SAFEWALK is now looking for Volunteers!

Saitsa Campus Safewalk is a free volunteer based service dedicated to ensuring the safety of all SAIT staff, students and visitors when traveling on or near the SAIT Main Campus.

Campus Safewalk is open from 6 p.m.-11 p.m. Monday and Thursdays in MC 107 in the Heart building. During this time anyone traveling on SAIT or to a destination within a 10 block radius of SAIT can drop into the office or call 284-SAFE (7233) to be picked up and walked to their destination by a pair of trained volunteers constantly in contact with the Safewalk dispatcher and SAIT Security by radio.

If you require a Safewalk prior to or after the office opens SAIT Security can be called at 284-8530 and will escort you anywhere on the SAIT campus.

HISTORY
On October 25th, 1993 at 7pm, Campus SAFEWALK’s doors first opened. That night three SAITSA volunteers escorted four clients. In the year that followed 167 clients were served beginning SAITSA’s stand against violence at SAIT.

In past years Campus SAFEWALK has grown by leaps and bounds. The number of volunteers has grown substantially and so have the number of walks. Most importantly the quality of the volunteer’s commitment to the program and training has also improved every year.

In the 2005/2006 academic year a new record of Safewalks was set at 325 walks.

HOW TO BOOK A SAFEWALK
Saitsa Campus Safewalk is open from 6 p.m. to 11 p.m. Monday to Friday. To pre book a safewalk email Philip Campbell the SAITSA Campus Safewalk Coordinators at campus.safewalk@edu.sait.ca or call 284-SAFE (7233) anytime to arrange for a Safewalk.

VOLUNTEERS
Saitsa Campus Safewalk is an entirely volunteer based organization. There are many benefits to becoming a Safewalk Volunteer or team Captain. All volunteers are asked to work a minimum of one three hour shift per week. Team Captains are asked to volunteer for one 5 hour shift per week. All volunteers must undergo a police security check before they can start as a Safewalker.

VOLUNTEERING LOOKS GREAT ON A RESUME
Volunteer experience is one of the most sought after attributes on a Resume. What better way to impress potential employers than to volunteer with an organization that affects over 10,000 people.

PERKS
In addition to all this there are some great incentives to volunteer with Safewalk. In past years volunteers have received movie passes or other great freebies from the SAITSA. There are also staff Christmas and year end parties as well as a chance to qualify for the ASCENT community involvement award.

HOW TO GET INVOLVED
To become a volunteer download the volunteer application form and drop off the completed form with coverletter and resume to the Volunteer Services Supervisor in the Student Services Centre room MC107. in the Heart Building.

TRAINING
All Safewalk Volunteers are provided with three training sessions paid for by SAITSA provided that the volunteer completes a minimum of 30 hours of service. These training sessions include Radio Training, First Aid, and Non-intervention/Self defense.

RADIO TRAINING
The Safewalk program shares the same radio frequency as SAIT’s security service, Paladin Security. As such proper radio protocol has to be followed. This training session is run by Paladin Security on the SAIT Campus.

FIRST AID TRAINING
This is a one day class taught on a Saturday by SAIT. This class will provide volunteers with comprehensive training to handle any medical emergency that might occur on campus.

NON-INTERVENTION/SELF DEFENSE
This is a full day Saturday training session. This intensive training course covers the basics of self defense as well as how and when to use verbal de-escalation. As part of this course volunteers get a chance to practice their new skills on a padded attacker.

LINKS
Calgary Police Service - http://www.gov.calgary.ab.ca/police/
Calgary Crime Stoppers - http://www.calgarycrimestoppers.org/
Dynamic Martial Arts - http://www.dynamicmartialarts.ca/
Safe and Sound - http://www.safeandsound.ca/
Calgary Communities Against Sexual Abuse - http://www.calgarycasa.com/
Paladin Security - http://www.paladinsecurity.com/