New Zealand
Philippines
Helping abused and exploited children
Save the Children supports 12 local organisations who help working or abused children living in and around Manila. Each group has a different focus: some work with street children; some work with children who work in mines, city streets or ports; some provide a safe house and counselling for abused children; others provide training to police and social workers on how to achieve and protect children's rights. One group focuses on training young people who may have been exploited or abused to act as counsellors for other children, or to speak about children's rights in schools and communities.
Although they work in different ways, they all share the same goal: to help ensure the protection and development of children. Working children have embraced this programme and actively participate as counsellors providing support for other children and making them aware of their rights to be protected from abuse and exploitation.
Amijean’s story
Sixteen year old Amijean is a peer counsellor. Her life is busier than most New Zealand teenagers. As well as going to school she works to support her family, stitching together sacks filled with fertilizer. Amijean doesn’t work for pocket money or a couple of hours a day. She works a full shift: "I am working because otherwise my family will not eat!"
But despite her exhausting schedule, Amijean’s role as a peer counsellor is a source of strength rather than stress. Amijean is empowered by being in a position where she can help other working children like herself. She talks to groups of working children telling them that they have the same rights as other children, including the right to live without exploitation and abuse.