth Development Network, YDN Coordinator Corey Christensen
36.    Court Appointed Special Advocates, CASA Executive Director Sandy Berger
37.    Women, Infants and Children , WIC Coordinator Susan Schiess, RD
38.    Klamath County Family YMCA
39.    Fremont-Winema National Forests Civil Rights/EEO Specialist Yolanda Barnett
40.    Family Law Advisory Committee, Honorable Marci Adkisson Circuit Judge Klamath County
41.    Klamath Family Head Start
42.    Hispanic Advisory Board
43.    Klamath Falls Kiwanis Club
44.    Klamath-Lake American Red Cross.
45.    Spokes Unlimited/Lifespan Respite
46.    Klamath County Democratic Party
47.    Klamath Basin Peace Forum
48.    Reverend Dr. Larry Bunnell, Presbyterian Church (USA), Minister of Word & Sacrament
49.    Steve Mitchell, Pastor, Klamath Falls United Methodist Church
50.    Rev. Richard A. Christensen, Mt. Laki Community Presbyterian Church
51.    United Congregational Church of Christ
52.    Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Klamath County
53.    Department of Human Services/Child Welfare, District 11 (Klamath, Lake County)
54.    Klamath Basin Senior Citizen’s Council
55.    Klamath & Lake Counties Area Agency On Aging, District 11
56.    Klamath County Mental Health Department
57.    Linkville Kiwanis Club
58.    Klamath Falls Downtown Association
59.    Oregon Child Development Coalition of Klamath County
60.    OASIS Drop-In Center
61.    Double-C Dog Training, Inc
62.    Klamath Family Practice Center, Jon G. McKellar, M.D.
63.    Dr. Janey M. Purvis, Klamath-Lake CARES Child Abuse Examiner, Adjunct Asst. Clinical Professor of Family Medicine, OHSU
64.    Klamath County Republican Women
65.     Rotary Club of Klamath County
66.    Hosanna Christian School
67.    Klamath Housing Authority

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WHEREAS: Any form of mistreatment of another is abuse and all people have the moral and legal Right to Live Free of Abuse and Violence, and

WHEREAS: We recognize that respect for ourselves and others is key to developing healthy relationships, and

WHEREAS: Anger is a feeling, abuse and/or violence is a choice – both violence and nonviolence are learned behaviors often taught at a very young age, and

WHEREAS: Verbal and emotional abuse can be just as damaging as physical violence to a person’s self worth, creating scars that are carried for the rest of his/her life, and

WHEREAS: We acknowledge that each of us must come to understand that it is within our personal power to choose not to use abuse and/or violence to resolve conflict, and

WHEREAS: We, together with communities around the country and overseas, recognize the Hands & Words Are Not For Hurting Project’s Pledge is an effective tool and a key piece of the puzzle in abuse and violence prevention education, and

WHEREAS: Let us all join Hands to unite as a family, community, state, nation and world by pledging, both privately and publicly: “I WILL NOT USE MY HANDS OR MY WORDS FOR HURTING MYSELF OR OTHERS”

NOW,THEREFORE, I, Ted Kulongoski, Governor of the State of Oregon, hereby proclaim October 18-24, 2009 to be HANDS & WORDS ARE NOT FUR HURTING WEEK in Oregon and encourage all citizens to join in this observance.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I hereunto set my hand and cause the Great Seal of the State of Oregon to be affixed. Done at the State Capitol in the City of Salem in the State of Oregon on this day, October 8, 2009.

Governor’s Signature _____________________________

Secretary of State Signature _______________________________

PROCLAMATION

WHEREAS, a community without abuse and violence is a dream we all share; and

WHEREAS, any form of mistreatment of another is abuse and all people have the moral and legal Right to Live Free of Abuse and Violence; and

WHEREAS, each of us must come to understand that it is within our personal power to choose not to use abuse and violence to resolve conflict; and

WHEREAS, we recognize that respect for ourselves and others is key to developing healthy relationships at every age and in all circumstances; and

WHEREAS, the principal of non-violent resolution of conflict must be taught to our children and practiced within each of our families; and

WHEREAS, verbal and emotional abuse can be just as damaging as physical violence to a person’s self worth, creating scars that are carried for the rest of his/her life, and

WHEREAS, verbal abuse such as name calling, insulting, and belittling frequently escalates into simple force like pushing, grabbing or slapping, and the worst scenario is the escalation to rage, serious violence, and even murder, and

WHEREAS: we, the commissioners of Marion County, together with communities around the country and overseas, recognize the Hands Are Not For Hurting Project’s Pledge is an effective tool in abuse and violence prevention education; and

NOW, THEREFORE, the Marion County Board of Commissioners, do hereby proclaim the week of October 19 through 25, 2008, to be the 11th Annual National

HANDS & WORDS ARE NOT FUR HURTING WEEK

In Marion County, and encourage all citizens of Marion County to join Hands to unite as a family and a community to Pledge, both privately and publicly, that

“I Will Not Use My Hands Or My Words For Hurting Myself Or Others”

Dated this 15 day of October, 2008

MARION COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS

________________________________________________________
Chair