What Child Protection Looked Like This July
July was a month of continued learning, connection, and celebration for the Redeeming Zoe community. While frequent rains throughout the month presented challenges for some of our gatherings and outreach activities, our programs continued as planned with some adjustments along the way. This month, we celebrated children who completed the I Can Be Strong, Smart and Safe program, equipped parents with practical child protection knowledge, continued to support families through Club Kinabuhi, created opportunities for our teens to build friendships through recreation, and strengthened our team's understanding of emerging issues in the anti-trafficking field.
Wins in July:
Empowering Children Through I Can Be Strong, Smart and Safe – One of the highlights of July was the culminating activity for our I Can Be Strong, Smart and Safe (ICBSSS) program in one of our outreach communities in Cordova. After completing the 10-week child protection curriculum, 38 children successfully completed the program and celebrated their graduation. As part of the culmination, several children were given the opportunity to share what they had learned throughout the lessons. Their reflections showed how the lessons were helping them apply important safety concepts in their everyday lives.
One child shared that she can now recognize the difference between safe secrets and unsafe secrets, giving her a better understanding of when something should be kept as a surprise and when it should be shared with a trusted adult.
Another child shared that she learned about public and private parts of the body, including the importance of keeping private parts covered and understanding that other people should not touch them.
Another child shared that the program taught him the importance of proper hygiene and practical ways to keep himself clean, such as taking a bath every day.
These simple but meaningful reflections remind us that child protection education is most valuable when children are able to understand the lessons and apply them to their own lives. Seeing children confidently articulate what they have learned is an encouraging indication of the value of continued, age-appropriate prevention education.Equipping Parents to Protect Their Children – We also conducted a parents' training attended by 30 parents, focusing on children's rights and practical ways parents can help protect their children. The session provided parents with information and practical guidance that they can apply in their homes and communities. We continue to believe that children are better protected when the adults surrounding them are also equipped to recognize risks, understand children's rights, communicate with their children, and create safer environments.
Club Kinabuhi Family Gathering – Our Club Kinabuhi family gathering continued in July, with 14 families receiving their monthly food packs. Beyond providing practical assistance, these gatherings continue to serve as an important opportunity to maintain relationships with families and provide a consistent sense of community and support. This month, we also held our mid-year "Everybody's Birthday" celebration, with 30 people present, including mothers and some of their children. We especially celebrated the mothers whose birthdays fell between January and July. The celebration gave us an opportunity to pray for the mothers and recognize their hard work and the many challenges that come with motherhood. We wanted them to know that their efforts are seen and appreciated, and that they are worthy of being celebrated, not only for their birthdays, but for the important role they play in their families.
The rainy weather throughout July created some practical challenges for our community activities. Some gatherings had to be adjusted or delayed, and transportation became more difficult for participants. However, the challenges also highlighted the strength of our community relationships. During one gathering, a mother who owns an e-bike volunteered to help bring participants home. Instead of allowing transportation difficulties to prevent families from attending, we were able to arrange rides and simply cover the transportation fare.
Small acts like this remind us that community development is not only about programs and activities. It is also about people looking out for one another and finding ways to continue together despite challenges.
Creating Healthy Spaces for Teens – Our Club Kinabhi teen girls also participated in a pickleball activity this month. For many of them, it was their first time playing the sport, but they thoroughly enjoyed the experience. The girls shared that they were surprised by how much fun they had and expressed that they would love to do the activity again. While the activity was recreational, we see these opportunities as valuable spaces for teenagers to build friendships, enjoy healthy physical activities, develop confidence, and simply have fun together in a safe environment.
Strengthening Our Knowledge – From July 21–23, our staff participated in the Asia Region Anti-Trafficking Conference (ARAT) through online video conference, providing an opportunity to learn from practitioners, researchers, and organizations working in the anti-trafficking field. One particularly relevant learning for our team was research presented that provided practical recommendations for strengthening digital safety support for young people. This is especially relevant to our child protection work as children and teenagers increasingly navigate risks in digital spaces. Participating in conferences such as ARAT allows our team to stay informed about emerging forms of exploitation and current research, helping us continually evaluate and strengthen the way we equip children, parents, and communities.
July reminded us that child protection takes many forms. It happens when a child learns to recognize an unsafe secret, understands that their body belongs to them, or learns how to care for themselves. It happens when a parent becomes better equipped to protect their child, when a family receives support and encouragement, and when teenagers are given safe spaces to connect, play, and grow. July was a month filled with meaningful moments of learning, connection, and growth. We are grateful for the children, parents, teens, staff, and community members who continue to make this work possible. We are deeply grateful to our donors and supporters whose generosity makes these moments possible. Because of your continued support, children can be equipped with knowledge that helps them recognize and respond to unsafe situations, parents can receive the tools they need to better protect their children, families can experience practical support and community, and young people can have safe spaces where they can grow and thrive.
Thank you for continuing to stand with us in this work. Every lesson taught, every family supported, every child encouraged, and every opportunity created is made possible through a community of people who believe that every child deserves to be strong, smart, safe, and valued.
WHAT’S TO COME:
Child Protection Trainings
We will continue conducting child protection trainings for parents, caregivers, and community members, equipping them with practical knowledge and tools to better recognize risks, understand children's rights, and protect children from abuse and exploitation.
Continued Club Kinabuhi Activities
Our Club Kinabuhi gatherings will continue, providing families with practical support through monthly food packs while creating opportunities for connection, encouragement, and community-building among participating families.
New I Can Be Strong, Smart and Safe Communities
Following the completion and graduation of our latest group of children, we are preparing to begin the 10-week I Can Be Strong, Smart and Safe lessons in two new communities. We are grateful for the opportunity to reach more children and equip them with age-appropriate knowledge about their rights, personal safety, and how to recognize and respond to unsafe situations.
PRAYER REQUESTS:
Families affected by the heavy rains - Please pray for families and communities affected by the heavy rains and difficult weather conditions. Pray for their safety, protection, and provision, especially for families whose homes, livelihoods, or daily activities have been disrupted. May they have the resources and support they need during this time.
Protection and growth of the children and families we serve - Please pray for the continued protection, well-being, and growth of the children and families in our programs. May the lessons and support they receive continue to make a meaningful difference in their lives, and may families become increasingly equipped to create safe and nurturing homes for their children.
Provision and opportunities to reach more communities - Please pray for God's continued provision for Redeeming Zoe and for opportunities to reach more children, parents, and communities. Pray that He would bring the right partners, resources, and opportunities as we continue this work of preventing child abuse and exploitation and strengthening families.