Monthly Highlights: July 2023

Table of Contents

Awareness Programmes

Title: Protect Children in the Digital World.

Objective: Raise children’s awareness of online safety precautions and potential risks associated with using the internet

Sessions Conducted

Date	Venue	Location	Participants	Observations
18/07/2023	St. Joseph’s College	Kolonnawa	97 Students	The students lacked awareness about the causes and consequences of child abuse, including the alarming prevalence of online child sexual abuse and exploitation. Through discussions with teachers and principals, we uncovered the urgent need for education on this social issue.
24/07/2023	Tangalle Municipal Council	Tangalle	31 Govt. officials	The team has observed during the past months that in the district of Hambantota, though there were child abuse incidents occurring, there was a lack of awareness on how to respond and report Child Sexual Abuse and Exploitation incidents.
25/07/2023	Panjasheela Maha Vidyalaya	Beliatte	189 students	This programme helped the children gain knowledge and techniques to protect themselves from all forms of online exploitation and abuse. These children, like others, do not have much knowledge about the risks that they face when engaging online. Now that they are aware, they are able to respond and report incidents of cyber violence. The school management appreciated the team’s work on the programme.
25/07/2023	Beliatte Divisional Council	Beliatte	31 Govt. officials	The government officials were informed in detail about Online Child Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (OCSEA) and how to identify and address cases in a sensitive and understanding manner. The participants’ responses encouraged PEaCE’s future work. We appreciate the DS for allowing us to have the programme for his staff and giving us the venue.
26/07/2023	Middeniya National School	Middeniya	209 Students	The Middeniya community faced several challenges, with children often left alone due to busy parents, leading to issues like male students addicted to cigarettes, child pregnancies, and reported abuse cases. Moreover, students’ phone addiction is prevalent.
06/07/2023	Vidyaloka Vidyalaya	Middeniya	89 Students
27/07/2023	Katuwana National School	Katuwana	327 Students	It was reported by participants in attendance that the students from Katuwana area, had been facing issues coming from low-income families, some of the fathers have shown a tendency to abuse alcohol and commit physical abuse against the family members. There were reported cases of child sexual abuse and early marriage in this area.
27/07/2023	Katuwana National School	Katuwana	146 parents
28/07/2023	Binkama Maha Vidyalaya	Sooriyaweva	112 Students	The area presented challenges with a considerable number of men migrating to South Korea for work, female children aged 14 and 16 living with men to settle. Domestic violence and alcohol abuse were prevalent, influenced by moonshine consumption by the fathers.
28/07/2023	Weerasinghe Vidyalaya	Sooriyaweva	83 Students	“As a society, we are increasingly aware of the dangers children face, emphasizing the need to educate ourselves on safeguarding methods to protect them.” The teachers at Weerasinghe Vidyalaya expressed gratitude for the crucial information brought to their attention, recognizing the challenges in obtaining such data.
29/07/2023	Walasmulla Community Hall	Walasmulla	42 Govt. officials
30/07/2023	Sri Siddhartha Sunday School	Hambantota	102 Students
30/07/2023	Hellala Wanarathana Sunday School	Hambantota	87 Students
31.07.2023	Anapallama Kanishta Vidyalaya	Monaragala	101 Students	The community faced issues due to the influx of mobile technology during COVID-19, leaving students unaware of the risks of digital usage. This exposed them to both positive and negative aspects of the internet without precautions or training, amplifying the problems of OCSEA in the area. Government officials and teachers shared such concerns with our team.
31.07.2023	Wellawaye Divisional Council	Wellawaye	20 Govt. officials