Last year we got connected to a couple of Pastors from Argentina who have a mission to fight sexual child abuse in Latin America. They wrote a children’s book that we used last year as our Christmas campaign. We were able to reach over 1500 children directly with the material and over 2500 children through local teachers and schools. Over the past year we have learned a lot more about what they do and have been equipped to help children fight against sexual child abuse. This has brought our understanding to another level and made our commitment to help rescue children even stronger.
We learned that 1 out of every 3 children in Peru will be sexually abused before puberty. The studies they did also indicated that the abuser is usually someone the child knows and possibly someone who lives in the home. The statistics are likely very low because only about 5% of the children abused actually report it. This is a continuous spiral that repeats itself from one generation to another. We also learned that there are 4 ways someone can sexually abuse a child. The first is what most of us think of when we hear the term sexual abuse - It involves touching and is what is considered sexual molestation. The second and third type of sexual abuse are exposing the genitals to a child to be aroused or to have the child expose their genitals to arouse the abuser. This is where most children feel it is hard to defend or confront the abuser because there is no physical evidence of a sexual violation. The last, and probably for us the most eye opening and impactful and least known form of abuse, is exposing a child to pornography. Children are sponges so full of creativity that when their minds are distorted with images it becomes a permanent part of their formation and development. This fourth form of sexual child abuse has grown over the past 20 years through media and technological advances.
Armed with this knowledge and the host of resources we were given access to, we went into 3 different schools we were invited to speak at and did assemblies with all the kids, parents and teachers. That led to something we never expected, 60 other schools in our city reached out to us and asked us to come and do the same! These 60 schools mean we would be able to reach 9000 children directly just this year. Our indirect impact would also be to the siblings of the kids we reach and any other children the educators have contact with.
Our plan:
Every piece of the puzzle is important in helping our community with the awareness and effective teaching and training to combat sexual child abuse.
- Go into 5 schools per month with this material
- Equip parents and educators with tools to prevent future abuse
- Help train children ages 3-10 in a fun and age appropriate way to protect themselves.
- Provide counseling for any children/parents who have been effected by abuse.
- Follow up with the schools to support them in this fight.
- Continue to train up family counselors which we have been doing since our family conference last year.
We are so excited to get started but there’s one thing missing. You! We need your help. For us to make this happen, and reach these 9000+ children, it will cost $10 per child. That helps with everything from transportation to the school to giving each child their own copy of “Cuentos Que No Son Cuentos” or "Fairytales that are not Fairytales” - the book that started this whole thing.
If you were thinking of giving a charitable donation for Christmas, this is the perfect opportunity.
Help us bring hope to this generation of children. Partner with us to see the lives of children transformed all over northern Peru.
If you would like to give into this project and are a member of our home church Powerhouse please give through here just mark it missions or on Sunday mark missions and write in Peru on your offering envelope.
If you are not a member of our home church and would like to give please go here
Thank you all so much for all your support
God Bless
Kat
