04 — AREA OF WORK
Child Survivor Care
Healing is possible.
We work alongside trusted child protection organizations to help child survivors find safety, recover from trauma, rebuild their lives, and thrive.
WHY IT MATTERS
Recovery takes far more than time.
The impacts of sexual exploitation can be devastating and long-lasting. Many child survivors experience physical injuries, trauma, depression, anxiety, disrupted education, homelessness, financial hardship, and profound feelings of fear, shame and self-blame.
Without comprehensive support, children face a greater risk of revictimization, poor health outcomes, difficulties forming healthy relationships, and ongoing barriers to reaching their full potential.
Safety and stability
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The right services at the right time
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Recovery is possible
HOW WE HELP
Three pillars of survivor-centred care.
Since 2005 our child and youth members have raised their voices and mobilized people and organizations to act — winning the support of the public, schools, foundations, corporations and individual donors who have joined us in meeting the immediate and long-term needs of child survivors.
Safe shelter
Children must be removed from dangerous situations and placed in safe spaces designed to meet their complex needs. We provide long-term shelter where children can begin their recovery in a secure environment.
Health
Our health support, including psychological support, ensures children can process their experiences safely. From individual to family counselling and therapy, we help children process emotions, develop coping strategies, rebuild trust and form healthy relationships.
Legal protection and justice
Child survivors often need legal assistance to navigate their complex cases, including securing their legal rights, advocating for their protection, and seeking justice against their perpetrators. Yet, the justice process itself can be intimidating, confusing, and lengthy for young victims, which can discourage reporting and prosecutions of these cases.
We support children and their families through legal counselling throughout the judicial process and representation in courts, ensuring that they understand their rights and receive the protection and justice they deserve.
FEATURED IMPACT
A safe sanctuary at the Victoria Home for Girls.
THE PHILIPPINES · WITH THE PREDA FOUNDATION
Since the home opened, hundreds of children have found hope and recovery.
Thanks to children and youth in Canada and the United States who rallied their communities, we co-funded the construction and operation of a therapeutic healing centre for victims of sex trafficking, online sexual exploitation and sexual abuse, operated by the PREDA Foundation.
Through different kinds of therapy, they’re able to start letting go of the pent-up anger and frustration they’ve carried with them.
There is a daily program of formal and non-formal education which includes discussions, teaching, group work, values formation, vocational skills training, play, sport, dance, martial arts, art therapy and outings. These activities help build the child’s self-confidence, foster trust between them and the staff, and also promotes friendships with other children.
Children also receive training in children’s rights, and learn to stand up for their rights and seek justice. This empowers them to testify in court against their abusers, with confidence.
Once deemed appropriate and safe, the child is reintegrated into a safe and supportive environment with relatives, and assisted by a social worker to continue to their schooling and live a happy and dignified life.
Where care is happening.
CAMBODIA · WITH APLE CAMBODIA
Hope, healing and justice for Cambodian child survivors
According to the 2022 Disrupting Harm Global Study, an estimated 160,000 children aged 12–17 in Cambodia have experienced some form of sexual exploitation or abuse online. We teamed up with Action Pour Les Enfants (APLE) Cambodia to support timely, high-quality assistance to child victims and witnesses — to overcome trauma, reintegrate into society with strength and resilience, and seek justice. With your help, 188 children received psychological counselling to process trauma safely, rebuild self-esteem and aid emotional recovery, plus legal support to guide them through the justice system and be represented in court — resulting in many perpetrators being convicted.
Next: continuing survivor care in Phnom Penh and Kandal province
From the content doc, verbatim — the only forward-looking line the doc gives for Cambodia.
Two more care highlights
This column holds two further locations, partners or care stories. Nothing has been written into it — no copy here is invented. If the doc has no more, the Cambodia card widens to full width instead.
Every child deserves the chance to heal.
Help us provide safety, justice, health and hope to children recovering from sexual exploitation.
