Building a Safer Future for Children and Young People

The ORANGE MAY national campaign runs annually in Brazil.  It focuses on combatting the sexual abuse and exploitation of children and young people. The campaign is dedicated to raising awareness and encouraging the general public to officially disclose any kind of violence and abuse against children and young people. The colour orange is used as the campaign’s symbol to represent the fragility and vulnerability of childhood.

We were so encouraged that our partner project Ammar Transforma

actively took part in the campaign on the 23rd of May this year. The project hosted workshops for 37 of the children it attends with the goal of highlighting the dangers of sexual abuse in the home and how to combat this pernicious issue. Trusted research from the (Fundação Maria Cecilia Souto Vidigal (2025) Primeira Infância Municipio Segurança e Proteção à Violencia) stated the following shocking facts. 8.723 children were raped in 2023 from the ages of 0 to 4 years old. This figure indicates that there are 24 cases a day and 79 % of the victims are girls and in most cases 70.5% of incidents happen in the home. This data is just the tip of the iceberg for the stark reality of the abuse and exploitation against children and young people not just in Brazil but all over the world.

Community based local projects like Ammar Transforma are so well positioned to work in a preventative way to actively combat such serious social issues. The workshops were held in the community and delivered by facilitators from Zion Church who had trained with Instituto Amarelinho (another very pro active organisation in Brazil working to prevent violence and exploitation against children and young people). Material tailored to the children and young people was used.  The messages around self protection and how to disclose were communicated through play and child friendly activities. At the close of the workshops each child took away a book titled “My Future Begins Today”

Ammar Transforma continues to work tirelessly for the children and young people in the Joanna Bezerra community. Project Coordinator Levina says:

“Its absolutely essential that we equip children and young people with the knowledge and awareness that they need to cope with the realities they often face. These kind of workshops empower and protect them for the future.  Part of our vision is that all children and young people experience safety and security in the places that they live”.  

Happy Child International is proud of the projects that it supports in low income communities in Recife, Northeast Brazil. They are delivering important work to give children and young people a safer and more secure future. See some of the training with children at Ammar Transforma

• Written by Caroline Taylor