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From Tony John, Port Harcourt
A non-governmental organisation known as The Healed Shop (THS) has taken off in Rivers State to combat child sexual abuse in the society.
It was launched in Port Harcourt, with groundbreaking school outreach to tackle the menace in Rivers State and beyond.
The founder, Chimenem Nsirim, said the organisation intends to build a hopeful future for the child.
She said the initiative marked the beginning of a movement to raise awareness, collect meaningful data and inspire collective action against Child Sexual Abuse (CSA) in Nigeria.
According to her, The Healed Shop engaged over 405 students in outreach activities, to achieve the aim of the organisation.
Daily Sun gathered that the outreach brought together students, educators, parents and advocates for a day of open dialogue, education and empowerment.
Through interactive sessions and student-led conversations, the event emphasised the importance of safety, the power of speaking up and the role of community in protecting children.
Nsirim explained: “We founded The Healed Shop to break the silence and build a future where no child has to suffer in silence.
“With data, we can shift the conversation on CSA from perception to fact.”
The founder explained further, saying, “As part of the launch, an online anonymous survey has been introduced to gather firsthand insights into the realities of CSA in various communities.”
According to her, the data collected would guide intervention efforts and inform policy advocacy across Nigeria.
Nsirim added that The Healed Shop encourages members of the public to participate in the survey and join the conversation on social media using the hashtag #BreakTheSilenceNG.
Key highlights included an open forum for students and staff to express concerns and share ideas, as well as launch of the survey to collect anonymous data on CSA.
