LOVE those kids

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by Patrick Lejtenyi

A national non-profit organization that has been turning teens suffering from violence into budding writers, photographers, photojournalists and broadcasters may soon be broke for the first time in its six-year history. Leave Out ViolencE (LOVE), which originated in Montreal with branches in Toronto, Halifax and Vancouver, operated entirely on donations since its 1995 inception until 1999, when it received a $1.05-million Millennium grant. With that, it ran workshops, leadership training and outreach programs to help teens who have been affected by violence, either as witnesses, victims or perpetrators.

Most recently, LOVE has published The Courage to Change: A Teen Survival Guide, a teaching guide and compilation of short stories, poetry and photography by some 45 troubled teens. "Writing is more compelling to teens," says communications associate Melissa Colley. "Writing is very therapeutic. It helps teens to get emotions down on paper to express themselves. So many hold things in and don't properly release them. We want to get them to start talking."

Recruiting between 15 and 20 teens each school semester, who are referred to the organization by social workers, teachers or guidance counsellors, LOVE now has about 160 kids active in their program. They estimate they need to raise $150,000 for this year's operations in order to avoid a first-ever deficit.

The book launch for The Courage to Change takes place on Oct. 11 in Room 5b.16 at Dawson College, 3040 Sherbrooke W. from 5:30-7:30 p.m.