Empower Vulnerable Children in Peru and Cambodia

We are still feeling the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic. However, we see hope on the horizon! We hope to have our full programme running again soon.

In the meanwhile, there is a takeaway from the pandemic situation that shows why programmes like ours are so important. According to an article from the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children, the risk of child abuse and children’s vulnerability has increased during the pandemic and subsequent lockdowns. Our Child Protection programme gives our students knowledge and confidence to seek help and know what to do when they find themselves in danger or situations of abuse. We sincerely hope that we have been able to make a true impact on our students and help protect them during these times. One of the recommendations that NSPCC gives for fighting against the rise in abuse is “comprehensive and long-term funding for children’s services,” which is why it is so important that we keep our programme running.

Peru

Due to the severe lockdown in Peru, our Picaflor House afterschool programme has had to close its doors until the government allows us to reopen. This means that we have been unable to continue our child safety lessons with our students. We estimate that we will be allowed to resume operations in March of 2021; therefore, our Child Protection lessons will resume at that time. Our project manager still has regular contact with our student’s families, checking in on them and their situations.

Cambodia

Thankfully, our Helping Hands School was recently allowed to re-open! Despite some home-lessons being given during the time we were closed, our over-all school year curriculum is behind, so we are playing catch-up with our students and making sure they are receiving the lessons they need to continue succeeding. Our Child Protection lessons are also behind, but we will continue to work them into our curriculum and schedule, as we know how crucial they are.

We hope to have more updates for you with our next report!

Thank you for taking the time to read our update, and as always, thank you for your continued, invaluable support. If you would like to donate, and we hope you do, please visit our page to do so!

Since our last update, our Child Protection Project has made leaps and bounds, including crossing continents! After implementing our first modules at Picaflor House in Peru, we expanded the programme to our sister school, Helping Hands, in Siem Reap, Cambodia. The curriculum was adapted to better address the situations Cambodian children face, and regular lessons are being taught to the students, with our teachers’ close involvement.

Effects of COVID-19

Due to the severe lockdown in Peru, our Picaflor House afterschool programme has had to close its doors until the government allows us to reopen. This means that we have been unable to continue our child safety lessons with our students. In Cambodia, our teachers received permission to visit students at home for school lessons, under certain conditions, but the safety modules are still behind schedule.

However, this does not mean our work has stopped. Our children need this programme now more than ever. The stay-at-home orders in many countries have left many children in even more vulnerable situations, some with increased chances of witnessing or being victims of abuse. With this in mind, we are continuing to improve our curriculum, and will be implementing more lessons with our students as soon as possible, so that they are aware of their rights, resources and channels available to them, should they need help.

We must continue teaching, improving, and expanding this programme, as it is ever so important. To do this, we are still seeking donations for materials, resources, and to pay our teachers.

Thank you for taking the time to read our update, and as always, thank you for your continued, invaluable support. If you would like to donate, and we hope you do, please visit our page to do so!