The consent workshop is a grassroots movement led by sexual violence survivors. The movement began as a result of a social media #MeToo revolution, breaking the silence of sexual abuse within our community. The Founder of The Consent Workshop, Uche Umolu, kicked off the movement, by asking young men and women within the community, to open up about sexual abuse they have faced. The overwhelming stories allowed us to see that within our community, particularly among university/college students, there was a gross misunderstanding of consent. The aim of the consent workshop is to continue breaking the silence and continue these conversations in a practical, productive step.
As immigrants from countries where our cultural beliefs have allowed rape culture to be steep, we are more at risk of sexual violence. We are also the least likely group to report cases of sexual violence (Statistics Canada). Designed for all genders and sexual orientation, The Consent Workshop will deconstruct rape culture within the community, by providing tools for sexual survivors and potential victims. The workshop will also empower MVP youths to take action towards creating a positive culture of sexual consent in Toronto. In the past, we have had a pilot workshop consisting of 60 attendees and 15 volunteers between ages of 18-29.