Prevent Child Sexual Abuse in Ecuador

We started working with 6 schools in Pichincha area in Ecuador this year with our program mi Escudo that works prevention of sexual abuse . We went for two months and then stopped going because of shut down of schools because of Covid 19 and quarantine . The same problem happened with our live therapies in our offices with psychologists working with children and families .

 So this year we have reinvented our work and had new projects continuing in our line and our cause of child abuse prevention.

We started working in mental health programs with the police of Ecuador . And support groups to all the police .

The project was the following :

HEALTHY COMMUNITY  STOP DOMESTIC VIOLENCE

Domestic violence and child sexual abuse are serious problems in Ecuador and the rest of the world. The mandatory quarantine has caused a surge in cases of violence, as family members who live with an abuser are not able to leave their home nor seek assistance.

 The National Police respond to calls about domestic violence and are subjected to difficult and painful situations. During the months of March and April, the police received 7,954 emergency calls related to domestic violence.

 Police involvement in cases of domestic violence not only exposes them to the corona virus, it raises their on-the-job stress and anxiety levels. This can cause exhaustion, fatigue and emotional stress, which can affect their job performance in stopping violence.

 Fundacion Azulado, in working towards the prevention of violence, has developed a project together with the National Police to provide emotional support to officers who come to the aid of the most vulnerable in Ecuador. This includes individual and group psychological accompaniment and assistance for the police officers who find themselves in the first line of defense.

 Also , we have worked with the Ministery of Education in programs of helping teachers of low income preschools in the area of Pichincha with a program called Circle of Security , working themes of emotional bonding teachers and students , this was done online and we are continuing working with more schools these coming months .

We continue now to offer online therapy to low income children and families in emotional issues . We have 10 psychologists attending families. We are over 220 cases attended since the beginning of the month.

We are working to offer our online program of mi Escudo now in Ecuador , so we can attend children, teachers and families these months with our program in elementary low income schools ..

 Any more concerns , please contact us

 Thank you very much for your help

 Regards ,

Maria Jose Sevilla

Co founder Fundacion Azulado