Child Protection: a basic need

Lately, I've been assessing Filipino's giving behaviors to NGO's, and I realized that most of them tend to give or respond quickly to immediate and basic needs of people: food, shelter, clothing. Even when we present HOPE worldwide's projects to them, if they have P10,000 to give, and have their own choice, they will rather give it to the feeding program.

I guess, it's part of human survival instinct. As long as the children have their top three basic needs, they will survive. It's true, they will physically "survive". However, HOPE worldwide Philippines deals with not just the physical, but the emotional, psychological, and spiritual aspects of children. These are intangible needs but are very true, and very real needs.

I do realize that it is up to us (as an organization) to communicate to people that "protection from harm" is a basic need of a child. Without it, the child will cease to become a child. Without it, the child will not grow to become the best that he/she can be. Without it, the child can not develop normally emotionally, psychologically, and spiritually. You can provide a child with all his/her basic needs, but abuse lowers down his/her capability to secure those things for himself/herself when she grows up.

What if we gear away from the "image" of simply stopping child abuse? What if we market our "service" as a basic need? A child's basic need for love and protection, and without it, the child will not develop normally.

Actually, studies have shown that long term abuse actually "physically" damages the brain. A child is not designed to suffer the impact of "abuse". Instead, nature has it that a child at his/her age should be showered with love, attention, affection. When abuse happens, the brain gets traumatized, causing chemical imbalance in the child. This then, causes the brain to under develop. This explains why children who suffered abuse may have to deal with psychological and temper problems in the future. (I will post that article in this website next time).

So, the child needs not only food, shelter, and clothing. The child needs protection from all kinds of harm too. And may be that's a better angle in marketing our cause.

Cute inspiring story about sCAN

Here's a nice story about SCAN.

A four-year old niece of Beth Revuelta (of AMS) saw the SCAN solicitation form. Curios, she asked Beth, "Tita, why does the girl look ugly?". Beth then, began explaining that this girl is from a poor community and is in danger of being abused by people. This girl needs to be protected from abuse, and the way to do it is to teach her the "personal safety lesson." The lesson will teach her how to protect herself. But, people need to register her for the lesson, and it only costs P5. (Beth, uy! Nandyan ka pala sa mailing list. Tama ba 'ko?)

The following day, this girl's mom tagged her along at work. Little did Beth and her mom know that she actually brought the solicitation form with her. Then, with all the wits she has a child, she began asking people for money. She knew of course that she was doing it to save the child in the picture. Lo and behold, after the collection was done, she gathered around P400! And it could have been more, kasi she only recognizes P5 and P10 coins. People wanted to give P50 bills to her but she wouldn't accept them. Hindi niya kasi kilala! Actually, she didn't spare Beth from the collection. Hindi siya pumayag na hindi magbigay si Beth.

What is the morale of the story? Teach your children to recognize bills! Este, mali pala...

I guess that's why God is calling us to child-likeness. To a child, everything is clear, "Someone needs help. I want to help. Others should help." She felt sorry that the poor girl (in the picture) was ugly and was in danger of being abused. She felt compelled to do something about it. Wow, I am moved by her story talaga. All of us can do a lot more than what this little girl did. We just have to remember that child within all of us.

And also remember...the child/children that you now have. They too need the gift of protection. I encourage everyone to start the personal safety lessons at your own homes. Be trained to be a facilitator and spare your own child/children from abuse. And when you've done that, help out the other kids in your community. You will never know how great an impact you can make to a child's life.

The next time you visit the Center of HOPE, listen to the stories of the children who fell victim to abuse, or simply watch them. Then you will realize the big, big difference of sparing a child from abuse.

Advance Merry Christmas everyone!