Two survivors of child sexual abuse who have been assisted, healed and empowered by the Preda Foundation spoke at a seminar attended by 93 teachers and parents and called for action by duty-bearers to help children who are being abused in their homes and elsewhere. Titled “Capacity-building Seminar for School-based Duty-bearers on Child Protection,” the activity organized by Preda in partnership with the Department of Education Schools Division Office of Zambales was conducted last 12 January 2024 at the Subic Central School, Subic, Zambales.

 

Altheya, now 19 years old, recalled how at seven years old, she was sexually assaulted by her cousin who threatened her so she will not tell. She kept that incident a secret and hoped to forget about it. However, after several years, during a class discussion about children’s rights, she suddenly broke into tears and remembered how she was assaulted. Her teacher was surprised and asked her what was the matter and that’s when she told the teacher of the secret she had been keeping all those years. She was brought to the guidance counselor, a former staff of Preda Foundation, who knew what to do in cases such as this. She was referred to the local social worker who then referred her to Preda.

 

At Preda, she was empowered to deal with the trauma she experienced. She then filed a legal complaint against her uncle and testified in court and withstood the questioning by the defense.

Altheya joined the Preda theater group that toured Germany in August and September 2023. She recently graduated from senior high school and hopes to continue college next school year.

The second child-survivor to speak was Kimberly, now also 19 years old. Kimberly was sexually assaulted by her grandfather. She told her teacher about it and the teacher referred her also to the local social worker and then to the Preda Home for Girls. She also filed a legal complaint against her grandfather who is now convicted and will remain in jail for several years. Kimberly is now in college and hopes to be a registered social worker in the future to help other children that are going through the same ordeal as she did.

 

The capacity-building seminars of Preda Foundation and SDO-Zambales will be conducted every Friday until May 2024 for all the districts of SDO Zambales.