BY FR. SHAY CULLEN
(Continued from Oct. 14, 2022)
THERE is always danger to the child from an abusive parent, relative, or official. They may choose not to believe the child and even threaten the child to report the abuse. This is especially true if the abuser is a person in the ascendancy, has the authority, or is in a position of influence, like a government official or cleric. They will try to stop the information from becoming public and protect the institution, not the child.
The challenge for the social worker is to find a protective center to refer a child to for protection and help. There are very few in the Philippines. President Marcos said there he will ensure that there is sufficient funding for only 70 government residential centers throughout the country for abused women and children. The nation with a population of 110 needs many more and they should provide professional therapeutic healing and empowerment programs more than temporary shelter.
The Preda Foundation has one of the most successful therapeutic communities where the children are welcomed into a friendly, supportive atmosphere of affirmation, and acceptance, where the children know they are protected, trusted and believed. The Preda Therapeutic community is providing all their needs free of charge. The feeling of being safe and protected from the abuser is the start of the healing and empowerment of the child. There is an average of 90 children cared for at the Preda home during any 12-month period by a professional staff of all female therapists, facilitators, and social workers. It is an alternative caring family that has many therapeutic healing activities for the children treated according to their age from four years old to 17.
The most effective is the Emotional Release Therapy where the child has the chance to recall the abuse in a sound-proofed, padded therapy room assisted by a therapist and there release her (or his) pent-up buried anger, pain, and hurt by crying, shouting and punching the cushions as if hitting her (his) abuser. Over a period of several months, the stress and anger is gone and the self-confidence and empowerment of the child or youth is apparent. With educational classes, recreation and play therapy, group dynamics, life testimony, dignity-building, and values formation, an almost full recovery is achieved.
The child then wants justice and is ready to file a formal complaint with the prosecutor if she(he) has not already done so. The empowered children are clear, consistent, and constant in their testimony even when subjected to strict cross-examination. They win an average of 16 convictions of their abusers every year. Most of the convicted abusers receive a mandatory life sentence from strict but very precise, fair, and committed female judges. What is needed is many more such centers to protect and heal and empower the abused child victims and give them a new happier restart in life. (preda.org)/PN
