Em in the Community

We love being able to connect with our community through different events and activities! Being able to hear our communities stories, and share kōrero with one another is so incredibly important to us. Check out some of our recent community engagements below, and find out how to get in touch with us to come to your community event!


 

Rape Awareness Week 2024

The Lie - Movie Screening & Panel
Alongside HELP Auckland we hosted a screening a screening of The Lie, a documentary that follow the tragic murder of Grace Millane, where Embassador Layba Zubair, and Coordinator Imogen Stone spoke on the panel about the issues young people face around the trend of rough sex.

Demystifying Consent Panel
Embassador Sanskruti Banerjee hosted a panel of young community leaders, who are all engaged in work to promote and educate around consent. This was a chance for young people to learn more about how we can each be a part of promoting healthy norms in our communities!

Consent to Moving Your Body
Embassador Charlotte Jones coordinated our first ever yoga based event, at the Kanuka Yoga Space in Hobsonville, Auckland. This free session provided young people with the chance to experience trauma informed yoga, and learn about how to use this grounding tool to help take back control of our bodies.

 
 

The University of Auckland

In 2022, 2023 and 2024 we have been invited to the University of Auckland to present to a group of students studying towards becoming school counsellors and share our expertise and lived experience as young people.

Guest lecturing at the University of Auckland

 
 

Yarn bombing

On December 2nd 2023 we completed our first ever yarn bomb outside of the East Coast Bays Library in Browns Bay. We created this yarn bomb for survivors as a symbol of hope, healing, and togetherness. The idea behind the installation is that this will help to normalise conversations about sexual violence, and encourage meaningful dialogue that can help survivors to feel seen, believed, and supported by their community.

Tree wrapped in purple, teal and rainbow knitted yarn, with the crocheted message "we believe you" in the middle.

Our yarn bomb installation outside of the East Coast Bays Library

 
 

Involve Conference 2023

Four of our team attended and presented at Involve, the biggest youth conference in Aotearoa, speaking about youth-led approaches to social change to an audience of young people, youth workers, and advocates. We shared how Dear Em creates a safe and empowering space for young people to take the lead, and how the team work in partnership with one another. Our Embassadors were also able to share about their experiences of being in the team, and some of the projects they have been able to initiate and achieve in partnership with Dear Em.

4 team members presenting in front of slide titled "Fostering youth leadership"

The Dear Em team presenting at the 2023 Involve Conference

 
 
Photo of team members at national conference

Our team at the National Sexual Violence Conference in November 2022

TOAH-NNEST National Sexual Violence Conference

We travelled to the National Sexual Violence Conference in Wellington to present on "Working with Adolescents: A Youth Led Approach", where we focused on discussing how those in the sexual violence sector can foster partnership with young people to work together and create meaningful change. We shared about our own model of partnership we use at Dear Em, and how we structure our team safety to empower each other as leaders.

The wonderful panel of experts and change makers who spoke at our Kōrero & Kai event

Kōrero & Kai for Rape Awareness Week

We hosted a panel, alongside Thursdays in Black, featuring Minister Marama Davidson alongside other experts and change makers, around transformative change in educational and youth spaces, where we discussed tangible actions that young people can take to advocate for and contribute towards a society that upholds justice for survivors.

 
 

 

Want to see us in your community?

We love opportunities to share important kōrero and connect with our communities.

Some of the key topics that we are able to come and speak on are:

  •  Sexual and gender-based violence

  • Youth mental health

  • Youth leadership and advocacy

  • Our expertise as young people

If you are interested in having Dear Em speak at your school, event, or for anything else, please contact us at hello@dearem.nz