World Vision protects children from direct and indirect threats

“World Vision means a lot to me,” says Marita, a 14 year-old Lebanese registered child in Bint Jbeil. “It helped all of us understand many things that we did not know before.”

 With funding from the Malaysian support office, World Vision’s Area Development Programme (ADP) in Bint Jbeil district officially started in 2011. The programme covers nine villages and reaches nearly 5,000 children through its two major sectors: child protection and health.

 Moussa Barakat, World Vision’s development facilitator in Bint Jbeil, explains that child protection is achieved by raising the awareness of both parents and children. Such awareness sessions tackle topics that are related to child protection, such as: the safe use of the internet and avoiding drug addiction among other topics.

“World Vision helped us to raise our children through communication and active listening, instead of fear,” explains Riva.  

 “Like many mothers, I did not know much about [the] internet,” says Riva, Marita’s mother. She shares that through awareness sessions on the safe use of the internet she learned how the internet can be harmful to children and how to protect them. “I cannot stop my children from using the internet because everyone does. But, I learned how to protect them and how to advise them on using the internet safely,” she adds. Riva even monitors and limits how much time her children spend using the internet. “They are only allowed to use it for certain hours during the weekend,” she explains.

 “To date, nothing bad or dangerous has happened to me while I have been using internet. [But], if anything were to happen, I would tell my mother,” says Marita. Marita is not afraid to share any problems she faces with her mother, as Riva (her mother) is always supportive. “World Vision helped us to raise our children through communication and active listening, instead of fear,” explains Riva.  

 The two sisters together (Marita,14, and Joyce, 10) play together in their house garden, characterized by a rural nature.  

 Riva is not only an active participant in World Vision’s activities; she has also been a volunteer since the ADP started in 2011. “World Vision’s work is consistent; they never leave the people here,” shares Riva. “Every time they surprise us with us new information and learning,” she adds.

 Some of the most important and helpful information Riva has received on how to protect her children has come in the often hidden forms of danger. “We used to think that harassment just happens through physical contact,” she says. “[But], we learned from the sessions that it can occur through many non-physical approaches, such as some eye looks,” she added. Learning that both made her aware of the danger, and enabled her to protect her children by empowering her to explain to her children how important is that they do not allow strangers to approach them. 

 As a result of the July 2006 War (a one-month war between Lebanon and Israel that hit mostly the Southern Lebanon), Riva’s children developed a sense of fear, especially when entering any closed room alone. Through World Vision’s training, Riva learned how to approach her children’s fears. “Instead of pushing on them to be brave, World Vision taught us that we [should] motivate them to try doing brings them fear,” explains Riva.

“World Vision’s work is consistent; they never leave the people here,” shares Riva. “Every time they surprise us with us new information and learning,” she adds.

 Additionally, Riva learned how to approach her children and talk to them about the physical changes they were experiencing during puberty.  “I used to feel shy when thinking of the subject,” admits Riva. “Now, I feel I can discuss this important issue with my children in a very easy way,” she says

 World Vision’s training has also empowered children to confront adults in their families and communities regarding attitudes or behaviours that put them at risk. “After I came back home from the session on drug addiction, I asked my father to stop smoking, but he refused; he said he could not,” shares Marita who still insists on her lesson. “I will keep on trying to convince him until he stops saying no,” shares Marita. 

 In Marita’s eyes, smoking is as harmful as drugs. “We learned that drugs can allow us to lose our balance, leading us to hurt ourselves and others around,” she says.

Marita’s two sisters: Maya, 7, and Joyce, 10, are registered in World Vision’s sponsorship programme too.  Maya received a gift from her sponsor that she still uses until today. “My sponsor sent me a colouring book, markers, a notebook, and a puzzle. I still use them,” she says, with a smile.

 Riva’s youngest daughter, Maya (7) still uses until today her colouring books and pen, which she received from her sponsor as a gift a year ago. Maya and her sponsor corresponds through letters.

Joyce attended most of the awareness activities. Their lessons have been etched in her mind. “If we burn our hands, we should not use coffee or toothpaste, as many people assume; we should put cold water [on the burn] and head to the closest hospital,” says Joyce.

 “Without World Vision, we would have nothing to do in our village; really nothing,” shares Joyce.