Part 1 – Photographs of Charmaine Loverin explaining the story & feeling behind her art projects.
Part 2 – Charmaine Loverin – Loving My Sinner, Hating His Sin
Charmaine Loverin is a talented and expressive artist in many forms and uses her art as a vehicle, through her history of being sexually abused; she supports organizations that have helped her. “I volunteer; I use my art as fundraising opportunities in their events,” she explains. “I’ll do anything to help raise funds and awareness to organizations that matter closely to my experience.”
Loverin expressing herself through her art, working with charity organizations and most importantly her two children keep her hanging on in this life. “I’ve been to a place where I have come close to giving up and this was back when I charged my dad,” Loverin admits. “It was okay for me to leave life; but now that I’m a mom it’s zero acceptable. There is no mistake that I am a mom and if I weren’t, yes it’s an easy out thought, what would I do? Where would I be? I don’t know if I’d hang on as strong as I am.” Her children bring such joy and are a reminder of what is possible in life, “I think I live so vicariously through my children,” she says, “everything from such an innocent perspective is just delicious. We are here for a purpose so why not live it vibrantly?”
As an advocate in moving Holly’s Law, Loverin got close to the family and says the experience was rewarding on many levels. “At the public safety announcement of this law,” she explains, “I was invited by the CCCAA (Canadian Centre for Abuse Awareness) to be a speaker and share as a Survivor at how courageous and important it is to be a voice in abuse.” Holly’s Law is a mandatory, preventative, educational package made available to all school children. This program was designed to arm kids with the tools needed, to identify and deal with childhood sexual abuse. http://www.ccfaa.com/images/documents/Hollys-Law.pdf
Loverin speaks to schools about her experiences and how we can be a voice in something that we know is not correct as a child. What we can do and who we can turn to, when we know this is not the way it’s supposed to be in life, to turn to police officers, kids help phone and teachers. “I also know that the ones we are supposed to trust are sometimes ones we can’t turn to,” says Loverin. “It’s being aware of that situation because 3 out of 5 kids who are sexually abused are abused by someone they are supposed to trust.”
Charmaine Loverin's Card Projects
With that knowledge she developed a program called “I Have Something to Say…” that is a card series which assists in distinguishing who to trust. “I want to bring to the schools to the parents and to us as role models, what does trust actually look like?” “I Have Something To Say” have moved onto a fundraising opportunity for Kids help phone and their future’s campaign. http://org.kidshelpphone.ca/en/donate/futures-campaign/
“I Have Something To Ask…” was generated from “I Have Something To Say…” A Women’s Network, “Positive Fabulous Women” was holding an event based on the theme “Ask” because a high ratio of women statistically does not ask for what they want. “It was quite a moving night,” reflects Loverin, “the “I Have Something To Ask…” cards have 4 questions all relating to trust, for example, “Can I trust you?” Each question was made by my daughter, another question is “Do you keep your promises?”
Loverin has worked with the Out Of The Cold organization for 3 years and for the holiday season is donating proceeds from her Christmas cards to them. She will also be serving and playing the piano with her children on Christmas Day at OTCC. For those unfamiliar to Out Of The Cold, it is an organization built by community and volunteers providing safe refuge, hospitality and emergency shelter to the homeless community throughout the City of Toronto http://www.ootc.ca/
“We are so fortunate to have what we have in life no matter how big or small, it takes only one person to make a world of difference for someone,” says Loverin. “During these economic times I understand how sparingly things can get and suggest people participate the best way they know how – The Gift of Giving has limitless rewards!” – By Diane Foy
Carmaine Loverin on Piano
Coming Out Of The Dark 