HELP HEAL A BROKEN CHILD

The "Help Heal a Wounded Child" Project continues to create significant impact in the lives of the 24 young girls being served as of this reporting. Fifteen (15) of them are currently at the Laura Vicuña Center for 24-hour home life care and psychosocial interventions provided by the Salesian Sisters, Social Workers and Staff while they go to school during the day. Six (6) were already integrated to their families while three (3) girls under independent living are continuously being supported for their college education.

A highlight for this period is the Project's effort of  forming them as child advocates while they are being helped to become healthy survivors like in the case of Althea (not her real name). At age 3, she was abandoned by her epileptic mother in a local church where she was sexually abused by a pastor-intern. She was made to sleep in a dog cage and endured the coldness of the night until she was referred to the Laura Vicuña Center at age six (6). Through the years of her life at the Center, Althea has emerged to become a youth leader in her own right. She teaches co-residents with songs and dances and tries to set a good example to the new ones. Having been made stronger by what she went through, she committed herself to become a Child Advocate so that no more children will end up like her.

Althea started to be involved in the Foundation’s advocacy campaigns against child sexual abuse, trafficking and child labor in schools and communities. Her wit and high spirit brought her to various local and national children’s fora and conferences. At age 14, she was elected Council Member of the National Anti-Poverty Commission – Children Sector. She serves as a facilitator/ moderator in national children's fora. All these experiences put her in the ranks of emerging child leaders of the country who amplify the voices of disadvantaged Filipino youth so that they will have a better chance for a brighter future.