Animations for the Prevention of Child Sexual Abuse and Exploitation

Surviving the wrath of Ketsana

Being a tropical country, the Philippines is not a stranger to typhoons and other natural disasters. Approximately six to seven storms hit the Philippines annually, and the people have learned to take such things in stride.

When Ondoy (international name: Ketsana) entered the Philippine area of responsibility, it did not seem threatening. The weather bureau PAGASA had issued the standard warning a day before, giving a Signal no. 1 in Metro Manila and neighboring provinces. When I left my house in Montalban, Rizal at 5am on September 26 to go to Stairway in Puerto Galera, there was just a bit of rain and no wind. Three hours later, however, when I arrived at the Batangas pier, I was greeted by the full fury of Ondoy. No small boats were allowed to go to Puerto Galera and the last ship for Calapan City had already left. From there I could have taken a two-hour jeepney ride to Puerto Galera.

Silver and Gold: Roekilde students continue the tradition

Stairway’s oldest supporters are young people themselves, who have managed to uphold a cause that has become a tradition. 16 years ago, in the bitter cold of Vejle, Denmark, students from Roekilde gymnasium had first hit the streets to help raise money to support Stairway’s programs and activities. Now 16 years later, (and under better climatic conditions) the tradition is still going strong. This year, more than 95% of the student body joined in the annual Roekilde Day activity and raised an unprecedented amount surpassing the record from the previous year.

Thank you, Roekilde for your valued support.

Stairway successfully completes European Tour

After a successful premiere held last June 2 in Manila, Red Leaves Falling, Stairway's third animated film about child pornography and child sex trafficking, alongside "Cracked Mirrors," a long-running theatre piece that portrays the deep pain and suffering children and young people go through as a result of sexual abuse and sexual exploitation, has completed its month long European tour that covered Denmark, Belgium and Germany.

View images

Stairway shares its creative methods and tools with Danish NGO's

Arranged by Børne og Ungdomsnetvaerket (Children and Youth Network) in Copenhagen, Denmark, Stairway spent a day with various Danish NGO’s discussing the use of creative methods as an innovative vehicle for creating awareness in the protection and the promotion of children’s rights. The full day workshop included: viewing of the three animated features, Daughter, A Good Boy and Red Leaves Falling, a video showing of the theatre piece, "Cracked Mirrors," and engaging discussions with the Stairway team.

Getting to know merry Merlyn

Merlyn is a pastor in Christian community church in Lavezares municipality in Northern Samar. Extending assistance to children-at-risk has been part of her life, personally and professionally.

Assigned by Board of Trustees of the Northern Samar Children’s Ministries Network (NSCMN) to become one of its focal persons for the Child Sexual Abuse Prevention (CSAP) Capacity-Building Partnership Project with Stairway Foundation, Merlyn participated in several trainings held at the Stairway campus in Puerto Galera, Mindoro Oriental. The trainings prepared her to become a CSAP resource person. Currently, she has been conducting CSAP sessions for the elementary and high school students, teachers and parents of Lavezares.

“Through Stairway’s trainings, I was able to deepen my knowledge about CSAP,” she remarks. Taking pride in being a licensed foster parent and, thus, authorized to become a temporary parent for children-at risk, she relates that she has four children-at-risk under her care. Prior to becoming a CSAP resource person, she has been conducting sessions on child trafficking under the direction of the Philippine Children Ministries Network (PCMN), and has handled a case of child sexual abuse (CSA) where the child was facilitated for adoption. “However, through SFI CSAP trainings, I learned how to relate with the CSA survivor. The trainings gave me deep knowledge about CSA and how to counsel the survivor,” she admits.

Break the Silence Campaign in Europe

Child sexual abuse and exploitation is determined by and is a result of demand for sex with children and access to pornographic images of children on the Internet. A significant portion of the demand lies within the Western world. After a successful premiere held last June 2 in Manila, Red Leaves Falling, Stairway's third animated film about child pornography and child sex trafficking, will make its European debut alongside ”Cracked Mirrors," a long-running theatre piece that portrays the deep pain and suffering children and young people go through as a result of sexual abuse and sexual exploitation.

In collaboration with Roedkilde Gymnasium, Stairway Danmark, Kildenothilfe and private sponsors, the Break the Silence Campaign will feature in Denmark, Germany and Belgium. Danish International Development Assistance (Danida) is the main sponsor of the tour.

Click here to view video

Stairway Animations to be Translated to Vietnamese

Six people from the Danish Vietnamese Association (DVA) and from the Ho Chi Minh Child Welfare Foundation (HCMCWF) visited Stairway from July 20-24. The four day visit involved laying the groundwork for a future collaboration in which Stairway animation toolkits will be translated and dubbed into Vietnamese. The collaboration also involves a series of trainings for social workers under the DVA and the HCMCWF over the coming year

Vendors and Masseuses in the Fight Against Child Sexual Abuse and Exploitation

Donned in bright pink and yellow shirts, with the message “Child Sexual Abuse is a Crime, Break the Silence, Report Offenders,” written on the back, is a major step in the right direction for the municipality of Puerto Galera in its commitment to protect children from child sexual abuse and sexual exploitation.

Known for its beautiful white beaches and pristine surroundings, Puerto Galera attracts both local and international tourists, some of whom are sex offenders seeking to exploit and to sexually abuse children. With the aim to make all of the beaches of Puerto Galera safer in terms of child protection, Stairway has enhanced its collaboration with the local municipality through a program with the Department of Tourism. Last July 6-7, Stairway oriented and provided basic training in child sexual abuse prevention to the local vendors and masseuses. The women cover all of the beaches of Puerto Galera. Their presence can be a first step in protecting children at risk from potential sex offenders.

Of the Self and Others: Basic Communication Skills Training

For years, Stairway Foundation has been working with certain sectors in Philippine society to become aware of the issue of child sexual abuse, to talk about it, understand it, and find ways to address it. Various methodologies have been utilized, from traditional training/seminars, to holding theater plays and the production of animated films. However, over and beyond awareness-raising, Stairway has also recognized the importance of ensuring that safety nets are present to help children who disclose of sexual abuse.

Gender Sensitivity

Children in residence attended a gender sensitivity session, conducted by Ace Diloy, an advocacy and training officer from the Child Sexual Abuse and Prevention (CSAP) team. The session aimed to educate the children about the differences between the concept of gender and sex, the different gender issues, and how they can be gender sensitive. The session was concluded with a film showing of, “Beautiful Boxer,” which is about a Muay Thai boxer, who despite his disposition, manages to break the stereotypes dictated to him by society.

My Inner Beauty

Stairway kids went on their initial retreat held last August 1-3 at St. Benedictine Monastery in Calapan. The three day retreat was facilitated by the Calapan Youth Ministry. Recommended yearly for new kids in Stairway, the retreat serves as an ideal time for reflection, prayer and inspiration.