PREDA launches anti-trafficking awareness building seminars and therapy for survivors.
January 22, 2014 ·
The human trafficking of persons in the Yolanda(Haiyan) hit areas is a growing concern as Philippine and world media attention has turned away to other events. Recruiters and traffickers are reported likely to be prowling the evacuation areas and offering jobs to young people that frequently lead to a life of sexual exploitation and abuse. Many thousands of young girls have been trafficked to the sex bars of Cebu and Luzon from Leyte and Samar in recent years.
The danger is greater now that the people are surviving on the side of near nothingness. They have no jobs, no home and depend on relief food handouts. Any job offer will be snapped up no matter how dubious or risky. Awareness building training and psycho-social group therapy is urgently needed for the survivors and Preda foundation is delivering this special service to the people.
Last 13 January the Preda Executive Director Mr.Francis Bermido,social worker Mrs Marlyn Capio-Richer and Father Shay Cullen,founder and president, went to Tacloban to prepare the way. They encouraged a group of young people to tell their traumatic stories of near death experiences. They told their tearful stories and were greatly relieved and unburdened after they shared there feelings.
The advance team gave a presentation to 300 students of the Mercy sisters and coordinated with the DSWD Assistant Regional Director to give the anti-trafficking awareness seminars and group therapy to the evacuees. This is designed to develop participation ,sharing and awareness and knowledge building to counter the depression and hopelessness many people feel following the loss of relatives, friends and possessions.
The Preda Education team and therapists who travel to Tacloban on 22 January are starting a continuous series of training seminars and therapeutic sessions among the thousands of survivors. They will also have simultaneous education and entertaining puppet shows for the children 6 to 12 year old.These presentation will teach them never to go off with strangers, what are good and bad touches and how and to whom to run and tell any abusive acts done to them.
The parents will get similar inputs and comics and hotline cards will be distributed with a cell phone number to text or call for help. The group therapy will encourage the survivors to open up and speak in public and private about their ordeal during the massive typhoon. Many have had near death experiences and saw their loved ones perish and want to share their stories and have a listening audience.The Preda seminars,puppet shows and story telling were a great success in the Manila evacuation camps. Many more will be helped in the coming weeks and months. [email protected] reporting hotline 0917 532 4453
Preda Executive Director Francis Bermido and Marlyn
Capio-Richer visits tent of evacuee family Tacloban whose child was
victim of child abuse.
Preda team interviews a child orphan whose family was killed
by the killer waves.
Preda executive director gives anti-trafficking advice to the
Students of Mercy sister Carmela.
