“These programs are not a vaccine; we cannot say that children who follow the program will never be abused, but the likelihood of children who use such materials recognizing a potentially abusive situation and seeking help earlier is much greater,” stated psychologist and coordinator of the Vita group, Rute Agulhas, during the presentation.
The Vita group was established by the Portuguese Episcopal Conference (CEP) to address situations of sexual abuse within the Catholic Church.
Today, Rute Agulhas expressed her aim to prevent children from suffering sexual violations and introduced a game and a digital peddy-paper designed to raise awareness among minors about sexual assaults at Externato de S. José in Restelo.
The ‘Programa Girassol’ peddy-paper, targeted at children aged 6 to 9, and the ‘Lighthouse Game’, a digital game for children aged 10 to 14, are programs aimed at preventing sexual violence against children.
The peddy-paper and digital game consist of stages where lessons related to self-protection, safety, and body privacy are taught, emphasizing the importance of seeking help.
A student from the Instituto Superior de Ciências do Trabalho e da Empresa (ISCTE), who contributed to the development of the programs, noted that the initiatives aim to help minors not feel guilt and to speak out about abuse situations.
“(The lessons) help children understand the signs they need to be aware of and how to address potential danger scenarios, seek help, and not feel ashamed,” stated the student.
The programs include games and activities that teach children to recognize healthy relationships and learn the names of body parts.
The playful initiatives use language appropriate for the developmental stages of the children.
The programs feature characters and stories to make the activities more engaging.
The initiatives were created for dioceses and Catholic schools but can also be requested by other schools.
The program was launched two weeks ago, and training sessions were opened on Monday. Schools, dioceses, and catechists have already contacted the organization to request information about the training sessions.
Training for the “Girassol” program begins on October 7 and concludes on October 30.
On October 17, training sessions for the “Lighthouse Game” start and end on October 22.
