Well, here I am, writing from Stairway Foundation. INC. in Puerto Galera, Philippines!
With Maggie stateside for a few weeks and Annie continuing work in India, I arrived here safely by (plane, bus, and boat!) on Tuesday evening just in time for a beautiful Aninuan Beach sunset across the road from Stairway's campus.
With Maggie stateside for a few weeks and Annie continuing work in India, I arrived here safely by (plane, bus, and boat!) on Tuesday evening just in time for a beautiful Aninuan Beach sunset across the road from Stairway's campus.
Can't complain about that view!
Before we really get started on this phase of the project (we start Dec. 8!), I wanted to briefly introduce all of you to Stairway, our host organization here.
Stairway Foundation, INC (SFI) was established in 1990 by Lars and Monica Jorgensen as an alternative program for the most marginalized and endangered street children in the Philippines.
SFI offers a holistic program in the form of direct service work (a residential program for boys and scholarships for children in the community). It also runs an extensive child rights advocacy program focusing largely on child sexual abuse prevention, which consists of training and orientation on child sexual abuse, children’s rights, psychological interventions, online safety, protective behaviors, and creative advocacy components.
From working with the kids, Stairway learned that street children not only suffer neglect and physical abuse, but a vast majority had also been sexually abused and exploited. The sheer number of victims, and the secrecy in which the abuse was cultivated, was what compelled SFI to take child sexual abuse prevention to the forefront of its advocacy efforts. Recognizing the wide-ranging efforts needed to address this issue, SFI then began to establish partnerships with local and international networks, both with government and non-government sectors. More recently, it has also begun to work with police officers, religious sectors, and schools in the fight against child sexual abuse and exploitation.
Check out their website to learn more: http://www.stairwayfoundation.org/stairway/
Maggie and I so excited that we will be working with both the community scholars and the Stairway boys for this phase of the Look Out Loud Project, as well as fulfilling various photo/video/communications needs for the organization.
More updates to come! And in the meantime, don't forget to check out our India project exhibition page and a special "Behind the Scenes" photo album on Facebook!
Love from the Philippines!
Meagan
P.S. It's so weird to listen to Christmas music when it feels like summer!
Before we really get started on this phase of the project (we start Dec. 8!), I wanted to briefly introduce all of you to Stairway, our host organization here.
Stairway Foundation, INC (SFI) was established in 1990 by Lars and Monica Jorgensen as an alternative program for the most marginalized and endangered street children in the Philippines.
SFI offers a holistic program in the form of direct service work (a residential program for boys and scholarships for children in the community). It also runs an extensive child rights advocacy program focusing largely on child sexual abuse prevention, which consists of training and orientation on child sexual abuse, children’s rights, psychological interventions, online safety, protective behaviors, and creative advocacy components.
From working with the kids, Stairway learned that street children not only suffer neglect and physical abuse, but a vast majority had also been sexually abused and exploited. The sheer number of victims, and the secrecy in which the abuse was cultivated, was what compelled SFI to take child sexual abuse prevention to the forefront of its advocacy efforts. Recognizing the wide-ranging efforts needed to address this issue, SFI then began to establish partnerships with local and international networks, both with government and non-government sectors. More recently, it has also begun to work with police officers, religious sectors, and schools in the fight against child sexual abuse and exploitation.
Check out their website to learn more: http://www.stairwayfoundation.org/stairway/
Maggie and I so excited that we will be working with both the community scholars and the Stairway boys for this phase of the Look Out Loud Project, as well as fulfilling various photo/video/communications needs for the organization.
More updates to come! And in the meantime, don't forget to check out our India project exhibition page and a special "Behind the Scenes" photo album on Facebook!
Love from the Philippines!
Meagan
P.S. It's so weird to listen to Christmas music when it feels like summer!