Why the Philippines?

 

16% of Filipinos live below the national poverty line. Many families rely on children as young as four years old for financial support. These become targets for child traffickers.

 

Every year, 100,000 Filipinos under the age of 18 are forced into prostitution, with young girls being particularly at risk. Their homes are often villages near major ports or bus terminals, where they are abducted and brought to metropolitan cities and tourist regions.

 

Upon rescue, victims are often unable to return home, as legal guardians themselves are often found to be involved in child trafficking cases across the country.

The Project

​

This project aims to strengthen the protective structures for girls and boys in 24 villages and towns in the regions of Eastern Visayas, Mindanao, and Caraga. SPF supports children and adolescents affected by human trafficking in processing their traumatic experiences and offers them new perspectives and education to facilitate their reintegration into society.

​

Above all, this project focuses on raising awareness in the communities, in order to prevent child abduction and enable the reintegration of victims into their social environment. Around 80,000 children and adolescents benefit from our work in the project regions. Since girls are particularly at risk, they are the focus of many measures. Moreover, to ensure the sustainability of this project, SPF works closely with local authorities and civil organizations, who will continue implementing measures after the project is over.