The Ribbon:

The ribbon has raindrops (tears), that signify the trauma some children may have experienced, and the umbrella (a protective shield) represents the carers who choose to care for and protect children.

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Wearing the ribbon:

The Umbrella is a symbol of protection. By wearing the ‘Umbrella Ribbon’, you show that you care about the children and that you know it is important to care for and protect children from harm.

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It’s not OK to hurt a child.

Every day it’s not OK

The message:

• You will step up and protect children

• You will have the hard conversations

• You will be the child's umbrella (their shield).

• You will let it be known it is NOT OK to hurt children

• You will NOT stay silent if a child is being abused

Umbrella Hearts 'Ribbon campaign':

HHCD then chairperson Astrid Hocking designed and launched UMBRELLA HEARTS in Australia and the Philippines in 2015 to raise awareness of children living with violence and abuse.​

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Astrid Hocking, has many years of experience working within education, the welfare and the child protection sector. Seeing the lasting and devastating effect violence and abuse have on the victim and their families, decided to create a program to raise awareness of this happening within our community, thus the Umbrella Hearts 'Ribbon campaign' was born.

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Hearts and Hands ‘Umbrella Hearts' believes it takes a community to raise a child and it needs every person, every day, to keep ALL children safe.

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What can we do?
It is a simple thing to do, just wear the Umbrella Ribbon proudly and talk to others about why you wear it and your belief that children deserve protection, and,  that you, as one member of your community will stand up and be counted, you will no longer stay silent or turn a blind eye to child abuse.

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Objectives:
The Umbrella Hearts Project intends:

• to raise awareness of violence & abuse occurring within our community

• to encourage people to individually take a stand against violence and abuse and not be afraid to report it

• to encourage community to accept "it takes a community to raise a child"

• to ensure it is up to all of us to care for the safety of our children and others

• to raise understanding that no child or person deserves to live in fear, poverty or abuse

• to raise understanding that violence and abuse in all its forms is a criminal activity and should be treated as such

• to encourage community individuals to not turn a blind eye to violence or abuse of any kind 

• to raise understanding that it is NEVER the victim’s fault

Additional Information & Activities: