More than 10% of high school students who are in a dating relationship experience heavy-handed control issues, subtle manipulations, and some physical violence and sexual assaults. These numbers increased to more than 39% for college students.
This project introduced teenagers to the combination of creative writing and drawing, along with discussions, art interpretation and story reading in front of peers and a camera, to resolve inner conflicts. By learning to identify a relationship as either a Match or Mismatch, participants were empowered to make relationship decisions based on personal needs rather than peer pressure or negative home-role models. With this key to understanding relationship dynamics based on how they feel about themselves before, during and after they were with their partner, they had the confidence and emotional strength to end bad relationships with a sense of dignity.
Being given the tools (writing and illustrating) to delve inwardly and express themselves constructively, these teenagers acknowledged their value and learned to make healthy choices when falling in love.
To see Teen Dating Relationships – Part 1, go to:
https://snn.bz/but-i-love-you/