Prevention of sexual violence against children

Trainings in Uruguay, Guatemala and Argentina 

URUGUAY

In November 2022 and February 2023, Claves held two Playing Strengthens Us to Face Difficult Situations capacity building workshops in Uruguay. Sixty participants from 18 institutions around the country including, churches, children’s clubs, after school youth centers, daycare centers, public and private elementary, middle and high schools, and health centers were present. Over the course of two days, Claves equipped and familiarized participants with conceptual, experiential, and methodological tools so that they can implement a series of sexual abuse prevention workshops with children and/or adolescents in their own respective institution. These workshops utilize creative, participatory, and playful techniques — songs, dances, stories, puzzles, board games, posters, theatrical games, etc. —to help children and adolescents develop skills to prevent one of the most complex and painful issues in society: sexual violence. 

A recent participate of the course, commented that Playing Strengthens Us to Face Difficult Situations, “provided me with tools to development my practice and appropriate approaches to situations that may arise in relation to violence against children and child sexual abuse. It has given me confidence in the practices I already use and proposes ways in which I can continue to improve them.”  

GUATEMALA

In November 2022, Claves held a "Playing Strengthens Us" course in Guatemala City, Guatemala. Seventeen people, 16 women and 1 man between the ages of 28 and 37 participated. The course consisted of 19 hours of training in a mixed modality setting, of which 9 hours were face-to-face. The participants were trained using theoretical, methodological, and experiential methods, equipping them to hold their own workshops with children and adolescents to strengthen them against sexual violence. The participants committed to continue the course’s approach and implement the corresponding basic course in their institutions.

"The participants were able to deepen their knowledge of sexual violence, its causes and effects. They expressed astonishment and gratitude for the knowledge acquired. Several participants during the in-person part of the course were able to understand and begin to use the questions to develop critical thinking in children and adolescents" (Course teacher's report).

The challenge of addressing sexuality within the awareness-raising workshops and recognizing the personal boundaries of the body was a recurring theme among the evaluations. The workshop was positively valued by the participants, who highlighted the usefulness of the knowledge gained, affirming: 

"It will help me to be alert to signs of sexual violence or emotional problems in children and adolescents."

"How to manage confirmed cases of violence."

"More support is needed for community centers. Very important."

 ARGENTINA

In June 2022, Claves held a "Playing Strengthens Us" course in Buenos Aires, Argentina, for people who work with children and adolescents in different areas of The Salvation Army in Argentina. Twenty people participated in the 24-hour course. 

The course was facilitated by one person from Argentina, one from Peru, and one from Mexico, who taught the course under the supervision of a teacher with extensive local experience. After leading this course, the three facilitators are now qualified to teach this course themselves in their local contexts, thereby expanding the scope of this prevention initiative throughout the continent.

• Report with pictures (PDF)