October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month and students at Pine Bush High School have been learning about it and spreading awareness to their peers.

Members of the Youth Empowerment and Sustainability Skills (YESS) class have weekly lessons with Nikki Ekenstierna of Fearless! Fearless! is a private, not-for-profit agency serving Orange and Sullivan Counties, dedicated to assisting survivors of domestic violence, teen dating violence and human trafficking. It provides free and confidential services. Ekenstierna works with the students on violence prevention and mentoring.

Ekenstierna was on hand at Pine Bush High School on Thursday, Oct.27, as the YESS group spread awareness about domestic violence. During all lunch periods, students handed out literature about how to help a friend who is in a violent relationship, chatted with them and painted faces, all to garner the attention of students to this very troubling issue.

Earlier in the month, the YESS students created their own Clothesline Project, making paper t-shirts with messages about domestic violence and support for those who are living with it. It is displayed on the wall near the main office.

In 2021, Fearless! provided services to 5,467 adults and children. They fielded 11,123 hotline calls and provided 3,833 nights of safety.

“This is a tough subject, but it is met with much maturity by the students,” said Ekenstierna.

Purple is the color to mark domestic violence and many students and staff members wore different shades of purple and the purple ribbons made by the students.

Anyone who needs the services of Fearless! should call their hotline at 845-562-5340 or go to fearlesshv.org for a webchat.