How to communicate facts and statistics - visually representing sexual abuse stats

Using Facts and Statistics to drive your point across can prove to be dry and challenging. I'll explain how several years back, working with a NPO ( non-profit organization) named “operation non violence”, I was able to communicate statistical facts in a way you will never forget.

The mission of the NPO was to help street kids by enabling them to express their thoughts, feelings and emotions through music. These kids had been through a lot and the most powerful songs that were created were on sexual abuse. As a board member of the organization my goal was to grow the organization and plant seeds of hope and of friendships among the participating youth. I goal was to communicate this message throughout the live performances that the we did while promoting the benefits of "Operation non violence", the NPO. I started thinking about how to use statistical facts to create a lasting impression in the mind of the my audience. If i simply said : “it’s ok, you are not alone”> that would be totally unnecessary and unhelpful. These kids where not stupid they knew they where alone. All their friends where in the same boat and honestly who wants to be an other statistic?

What I set out to do is create a lasting impression in their minds; so that they would understand the direct impact of sexual abuse. And you know what, its a lot bigger then we think. So i communicate differently so they wouldnt feel like once again just an other statistic. At the same time, I wanted to create a lasting impression with these facts during the live performances that the group did. So I visually explain those facts forcing the audience to experience them first hand. And enabling the kids to know they where just a statistic because so many people are likt them.

Did you know that 1 in 4 women as been or will be sexually abused in her life time and that 1 in 6 men as been or will be abused in their life time. That's how i started my speech at our first live performance That being said, for these facts to really make an impact, I needed to me more powerful. Pourcentage does not carry emotions. It is not visual. We can't picture it. It's not personal enough. What i wanted to do is make the audience feel a shiver down their spine. i wanted my audience to be stuck with my words for the rest of their lives so that they to could share it passionately and help reduce sexual abuse by talking about it. It I wanted my audience to have that lump in their throat. The audience needed to KNOW , UNDERSTAND and FEEL the true impact of sexual abuse. I can’t remember the exact words but here is a resume :

“Folks, as i mentioned before 1 in 4 women will be sexually abuse in their life time. This is not random statistics, its a fact. Now, I’d like for all of you to look to your left, look to your right , look in the back and look in front. Chances are, you will see at least one woman sitting in each of these seats next to you. One of those women will be abuse. Now, Think about your family. Think about : your mom, your grand ma, your sister , your wife. One of those women has been abused. Think about your dad, your grand pa, your cousin, your uncle and your best guy friend. One of these men has been abused”

A silent chill filled up the room. I had the audience attention, because they where personally involved in the situation. It was time to make them see the problem on a global level. So, I closed with two more gut ripping visual representation. ”To put it in perspective, in the USA, we could fill the entire state of California with sexually abused women” I paused…. “And we could fill the entire state of New York with sexually abused men” .

Once a personal perspective is given to a particular fact or statistic; people don't have a choice but to react to it. Why? Because it personally involves them. Statistics are a great way to speak to your audience as long as your audience can picture themselves involved somehow in them.