By Chloe Vraney | Campaign Volunteer
In March of this year, 50 young volunteers gathered in Paysandú, Uruguay during Tourism Week to foster support and awareness for the campaign “Uruguay against child sexual exploitation”.
The volunteers experienced a two-day training led by leaders of the campaign and by experts in the prevention of child sexual exploitation. They utilized true testimonies of Uruguayan survivors of sexual exploitation written in the bookCuidame que yo te cuidaré (Care for me, and I will care for you) by Susette Kok to understand diverse situations of exploitation. They also learned how to interact with tourists, business owners, and community members to encourage them to help fight child sexual exploitation by reporting suspicious situations.
The volunteers raised awareness in downtown Paysandú, at the Tourism fair, and at the hot springs in Paysandú and in Salto, a nearby department of Uruguay. Because the public interventions in form of dance were a success in Maldonado, Uruguay back in December, the volunteers again performed learned choreographies to attract attention to the campaign. By promoting the national hotline to call and report child maltreatment, the youth volunteers invited the public to be part of the campaign and help eradicate child sexual exploitation.
Paysandú lays on the border of Uruguay and Argentina and features the week long fair to celebrate the holiday known as Holy Week, Tourism Week, Beer Week, and many other names. People come from all over Uruguay and also neighboring countries to see music shows, buy artisanal crafts, eat delicious food, and of course, drink beer from the barrel. Paysandú has a population of 76,500 people, and the fair attracts 200,000 every year.
The campaign “Uruguay against child sexual exploitation” invites and fosters youth promoters to take a lead in a societal problem that directly affects them. They reach out to adults and tourists, asking them to commit to act responsibly and speak up if they see something. It is necessary that everyone participate in this movement to eradicate child sexual exploitation.
Will you join us?
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