Everyone has the right to feel safe, all of the time. What can we do as a community to ensure that children are able to enjoy a happy, safe and fulfilling childhood? There is increasing awareness of the importance of personal safety for young children. However, several common misconceptions hinder many parents from effectively addressing this topic:
Misconception #1: This will never happen to my child
Fact: Child abuse and neglect occur in all types of families, no matter the income, education, family size, race, religion, or any other trait
Misconception #2: Strangers are more likely to harm my child
Fact: Over 90 percent of perpetrators are someone the child knows and trusts
Misconception #3: Child abuse is only abuse if there are visible signs
Fact: Child abuse can take the form of physical, sexual, or emotional abuse, and can often be subtle and nuanced, leaving behind no physical traces. There is often considerable variation in the definition of what constitutes abuse
Misconception #4: Children usually tell someone if they are being abused
Fact: Most abuse victims either delay or never disclose child abuse to friends, family or the authorities. Only one in ten children tell anyone
Misconception #5: I’m already overly cautious and doing enough to protect my child from harm
Fact: In addition to adult protection, children need skills and tools based on confidence and resilience rather than fear, which empowers them to protect themselves when we are not able to be there with them
This workshop will begin by providing participants with a safe space to explore the essence of child rights, especially a child's right to protection. Participants will then draw from their own knowledge and experiences to unpack the nuances of child abuse. We will then delve into the short and long term effects of violence and abuse, common signs to be aware of, and explore practical next steps towards a safer world for our children.
This workshop is applicable to teachers, parents, women’s aid workers, the police, social workers, youth workers, medical professionals and community workers. Students, government and NGO employees are entitled to a 50% discount. Registration will be open soon! To sign up, please email admin@anyamanpreschools.com.
About the Trainer:
Thency Gunasekaran is a passionate advocate for the rights of children and their families and is one of the leading experts on child protection in the nation. She was also a pioneering team member at Anyaman Preschool. Thency has extensive experience conducting workshops for young children, parents, teachers and social welfare officers that raise awareness of child rights and child protection. She has conducted training in countries such as Kyrgystan, Lebanon and South Korea, while within Malaysia, she has trained for various organisations including Jabatan Kebajikan Malaysia as well as Selangor Legal Aid. Thency is fascinated by the complexities of the human mind, and strongly believes that education is a vital element in the discussion on human rights and democracy. She holds a Master of International Studies from Ewha University, Korea, and a Bachelor's degree in International and Strategic Studies from Universiti Malaya.