Culturally relevant lesson plans for all grade levels in school on personal safety using empathy, decision making, impulse control and other life skills. Building empathy and skills of students as well as their teachers, schools, parents, and communities. After 15 years, together with other NGOs, individuals, GO units we have interrupted the Department of Education who have now mandated these lessons in all schools, galvanizing the department to write new and revise present child protection policies and practices, building understanding and empathy among teachers, and increase community empathy towards victims and recognizing possible at risk behaviors in adults.

Problem

Revive historical and traditional cultural empathy through schools and communities in order to confront the present increase in child sexual abuse, including recent rape murders of young children. We work at very local levels with individuals, schools, institutions and community-based agencies and on the other end of the spectrum we work directly and with other NGO support with the Department of Education, Department of Social Welfare and Development, Department of Health, Philippine National Police, and Department of Justice.

Solution

Working from the outside, in. Orient national government. Train local government and communities. Have culturally relevant materials to use and train NGOs and schools. Train teachers for direct work with students who are taught information, skills to handle the information, and building self-esteem so they feel confident enough to practice the skills based on the information. The go back out - when the child needs help how that child chooses who in the environment can help and supporting those the child has chosen for help.

Example

The person-in-environment. What does the child need for protection so empower the child - then work out to empower the family, friends, faith-community, schools, communities, local governments, national government.

Marketplace

We work with any NGO with a focus on child protection. We train them. They buy our products. We support them technically. So far the success far outweighs the challenges - there is more than enough work and room for everyone.