Preventing sexual violence against children

Some of the courses carried out under this project were the following: Colonia, Uruguay, in September 2024; Villa María, Córdoba, Argentina, February 2025; San Salvador, El Salvador, February 2025; Montevideo, Uruguay, in May 2024.

The course took place in September, 2024. Twenty-three people participated coming from 5 churches in different cities of the department affiliated with the Conference of the Assemblies of God in Uruguay. It lasted two days, Saturday and Sunday, with the full group. A manual was provided to each participant and a kit for each church present. In total, 5 kits and 23 manuals. The instructors were Ximena Soares and Melva González, who noted a very good atmosphere, with each day starting with a biblical devotional, songs, dances, and games between topics. On Saturday, the theoretical contribution was greatest; on Sunday, the methodological aspects and the planning of workshops with children and adolescents. On Sunday, one person attended as an observer who serves as the departmental director of ASSE (State Health Services Association).

One participant’s testimony was Leticia’s, who said: “it was a before and after; our eyes were opened, we understood, and a panorama opened up to a world we thought we knew, but we only knew by hearsay, we were not so attentive or alert to the many things around us.”

In Villa María, Argentina, the course took place in February, 2025. Twenty-one people participated (17 women and 4 men) from 7 local organizations. It lasted two days, Saturday and Sunday, with the full group. A manual was provided to each participant and a set of pedagogical materials for each organization present. In total, 7 sets and 21 manuals for applying the didactic tools were delivered.

The instructors were Leticia Pérez de Celis and Aylen Tymoszczuk. Among the achievements, they highlight having been able to complete the course program, and the good atmosphere and participation of the people. They also mention that when discussing spiritual violence, violence in the church, one participant was able to say that this was something she saw in her organization. On the other hand, the participants were able to understand by working the “wall of strengths” that they can do something concrete, within their reach, to prevent violences, especially sexual violence, and they were amazed to have high-quality tools for this.

Finally, in August 2025, the diploma course “Playing strengthens us” began, which trains instructors in the methodology to train educators who will apply the workshops with children and adolescents.

Thus, 33 people from countries such as Argentina, Honduras, Chile, Uruguay, Brazil, El Salvador, and Mexico participated in the in-person meeting that marks the start of the training, and at the moment they are being trained virtually. One of the organizations participating in the training is Fe y Alegría, represented by Laura Baldazari, Uruguayan, who works with children and adolescents in the organization and said this was “a very enriching experience.” In this way, all the people in this group who complete their diploma will be qualified to deliver the course “Playing strengthens us” to educators and care providers for girls, boys, and adolescents.

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 In February, 28 Christian leaders from five different churches, were trained to prevent violence against children and teenagers. The training took place at San Salvador, El Salvador. The course was dictated by Yuri Guevara, Brenda García and Josué Cantón. All of the participants were young leaders from different ministries at their local churches.

Some of the themes of the course were the concepts of violence, more specifically sexual violence; resilience, prevention and why through play?, among others.

The participants experienced the workshops suggested, which they will carry out with the groups of children and teenagers they work with.

Meanwhile in Argentina, in Villa María, another course took place for 21 young church leaders from seven churches. Participants were trained in a 16 hours course, dictated by Leticia Pérez de Celis and Aylén Tymoszczuk. The workshkops with children have begun in Argentina at the neighbourhood La Calera and General Paz Church.