SAFE Jamboree spreads more awareness about domestic, sexual violence

Dozens of community members joined the Northern Marianas Coalition against Domestic and Sexual Violence for their SAFE Jamboree last Saturday at the Hopwood Middle School’s soccer field in Chalan Piao.

With SAFE Jamboree standing for “Safe, Aware, Free, and Empower,” the event was not just a day of fun activities for families, but was held to bring further awareness about sexual violence; while honoring and showing support to victims and survivors who endured it. The support was evident as individuals from the NMCADSV and other entities who participated in the event stayed under the scorching heat from 11am to 4pm.

When speaking to NMCADSV’s Kiki Igitol Benjamin, she shared, “As an advocate and as a survivor, I have immense feelings of gratitude for the successful outcome of today’s event. We captured so much glimmers of hope throughout the day from our committee members, partner agencies, and organizations for the engaging activity booths, talented performers, amazing volunteers, and community members. Having just the presence of everyone here is a profound testament that they are standing in solidarity to support victims and survivors, and the movement to end sexual violence in the CNMI.”

This year’s event was held in collaboration with the Autism Awareness/Acceptance Month Planning Committee, recognizing that April 2024 was both Sexual Awareness Month and Autism Awareness Month. The jamboree featured several fun games and activities, food and drink vendors, demonstrations and information booths from organizations like the Autism Society of the CNMI, Karidat Social Services-Victim Hotline, the Matansa Football Club, Micronesian Legal Services Corp., Northern Marianas Protection & Advocacy Systems, Inc., Northern Marianas Athletics, Office of Youth Affairs, Marianas High School’s One Day at a Time, Saipan Humane Society, and the Northern Marianas College School of Education. The Department of Public Safety and the Commonwealth Healthcare Corp. also brought some staff with DPS bringing members from their Criminal Investigations Bureau, SWAT (Special Weapons and Tactics), the K9 Unit, Boating Safety, Bike Patrol, Highway Safety, and Armory Unit. CHCC brought their Mobile Clinic, Non-Communicable Disease Program, MICAH-Family to Family Health Information Center, and Community Guidance Center. CNMI Public School System’s Head Start/Early Head Start Program also took part in the event.

Benjamin shared that the SAFE Jamboree is the kind of fun family-friendly community event that also showcases community assets, resources, clubs, and organizations in the CNMI who believe in the importance of the movement.

“Sexual assault is a widespread issue that impacts every person in our community. It’s so important for us to leverage Sexual Assault Awareness Month as an opportunity to engage and empower our community to learn and increase their awareness on the many ways they can help the movement to end sexual violence in the CNMI.”

Benjamin said she’d like to extend a big thank you to all the sponsors of the event, namely Tan Siu Lin Fondation, Bridge Capital LLC, CHCC, Department of Corrections, DPS, Department of Fire and Emergency Medical Services, CNMI Judiciary, Department of Community and Cultural Affairs, PSS, Karidat, Kagman High School, Office of the Attorney General, Office of the Governor, Department of Commerce, Department of Fish and Wildlife, Northern Marianas Technical Institute, Micronesian Legal Services, NNMPASI, and all community members who showed up to make the event possible.