9 December 2009
Dear Friends,
“Take care of the children, and I will take care of you.” This strong message has been impressed by God in my heart, as I go about my work of handling cases, doing advocacy work, and teaching law.
Yesterday, after my court hearing on behalf of a child who was raped by her step-grandfather at age 11, I visited a child-service organization. A social worker asked me to handle the case of a five-year-old girl who was sexually assaulted by her own father a year ago. Cases like these make me really angry, and I have learned that anger can be harnessed to move us into action to end child sexual abuse (CSA).
KEEP THEM SAFE
The best way to win a case is to prevent it. So I have put together a four-hour training for parents, teachers, social workers, church workers and everyone who wants to take action to stop CSA. The seminar is entitled “KEEP THEM SAFE: How to prevent child sexual abuse.” The first Keep Them Safe training was held this November, with 21 participants, all of whom are involved in ministry to children.
First batch of KEEP THEM SAFE training held on 28 November 2009 at Ang Bahay ng Alumni, University of the Philippines, Diliman, Quezon City
Here’s what some of them have said:
- “This seminar clarified a lot of questions in my mind about abuse. It made me aware of different views and erased the myths that kept me wondering whether certain acts are abusive or not. I look forward to module 2 where I can learn how to help as paralegal volunteer.” – Liwanag Caldito, Support & Empower Abused Deaf Children
- “This seminar made me aware of the value of life free from abuse. It should be taught to people so that the cycle of abuse in homes will stop.” – Rico Abundo, Businessman
- “This is beneficial to our ministry for children. The presentation is clear and concrete, and we are looking forward to the next seminar.” Nancy Vergara Gallo, Teacher
- “Each one should take action on the issue of child sexual abuse.” – Sister Mila Pagcial (ASC), Orphanage worker
Many called in to ask about the training. One was a mother of a deaf child who said several parents of deaf children wanted to attend but could not afford the fee for the four-hour training, even when it was a minimal amount of P500 (HK85 or US11) per person to help cover costs of venue rental, materials and lunch. A ministry leader from Dasmarinas, Cavite wanted to send volunteers to the training; these are volunteer educators who work in the poorest areas of the town, but they had no funds to travel to the venue, much less pay the minimal training fee. We also received a message from a leader of an organization of deaf women who would like to bring the training to Baguio City if and when funds would be available.
Indeed, many of those who need the information cannot afford to pay for child abuse prevention seminars like these. So we have decided to raise funds to be able to bring the seminar right to the people who need them. For this purpose, we are setting up Southeast Asia Outreach Ministry, Inc., a non-profit organization that will provide humanitarian services to the needy, as well as empower and encourage them through seminars, workshops and trainings.
INVITATION: SPONSOR A TRAINING
It costs only P5000 (HK850 or US110) to sponsor a Keep Them Safe training in Metro Manila. This will allow us to bring the training to poor areas, to teach and equip a maximum of 30 participants per four-hour session. This small amount will surely create a big impact on the lives of children and keep them safe.
Do pray for this invitation, and if God puts it in your heart to sponsor a training, please get in touch with us at keepthemsafenow@gmail.com.
As you and I take care of God’s voiceless children, He will take care of us.
Blessings,
Chato Olivas-Gallo
