As a peer educator for the Center for Advocacy, Response and Education — also known as CARE — Hope Belcastro doesn’t shy away from a tough conversation. In fact, facilitating Sexual Assault and Relationship Violence Prevention workshops across campus has taught her that the only way to tackle difficult subjects is to face them head-on.
SARV workshops are offered for first-year students to discuss issues around sexual assault, relationship violence and other forms of interpersonal violence.
“I don't think people understand how lucky we are as a university to have a program like this,” Belcastro, a senior, said.
Offered by CARE, SARV workshops are designed to help students gain awareness of and increase understanding of sexual assault and relationship violence; learn about programs and resources available on campus and in the community; and feel empowered to intervene in unsafe situations. The goal is a shared sense of responsibility across campus to prevent sexual violence and create a safe community.
“These are topics that are hard to talk about, and some first-years might be coming with no idea about these issues or how to get the help they need,” Belcastro said. “It's awesome to bridge that gap and make campus a better place.”
Belcastro’s journey with CARE began in her freshman year when she participated in a SARV workshop through her dorm.
“I thought it was just so cool that the university took time and put in a lot of effort to deliver that conversation to incoming freshmen,” she said.
Belcastro later stepped in for a friend as her sorority’s CARE chair.
"I realized I loved everything CARE stands for,” she said. “I just love how it's always just bringing a message of positivity, support and respect for you and for others.”
As a peer educator, Belcastro is committed to making SARV workshops engaging and informative, avoiding the pitfalls of feeling like a lecture.
“Everyone definitely has their own spin on the material, and every workshop I try to do the best I can to find different ways to engage people and make sure they’re really listening,” she said.
This personalized approach allows peer educators to connect with students on a deeper level.
“We’re students, too, not professors. We’re just there to have a conversation.”
Through her work, Belcastro is proud to see the impact these workshops have.
“I’ve had so many people come up to me and say, ‘I know about CARE because of you,’” she said. “I love the impact it has on people. It fills my bucket to know I’m helping make campus a safer place.”
