Simon says ... keep children safe!

Throughout the years of my childhood I played the game ‘Simon says’ hundreds of times. You know – Simon says wave your arms in the air, Simon says stick out your tongue... But never once did I play it as part of a lesson on sexual and physical abuse.

Just before Christmas I visited a school in Manchay (a district in the desert-like hills above Lima, Peru) that is using all kinds of games, songs and stories to teach children about the value of their bodies. On the day that I was there I arrived just as a class of 10-year olds were finishing off a fairly chaotic and laughter-filled game of 'Simon says' (Simón dice in Spanish) and then watched as the teacher proceeded to relate the game to real life. 



She explained that just like in the game where sometimes you’re supposed to do what ‘Simon’ tells you, and other times you’re not, it’s the same in life. It’s important to be respectful and obedient to adults, but if a grown-up (or even a peer) asks you to do something wrong or inappropriate then it's OK not to obey them – in fact you shouldn’t. As an example the teacher then referred to some pictures on the wall that the class had worked on the week before – black and white drawings of girls and boys where the children had been asked to colour in green all the areas that were ok for other people to touch, and in red the areas that were not.


The teacher later told me that there are a lot of young pregnancies in this area of Peru, and sadly a lot of single mothers. So for many children the main male figure in their life is an uncle, a grandfather, or simply a string of their mother’s boyfriends. Because of the level of poverty these broken, mixed-up and extended families often share rooms, sometimes even beds. The opportunities for all kinds of abuse are many and varied. But thanks to Viva’s city-wide network in Manchay, things are beginning to change. The school I visited is just one of several projects and churches that are working together to uncover and prevent sexual, physical and emotional abuse.


Using Viva materials, particularly focussing on a teaching manual produced in partnership with Youth for Christ, the 15 schools and churches in the network have an opportunity to teach kids about how valuable and special they are, and how they should (and should not) be treated by adults. I spoke with several teachers at this school, and also with one of the local pastors, and they were all really encouraged by the progress being made. 


One teacher said “We’re so thankful for the Viva materials. Many of the facts I already knew, but this book has shown me how to teach those facts to the children in a way they can really understand. And the children are responding – many of them have actually come forward and confided in me about situations going on at home.” Another said, “I have always known that abuse was going on in this area, but I did not know so many of the children in my own class were affected. It’s awful, but at least now we know we can do something about it.”


The network plays a vital part in dealing with the cases of abuse that come to light as a result of the teaching. While the schools have good links with the government, and tend to focus on trying to prosecute the abusers, the churches have strong links in the community and work closely with the victim and their family. Working together in this way means that the child can be counselled and encouraged, the family can be supported and shown how to prevent further abuse, and the perpetrator can be brought to justice.


Most people have never heard of dusty little Manchay, and few will venture far enough outside of bustling Lima to visit it. But I’m glad I took a trip off the beaten track. I got to see the creativity and dedication that is being put into play to keep children safe and show them that they are loved, and I got to see how people are pulling together to change a whole community. Simon says join in! There’s a lot you can do…


~ B, Viva UK