I’m writing to share the importance of protecting children. I told my story in Darkness to Light’s Stewards of Children(R) training so that I could help educate adults on how to prevent, recognize, and react responsibly to child sexual abuse. I want people everywhere to know that no child has to experience the abuse that I did.
I don’t talk about my story much. I guess it’s easier to suppress the feelings or forget about what happened years ago.
I don’t remember my exact age, but I was in 1st or 2nd grade when the abuse started. He was an older cousin who lived with us in my multi-generational home in Guatemala. He abused me until my family finally moved to the United States. I never told anyone about what happened. I was ashamed and embarrassed.
I didn’t deal with my abuse until I became an adult. It took me many years to come to terms with what had been done to me and to build strong and trusting relationships with the people who loved me.
I want everyone to know that child sexual abuse is not ok and that our job as adults is to make sure our children and communities are safe. I will continue to advocate for the children that do not have a voice of their own.
I ask you to join me in supporting prevention training (http://www.kintera.org/TR.asp?a=frJPJVPHKiJKLTOKH&s=dtJRKaMPIlIXKbORKsF&m=5oICKSMvFcLIKQPDH). Your donation will train adults across the country, and those adults will be better equipped to protect the children in their lives.
I know that we can live in a world that allows children to grow up happy, healthy, and safe.
Please make a donation (http://www.kintera.org/TR.asp?a=htITK2MHKgKZI9OWE&s=dtJRKaMPIlIXKbORKsF&m=5oICKSMvFcLIKQPDH) to Darkness to Light today.
Sincerely,
Sylvia Goalen
Stewards of Children(R) Featured Survivor, Darkness to Light
http://D2L.org/donate
PREVENTION IS POSSIBLE
Darkness to Light | 1064 Gardner Road, Suite 210 | Charleston, SC 29407 US
