Feeding the Legends: Dear Em

Dear Em is a place for young people to have a voice: to find ways to be stronger and more confident in managing stressful situations of all kinds; to recognise sexual violence; and to learn to support one another.

Founded in 2016 by the Auckland Sexual Abuse HELP Foundation (HELP Auckland), Dear Em began as a response to young people asking for a safe online community where they could feel connected and empowered, access reliable information about sexual abuse, and learn practical skills for managing stress and building resilience.

In 2021, Dear Em expanded its work to include an annual leadership programme for young women and non binary young people aged 16–24. The programme creates space to explore what it means to be a leader in ending sexual violence. This work is urgently needed: young people are disproportionately impacted, with around 1 in 4 girls and 1 in 9 boys experiencing sexual violence before the age of 15. Dear Em believes that meaningful solutions come from those most affected: young people themselves. They understand their communities, the issues they face, and the change that’s needed. The role of the Dear Em programme is to provide the support and empowerment necessary for young people to lead that change across Aotearoa.

Dear Em’s work is broad, responsive, and youth driven, shaped in real time by what young people see as important. Together, their efforts work toward a vision for a society where relationships are built on cooperation, respect, and the collective commitment to end sexual violence.

You can check out Dear Em’s helpful resources and content on their website www.dearem.nz or on Instagram

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