Sharing experiences: Director of Aftercare, Philippines
Name: Gundelina Velazco
Position: Director of Asia Aftercare
Organisation: Love146
Country/State where based: Philippines
1. Tell us a little bit about your role and how you're involved in supporting children affected by exploitation and/or trafficking?
I devise and direct the aftercare programme of Love146, which includes directing operations in the safehome where girls are protected and restored, training workers in different parts of Asia in the care and restoration of exploited and trafficked children, and conducting research on the issue.
Our safehome admits girls who have been rescued from sexual exploitation and trafficking. There, they are given holistic care founded on love. Aside from administration, as a psychologist, I lead psychological interventions and gear operations toward the psychospiritual restoration of the girls.
2. What activities and assistance does your organisation offer to children and their families who have been affected by sexual exploitation and/or trafficking?
They are given care in the safehome or in the context of their family, whichever is more appropriate in the situation of the girl. Such care includes protection, nutrition, medical care, individual and family counselling, assessment, education, livelihood, linking them up with appropriate government agencies, and assistance in life events, such as weddings, pregnancy, hospitalisation, and baptisms. One goal is to prevent the girls from being exploited and trafficked again. In poor countries where the main cause is poverty and lack of livelihood, this means that we need to focus a lot on livelihood and education leading to a decent livelihood.
3. What are the biggest challenges in working in this area?
One challenge is the psychological and behavioural issues that result from sexual exploitation of children, such as hypersexuality and gender confusion, aggression, and bouts of hopelessness and defeatism. Another challenge is extreme poverty, which caused their being exploited in the first place. If they go back to the same condition, then they will practically be going back to being exploited. That is why we see to it that even in the safehome the girls have some form of livelihood wherein they are already earning money for themselves and for their family.
4. What are the highlights?
One highlight is when a girl, because of our interventions, comes to have a decent job, marry well, and settle down into a normal and stable family life. Another is when a girl who was suicidal, depressed, and hopeless when first admitted to the safehome eventually comes to love life, have hope, and work toward becoming a better person and having a better life.
5. What do you think works well or is important for children in their recovery and why?
A systematic, consistent, and united approach using a sound framework for discipline, education, therapy, growth and development, and day to day operations. But everything should fall under the umbrella of love and respect for the child, building their self-worth.
6. What knowledge or information would help you and your colleagues strengthen your work?
Research findings of organisations that are also working in this area.
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