In the United States, three children die every day from abuse, most of whom are under the age of five.
Throughout the month of April, which is National Child Abuse Awareness month, University of Memphis students Desireé Robertson and Ileana Rubio will be giving out information in the University Center to teach people about the myths and signs of child abuse, and how to report it in each state.
Robertson said she originally began the program, “Tigers for Tots, Students Advocating for Children,” as a sociology project and extended it as a service project for the Golden Key International Honor Society.
“I’m interested in the educational side of promoting child abuse awareness, because as people become more familiar with the signs of abuse and how to report it anonymously, we might have a lot more (cases) reported,” Robertson said.
According to Robertson, over 30,000 cases of abuse or neglect in Tennessee were reported last year, a figure that equals one report every 14 minutes.
The Blue Ribbon campaign is the Prevent Child Abuse America and the Tennessee Prevent Child Abuse America chapters’ movement to increase awareness of the problem of child abuse. In 1989, a concerned grandmother from Virginia took a stand against child abuse after the death of her grandson by tying a symbolic ribbon around her van.
Volunteer Ileana Rubio said she has no children, but thinks stopping child abuse is an important cause.
“I’m here to help pass the word,” Rubio said. Rubio is also fluent in Spanish and able to speak to hispanic students wanting information.
The table will be open Friday, April 12 from 11 to 2 p.m., Monday, April 15 from noon to 3 p.m., and Thursday, April 18 from noon to 3 p.m.
Robertson said her next project is a table focusing on parenting issues to help parents recognize changes in their children through the various stages of development.
