life Inside issue 7
Freeing children from exploitation LIFE FOR CHILDREN AND THOSE WHO CARE FOR THEM Tackling cyberbullying in Argentina Light and life for Filipino children Responding to child trafficking in Nepal
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Issue 7
Winter 2018
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EDITORIAL It’s hard to tackle a monster in the dark. You just don’t know how big it is or what you’re dealing with. So many monsters shrink when you shine a light on them. Child exploitation, online sexual abuse and grooming are some of the monsters that Viva and our partner networks stand against. It is only when these issues are brought into the light, and shown for what they are, that these monsters begin to weaken and break down.
Please fill in the form enclosed or give online (viva.org/christmasappeal) to take a stand. You can learn more about this work on pages 4-5.
In the Philippines our partner network, PCMN, is taking a stand within what UNICEF describes as “the global epicenter of the livestream sexual abuse trade” manifested in the online sexual exploitation of children (OSEC).
Also, read how pastors are raising awareness of child trafficking in Nepal (p3), how our partner network in Argentina is tackling cyber-bullying (p3) and how churches in Lebanon (p7) are providing education as an alternative to child labor.
By empowering and training youth advocates and adopting a crosssectorial approach, PCMN is bringing this issue to light and encouraging children, parents, teachers, pastors and local government to all say, “we cannot close our eyes to this.”
Thank you for joining us in being bearers of light.
‘Shining Lights’ is our Christmas Match Appeal this year, where your generosity will bring child exploitation into the light.
Best wishes
Mark Stavers Chief Executive, Viva
We are an international Christian charity passionate about releasing children from poverty and abuse. We grow locally-led networks who are committed to working together so that children are safe, well and able to fulfil their God-given potential. Last year, Viva reached 2.2 million children by partnering with 38 networks and working in 27 countries. Find out more at viva.org 2
Viva Life is published three times a year by Viva Network North America
FREEING CHILDREN FROM EXPLOITATION
TACKLING CYBERBULLYING Red Viva Argentina is holding preventative training sessions in schools
AND ONLINE GROOMING IN ARGENTINA Regrettably, in Argentina, there is a growing number of cases of online grooming and cyberbullying with very tragic outcomes. Over the last year, at Red Viva Argentina, we have been addressing the topics of cyberbullying and online grooming through holding workshops and seminars with community leaders, schools, parents and children to raise awareness of and prevent online threats. In the workshops, parents find it hard to understand the dangers their children face with unsupervised access to the internet and that adults often do not know how to talk about or deal with these issues. And in turn, there are children who are making bad choices but do not know how to speak about it. Preventive and awareness workshops are necessary to start conversations about cyberbullying and online grooming. It is only through starting to talk about these issues, that they can start to be tackled. Viva Life Viva Life
This year, our network has also held four preventive training sessions in secular schools and three in churches, talking with children or adolescents who do not have close or reliable adults to talk to about these issues. Before the training, many did not take account of or know much about the risks because they didn’t realize how much it could affect their lives. So, let’s talk to our children about the best way to use social media and also the danger, showing them how to not let the media influence us. It may mean we have to learn to turn off our screens more to spend more time with our children and to re-establish eye contact without a screen between. But it will surely be worth it. By Adriana de Jure, Network Coordinator of Red Viva Argentina
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LIGHT LIFE FOR FILIPINO AND
CHILDREN
Children learn more about their rights during a lively Saturday afternoon session
Thousands of children in the Philippines are affected by the murky world of online sexual exploitation. Andrew Dubock travels to the country to find the light and hope that our partner network is offering. A teddy bear. A symbol of childhood, of innocence, of security. However, for Angela, a 12-year-old from the Philippines, her favorite toy will always be a reminder of the moment when her aunt betrayed her. “When we picked her up, Angela didn’t know why she had been rescued,” social worker Jovie Sorongon tells me. “Her aunt told her the picture with her teddy bear would become her profile picture. Instead it was sent online to the abuser and the aunt would get money from it.” A police raid prevented her aunt from repeating the act – but the damage was already done. “It was heartbreaking to see Angela”, adds Jovie. “She was really crying because she was worried about what would happen to her family.” UNICEF describes the Philippines as “the global epicenter of the livestream sexual abuse trade.” 4
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The country’s rapid urbanization and technological advancements, coupled with rising social and economic inequality, are factors in the increase of online sexual exploitation of children, or OSEC. Dasmariñas is an hour’s drive from the capital, Manila, and has the highest number of victims relative to its size. With a commitment to protecting children from abuse for 20 years, Viva’s partner Philippine Children’s Ministries Network (PCMN), has started a program to eliminate OSEC, particularly focusing on Dasmariñas. It has three clear focus areas: prevention (raising awareness across society), justice (improving reporting through greater collaboration), and restoration (safe community reintegration of OSEC victims). Getting the message into the heart of the community and influencing all parts of Winter 2018
FREEING CHILDREN FROM EXPLOITATION
A street in Dasmariñas
society is crucial. American pastor Derek Johns, from World Christian Fellowship, has just begun a partnership with PCMN on the issue of OSEC. “We’re learning exactly how to deal with the problem: who to contact, how to train the children. I believe that we’re not called to just stay here in the building – but to be the light of Jesus Christ in the community. And light means taking action. We want to see children rescued – and churches need to be at the forefront of dealing with these issues.” PCMN’s youth-driven advocacy is impressive. It’s a privilege to spend time amongst the group of energetic young people who are passionate about protecting children and driving this program forward. Arjay Dela Cruz tells me about his motivation. “I used to ask myself what I can do in the community but PCMN has taught me I can make
a difference. I want children to play, exercise and enjoy their rights – and to be free from abuse and exploitation.” Fe Foronda, PCMN’s National Director, states: “We cannot just close our eyes to this. My hope is that this will be stopped in the near future and in collaboration with everyone, especially the churches, the government and the NGOs.” Our brothers and sisters in the Philippines are beginning a journey to eliminate the online sexual exploitation of children. It was inspiring to meet people committed to the fight, and I left hopeful that they can have an impact on children, families, neighborhoods and indeed whole cities. Andrew Dubock is Viva’s Fundraising and Outreach Team Manager
This Christmas, will you help us to prevent children in the Philippines from being sexually exploited online?
