Event Report: 4th Meeting of RAFIO Youth Support Program

Date: Friday, March 7, 2025

Location: RAFIO Offices – 235 chemin Montréal, Ottawa

Theme: Creation of a awareness campaign against violence in romantic and friendship relationships

Activity Overview

On Friday, March 7, 2025, RAFIO, in collaboration with Service Familial et Counseling Ottawa (SFC Ottawa), organized the fourth meeting of the Support Program for Black Francophone teenagers who are survivors of dating violence.

The activity was facilitated by Diana and Stéphane, marketing coordinators at SFC Ottawa. The purpose of this meeting was to actively involve youth in the creation of an awareness campaign addressing violence in romantic and friendship relationships.

The session took place in a warm, creative, and participatory atmosphere. The youth showed strong engagement, openness, and interest throughout the discussions and activities.

Activities Conducted

Several interactive activities and discussions were held during the session, including:

• A warm-up icebreaker activity to create a friendly environment and encourage interaction;

• A presentation of the campaign concept “Beyond Words,” aimed at raising awareness and breaking the silence around relationship violence;

• Discussions on key campaign messages, target audiences, and communication platforms, including Facebook, YouTube, and TikTok;

• Conversations on different advertising formats and the most effective approaches to reach young people.

Participants mainly suggested the use of real testimonials with blurred faces in order to create a stronger emotional impact and raise greater awareness within the community.

The youth also emphasized:

• the importance of non-judgmental listening;

• the need to promote healthy and respectful relationships;

• the importance of creating safe spaces for victims of violence.

These exchanges allowed participants to actively contribute to the development of the campaign and share their ideas and perspectives.

Participation and Feedback

The youth actively participated in discussions, reflections, and activities. The exchanges were rich, creative, and respectful.

Participants showed strong interest in the campaign project and appreciated the opportunity to directly contribute to the development of awareness tools aimed at young people in their community.

Closing of the Activity

The session ended in a positive and collaborative atmosphere. Participants continued informal discussions and expressed enthusiasm for the next stages of the project.

The organizers announced that the next step will involve finalizing the campaign content and preparing its launch in collaboration with a Francophone influencer based in Canada.

Conclusion

This fourth meeting of the RAFIO Support Program allowed youth to become directly involved in the creation of an awareness campaign addressing violence in relationships.

The engagement, creativity, and active participation of the youth demonstrate the importance of giving them a voice in the development of community initiatives aimed at promoting healthy relationships, respect, and well-being within the community.