Empowering Children in Difficult Circumstances (ECDC) Project
- Goal : 35 000$
- Target: 50 000$
The Overall objective is to strengthen policies, practices and approaches to ensure social welfare services prevent and protect 12,650 children across Guyana from sexual violence by Dec 2015. This project has now evolved into the CAC project.
Specific objectives –
1.To reduce the trauma and anxiety experienced by 150 child abuse survivors and assist in their various needs particularly during any subsequent proceedings within the justice system by Dec 2015.
2. Public education and advocacy on sexual violence against children building the capacity of 375 caregivers (250 teachers and 125 PTA representative) in regions 1, 3, 4, 5 and 6 to implement the ‘Tell Campaign’ and prevent and protect 12,500 children from sexual violence/abuse by Dec 2015.
3. Establish and strengthen the capacity of 5 regional groups of 35 community representatives including teachers, PTA representatives, Child Protection Officer, Schools’ Welfare Officer, Police and other community leaders to monitor and improve response to reports of child abuse within regions 1, 3, 4, 5 and 6 by Dec. 2015.
ACTIVITIES
1.Partnership with Forward Guyana and the CPA for the establishment of 3 Child Advocacy Centres in regions 3, 4, and 5 for the provision of holistic services for children who have been sexually abused, in one location.
1.2 Formulate 3 multidisciplinary teams in regions 3, 4 and 5 for forensic interviewing with children who have been sexually abused.
1.2.2 Capacity building training of the multidisciplinary teams to carry out the forensic interviewing with children reporting that they have been sexually abused.
1.3. Provision of Psychosocial support services for 150 children who have experienced sexual abuse.
1.4 Parenting Skills Education Training for 150 caregivers of children who have been sexually abused, particularly non-offending parents.
- Formulate a National Child Rights Coalition of 10 civil society agencies to advocate for the care and protection of children from sexual violence.
3.1 Conduct public awareness campaigns to raise awareness on the sexual offences legislation, sexual violence and the Tell Campaign nationally.
3.2 Coordinate and facilitate the Tell Campaign in regions 1, 5 and 6 with 250 teachers and 125 PTA representatives.
4.1 Mobilize and train 5 regional core groups within regions 1, 3, 4, 5 and 6 to monitor the implementation of the Tell Campaign and strengthen systems for reporting and addressing cases of child sexual abuse.
5.1 Conduct training with 15 HRWs (Counsellors and Child Protection Officers) to strengthen their capacity to deliver counselling and other child-friendly services to children in the project.