Go to viva.org/christmasappeal for videos, more articles and ways to give. Viva Life
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© CarNet Nepal
RESPONDING
Church leaders in Nuwakot plan the next steps to tackle trafficking
TO CHILD TRAFFICKING IN NEPAL Earlier this year, Viva’s partner network CarNet Nepal co-hosted a threeday conference aimed at envisioning pastors from 48 churches in the Nuwakot district to respond to the issues of human trafficking in their communities. As many as 10,000 Nepali women and girls are trafficked across the border to India each year with an estimated 100200,000 Nepali trafficked persons currently living in India. Sindhupalchok and Nuwakot districts have the highest rates of trafficking in the country. There is a high migration of children, young girls and families to the city for employment and other purposes, which increased following the April 2015 earthquake.
Risk of trafficking occurs when a family does not have even the basic needs for life. Parents are easily convinced to entrust their children, 6
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especially daughters, to brokers who promise high-paying jobs in the cities so they can send money back to their families. The girls, however, are often then imprisoned in brothels and forced to provide sex to the brothel’s clients. In this context, the Church can play a role in preventing trafficking from happening and in the rehabilitation of survivors. The conference helped church leaders to focus on the issues of trafficking and consider what the Bible says about social justice, helping the marginalized, supporting families and bringing people to restoration. One attendee said, “The
Church can reach where NGOs and the government cannot. It should bring transformation and encourage its people to work against human trafficking.” To reinforce the messages of the conference, a smaller training session was held for 20 pastors and leaders to prevent human trafficking and child sexual abuse in their communities. Several hundred people have been reached with messages every month. The network has also led training for students at a secondary school in Urleni, Nuwakot. Winter 2018
© Helen Manson/Tearfund NZ
FREEING CHILDREN FROM EXPLOITATION
FINDING
ANOTHER WAY Education is a key factor in preventing child exploitation
Syrian refugee children in Lebanon are vulnerable to being exploited and forced to work. However, as Kezia M’Clelland writes, Viva and its local partner are prioritizing the need for child protection and supporting them in getting an education. Refugees comprise a quarter of Lebanon’s population. This brings pressure on resources and opportunities, and Syrian families increasingly struggle to meet their basic needs. With work hard to find 76 per cent of Syrian refugees in Lebanon live below the poverty line.*
As a result, child labor is on the rise among refugee families struggling to make ends meet. Lack of access to education is a key factor in enabling child labor, and at least 41 per cent of children aged 6-14 in Lebanon’s Bekaa Valley are still out of school.* Viva works alongside our local partner MERATH to support churches in their desire to help children get back into school. Our non-formal education projects now reach 1,500 children with basic education and psychosocial support. In one center I was encouraged to hear stories of how two older boys, who Viva Life
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had been taken out of school in order to work, were helped by staff at the education center who convinced their parents of the importance of education. These children are now back in school. Viva supports these centers through child protection training and mentoring, and supporting training for educators. Providing opportunities for education is not a complete solution. We’re currently also prioritizing looking at ways to engage and support parents. Livelihoods projects are being piloted by MERATH to seek to address the economic pressure which contributes to exploitation. Viva will ensure that child protection is integrated into these projects. Kezia M’Clelland is Viva’s Children in Emergencies Specialist *
Source: The 2017 Vulnerability Assessment of Syrian Refugees in Lebanon
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This Christmas, will you be a bearer of light and prevent children from being exploited? Give online or by check and your gift will be doubled.
viva.org/christmasappeal
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Viva is an operating name of Viva North America. Viva North America is a registered 501(c)3 organization, registered under employer identification number 84-1541857. Any children referred to have had their names and photos changed in accordance with our Child Protection Policy.
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