Interdisciplinary Conference on Human Trafficking at the University of Nebraska
Date of this Version
10-2009
Abstract
This paper presents the Laura Vicuna Foundation, Inc. (LVFI) of the Daughters of Mary of Help of Christians’ Integrated Development Program for the disadvantaged children like those on the streets, the sexually abused, exploited, trafficked and working minors. It is a multi-staged comprehensive program known as the Journey of Hope approved by the academe in 1994. The Journey of Hope utilizes community-based and center-based programs as drop-in centers, technical-vocational centers, residential center for healing and recovery of abused, exploited and trafficked girls, group homes and LINK Center. The Preventive System of Education of St. John Bosco is the moving force of the program. Psycho-social-spiritual intervention capsulized in the P. E. A. C. E. process is rendered to the trafficked survivor by the LVFI employing a multi-disciplinary team approach made up of religious personnel, social workers, psychologists, psychiatrist, houseparent and teachers.
Faced with the damaging effect and the very costly process of the rehabilitation of trafficked survivors LVFI has embarked on Preventive and Partnerships Strategies. Extensive advocacies for the protection and development of children are being done at the grassroot communities, schools, youth and Church groups and malls as well as in support of passage of bills which are pro-child, women, family, and environment. LVFI is a member of Nuclei National Networks combating sexual abuse,exploitation and Trafficking of Children. The Inter Agency Council Against Trafficking had invited LVFI to form part of the drafting of the Philippine Guidelines for the Recovery and Reintegration of Trafficked Survivors. LVFI works in partnership with the Association of Major Religious Superiors in the Philippines which have conducted seven (7) Counter Trafficking Seminars among Religious at the Asia Pacific Level giving rise to the creation of the Asia Pacific Women Religious Against Trafficking in Humans which is part of a global network among religious women known as TALITHA-KUOM.
The strength of the LVFI lies in its wholistic program approach which facilitates the healthy survivors’ reintegration as self-reliant and productive citizens. Value added are LVFI’s strong Preventive, Protective and Partnerships Initiatives which made it won as the Best NGO in the Philippines and placed third at the Asia Pacific NGO Awards in Singapore in 2005.
At LVFI, we give Hope a Home where trafficked girls claim their dignity as God’s children and find a place in the Sun.
Comments
Presented at First Annual Interdisciplinary Conference on Human Trafficking, Lincoln, Nebraska, October 29-31, 2009.
Copyright © 2009 Sr. Ma. Victoria P. Sta. Ana, FMA