Empower Filipino teenage girl survivors of abuse

For many students, going to school is just a regular routine, and they sometimes see it as a chore. But for the girls of Tahanan Sta. Luisa, going to regular school opens a world of opportunities - as it helps them gain the confidence to adjust to a new environment and empowers them through learning.

2019 is only the second school year that Tahanan Sta. Luisa enabled the girls to go for formal regular schooling, when previously only an informal arrangement through home-based schooling under the government’s Alternative Learning System was offered. The move has produced dramatic and happy results for the girls, particularly in terms of their personality development.  

Going to regular schools helps girls heal from the trauma of childhood abuse by making them realize that it is not too late to fulfill their dreams of getting a good education. With counselling and confidence-building, a 21-year old beneficiary is not anymore scared to go back to elementary because of old age. Instead, she is making the most out of learning from leadership tasks assigned to her and talking to her schoolmates.

Some of the girls are also enrolled in a school’s Special Education Section. Through this endeavor, the girls gain the ability to overcome speech difficulties. By communicating with other school mates, the girls become more assertive, articulate, and confident. They learn the value of friendship and enjoy participating in school activities.

By going to regular schools, the girls of Tahanan Sta. Luisa are developing good study habits that allow them to excel and get good grades. More than academic achievements, they are able to be independent and productive on their own, while also learning how to work well with others and be mindful of their needs. Tahanan Sta. Luisa commits to continue empowering girls through education, supporting them in school and helping them become the hard working and kind students they aim to be. 

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