Sculpting and writing workshops are being held across Canada for those survivors who wish to sculpt the quilt squares. The Child Abuse Monument will serve to heal the social shock and thereby, minimize the pervasive denial and distancing associated with child abuse. As a healing icon, it serves to transform society's relationship to childhood-abuse issues and concerns. Allowing for permanent interaction and involvement, survivors who pilgrim to the site can wet their hands in the fountain and then press them on plain squares leaving their imprint temporarily outlined on the bronze patina. The sculpted quilt squares will also become part of a cross-Canada traveling art and information exhibit.
Child abuse is an area rife with much naivete and misconception.
Information highlights in the exhibition will be directed toward developing awareness of the basic issues of abuse. The project is developing pamphlets, newspaper inserts, booklets for mass distribution, and public announcements for print, radio, television, and billboards. This large public awareness effort is being directed to understanding the concerns of survivors and to dispelling the many myths that exist about abuse and abuse survivors. The Child Abuse Survivor Monument Project is also working to establish an annual Child Abuse Awareness Week in Canada and an annual fund-raiser to raise dollars for abuse prevention and support for survivors. Canada's initiative to create the first national memorial to child abuse is being terrifically supported by corporations, government, and individuals.