‘Child Sexual Abuse Prevention Watch Group’ to make a difference in Indigenous communities

Mar 01, 2020 News

With the establishment of a new child sexual abuse prevention watch group last Friday, it is anticipated that there will be a tremendous reduction in the number of child sexual abuses cases within hinterland communities.

“Participants of the first established child sexual abuse prevention watch group.”

The watch group is being spearheaded by Blossom Inc. which is a registered, non-governmental organisation funded by UNICEF, and based in Guyana.
Blossom Inc. was founded on primarily two objectives, which are to support the child protection system in Guyana and to support children and families affected by trauma. The Guyana Police Force and the Child Care Protection Agency also came on board the watch group.
Yvonne Barrow, who is the outreach and Communications Officer for Blossom Inc. told Kaieteur News that communities in Regions Seven and Two were targeted, as the first watch groups were launched. The communities that participated in the watch group included Karrau Creek, which is located in Mazaruni, Region Seven, along with Bethany, Mashabo Capoey and Wakapoa, located in Region Two.
Interestingly, all of these communities are Indigenous communities. Ms. Barrow explaining why these communities were highlighted, said, “It was of the perception that people don’t know the correct reporting procedure when there’s a child sexual abuse case… They relied on the reporting of the Toshao; calling of police and Child Care Protection Agency was very unlikely.”
She also pointed out that persons had little knowledge of the extent of child sexual abuse. “Persons in these communities assume that child sexual abuse is more of penetration. In reality, child sexual abuse includes allowing a child to listen to lewd music, sexual oriented conversation, touching the child inappropriately, exposing of one’s genitals to a child and so forth.”
In July 2019, Blossom Inc. made monthly outreaches to these communities, and the visits have reportedly yield great results.
The organisation’s Communications Officer told Kaieteur News, “By visiting those communities, residents are more vibrant and more vocal on child sexual abuse. Many residents volunteered to be part of the watch group and even asked us to return.”
Kaieteur News understands that the watch groups will play a key role in ensuring the organisation’s work is sustained. Even more importantly, residents from within the communities will now be able to identify and report cases of child sexual abuse through the proper mediums.
Travis Doruga, who originates from Karrau Creek, Mazaruni, said that he volunteered because seeing his community safe is his objective.
He told Kaieteur News, “As a church leader, my vision is to see my community safe… We had two cases of child sexual abuse and we’ve seen that the people are totally against it. As soon as somebody sees something happening, they report it right away.”
Judy Marslow, who is from Bethany, Essequibo Coast, said that child sexual abuse should no longer be taken for granted in her community.
She said, “I have seen some things in the community that I think isn’t right and are at times being taken for granted. If I had a daughter, I wouldn’t want her to go through those things.
“Sometimes it upsets me to see things and no one is doing anything. Sometimes you try to educate people on it and they don’t take your word for anything.
Blossom [Inc.] going in there was a major advantage because people are now aware of the seriousness.”