by Ashleigh Jakobovits, aged 11
 
Friday 24th of November was White Ribbon Day and the start of sixteen days of activism to end violence against women and children.
 
On this day I joined my mum and lots of other people to walk through the city to bring awareness to family violence.
 
We arrived in Federation Square and met with lots of other people from all over Melbourne. There were men and women, young and old with different cultures, all there to support those who suffer from domestic violence.
 
There were lots of speeches before the walk including:

• The Lord Mayor of Melbourne who gave a speech to show her support.
• There was a single mum with 4 children who shared her story about her experience of domestic violence
• Someone from Vic Health talked about how domestic violence can affect your health and wellbeing.

 
After the speeches they projected the names and ages of all the women and children who have died from domestic violence this year. I think nearly everyone watching was in tears from the thought of so many innocent people gone from domestic violence. There were children as young as 19 months old who had died. 72 women and 20 children died this year so far from domestic violence. It’s not something we should just ignore, it’s something we should be fighting against and helping those who have suffered.
 
After the video, we started our hour long walk to raise awareness to everyone about this horrible matter. It was raining heavily but we were all in good spirits. It was so wet that we could hear our shoes squelch every time we stepped. We made lots of friends along the way, by chanting or chatting.
 
There were lots of different organizations walking in the march.  I was walking with impact for women. My family and I have been supporting this charity since I was about three or four years old.  Every year we pack hampers for women and children who had left their homes because of domestic violence. We do it every Christmas and Mother’s Day. I have lots of fun wrapping gifts and packing bags upon bags of hampers for women and children.
 
This was my first ever march that I have been on and I really enjoyed it. I knew what I was doing was going to hopefully impact lots of lives and that made me feel good about myself. I definitely recommend that you all do something to help others in need. Just by doing something so small, can make a big difference to lots of people. 

My mother did not die because she did not listen to my father.
She did not die because she did not dress the way my father wanted her to.
She did not die because she chose not to go to a shelter.
She did not die because she did not give my father enough attention.
She did not die because she filed a police report against my father once.
She did not die because she returned to my father the first time she left him.
She did not die because she was not patient enough.
She did not die because she talked back.
She did not die because she chose to resist in whatever ways she knew how. 
My mother died because my father killed her.


​Read the full story here

A very powerful song and video but please be aware that the images portrayed might be triggering.

Nerrell Mengarda is a strong, brave and very talented friend of impact. Nerrell wrote to us today to share her story. Nerrell writes:

"Not a lot of people know this. But for a long time I was in an abusive relationship. Ever since I left, I wanted to share my story to let people know it's not your fault and all it takes is one person to support you: Bianca was that person for me.

I was just going to write a book I never expected it to become a song and a film clip which is an amazing and different way to tell my story.

​It was very hard for me to leave but I couldn't keep living like that and Bianca wouldn't allow me to keep living like that. Bianca wrote a song called 'Betrayal'.

Betrayal comes in many forms from many different people. So people can relate to these lyrics, Bianca wanted to do a film clip but wanted it to be my story and show what I went through and how she helped me leave. The images you see in this clip and what the actors are acting out are real events of what happened to me.

The message I want to share with this clip is it's not your fault, you are not alone and all it takes is one person to give you the courage.

This clip has so many emotions attached to it: raw emotions that I felt on the day I left from fear, strength, confusion, courage, appreciation and freedom. We can always talk to someone. Friends, family, colleagues, support groups, charity organisations - never feel ashamed or embarrassed. Talking alone can make a big difference.

Please watch and share this clip. Help us spread our message and also the talent that is Bianca Modesti. Together we conquer.

We would love to hear your thoughts on the film clip. I want to thank Anna and Dan for believing in this clip and portraying it perfectly. Although it wasn't easy at times for them, they did a brilliant job in telling my story and I'm very grateful to them for that."wrote 


Watch the video but please be aware that the images portrayed might be triggering:

Tissue alert.
I am writing this with permission. 
Please let me introduce you to Danielle, aged 11. Danielle is the daughter of Anna Barber, a good friend of Impact.
Danielle came to the car the other day after school and told her mum they had been writing poems in class. She asked her mum to not be upset but she wrote hers about domestic violence.
The teacher thought it was so good that they published it on the school's Facebook page and in the school's newsletter.
What a brave and articulate young woman Danielle is!