I have just returned from truly amazing yet very humbling two weeks in Cambodia where I was fortunate enough to do some work with children in a tiny school run by Japanese nuns. I needed two interpreters, one to translate into khmer for the children and teachers, the other into Japanese for the nuns. I taught fifty children aged between 4 and 8 for two hours, their little eyes were as wide as saucers and were glued to me throughout the session. I used puppets, songs and other resources to teach the two Themes, Early Warning Signs, Networks, Secrets and Public and Private.
I asked the children: "Do adults listen to children?" They very clearly responded: "NO!" And when I asked: "What is a stranger?" they all described "a mean person"; they didn't see me as a stranger because I was a woman. It just goes to show that these misconceptions are universally held by children the world over. I could have been in a remote community in the Kimberley or in a suburban school in Perth. In my experience, children's answers have always been the same and a simple change in a child's perception can have an enormous effect on their personal safety.
After the children left school, the staff volunteered to stay behind for a further two hours for basic training in Protective Behaviours education. Their feedback was overwhelming, they are aware that their children are at high risk, but they just didn't know where to start or the language to use. We all gained greatly from my visit to the school and I was deeply touched by their gratitude and enthusiasm.
Next I visited a centre run by a Korean organisation that provides lunch to five hundred children five days a week. I can see that a great opportunity exists for this organization to provide basic Protective Behaviours education for these children and I am determined to establish partnerships to make this happen in Asian countries where children are at higher risk.
Childwise, from Victoria in Australia, have an office in Phnom Penh and, after spending some time with their representative, I learnt a great deal about the amazing work they are doing to raise awareness about child abuse, not only in Cambodia, but throughout Asia. Child Safe is another organisation also actively involved in child protection in Asia.
People ask me: "Holly, the problem with child abuse is so great - where do we start?" My answer is always: Education. Childwise and other agencies are having an immeasurable impact on their communities by educating children and the public about child abuse. Teaching Protective Behaviours is the greatest starting point for initiating conversation, opening our eyes to the needs of children and mobilising communities to be pro-active and help keep kids safe.
After the children left school, the staff volunteered to stay behind for a further two hours for basic training in Protective Behaviours education. Their feedback was overwhelming, they are aware that their children are at high risk, but they just didn't know where to start or the language to use. We all gained greatly from my visit to the school and I was deeply touched by their gratitude and enthusiasm.
Next I visited a centre run by a Korean organisation that provides lunch to five hundred children five days a week. I can see that a great opportunity exists for this organization to provide basic Protective Behaviours education for these children and I am determined to establish partnerships to make this happen in Asian countries where children are at higher risk.
Childwise, from Victoria in Australia, have an office in Phnom Penh and, after spending some time with their representative, I learnt a great deal about the amazing work they are doing to raise awareness about child abuse, not only in Cambodia, but throughout Asia. Child Safe is another organisation also actively involved in child protection in Asia.
People ask me: "Holly, the problem with child abuse is so great - where do we start?" My answer is always: Education. Childwise and other agencies are having an immeasurable impact on their communities by educating children and the public about child abuse. Teaching Protective Behaviours is the greatest starting point for initiating conversation, opening our eyes to the needs of children and mobilising communities to be pro-active and help keep kids safe.
Child safe is an organisation that works to try and keep children safe by offering a safe place to stay. They also educate tuk tuk drivers about child protection and the signs of the tourist sex trade. The drivers wear printed shirts and have advertisements on the back of their vehicles to increase public awareness.
I witnessed naked children as young as 2 begging at major tourist attractions, an older child would come up and take the money off the younger one. Then an adult would appear and take the money off of the older child, take about a third world Oliver Twist.
Also blind adults with limbs missing, possible mine survivors, begging at the top of monuments, would have their money taken off of them. It’s difficult not to feel sorry for them but poster like these are important as the message they convey is by giving them money only keeps them in this situation.
Also blind adults with limbs missing, possible mine survivors, begging at the top of monuments, would have their money taken off of them. It’s difficult not to feel sorry for them but poster like these are important as the message they convey is by giving them money only keeps them in this situation.
There are warnings signs everywhere warning about the Child Sex Trade.
Hotels have signs up everywhere, some even have them on there front warning that it will not be tolorated. They train their staff as to what to do if they suspect anything. I heard of a family who were almost turned away, they had addopted an asian child, luck for them they had her passsport and could prove that they had a right to have their daughter with them.
