Global Family is a non-profit organization founded in 2007 that aims to preserve the family and protect at-risk children with the assistance of local community organizations, volunteer caregivers, and donors. It aims to adopts a three-pronged approach to solving the issue of child abuse and exploitation and human trafficking, improving child protection, and providing alternative care to children who have lost biological familial support. This approach consists of prevention (community-based youth clubs (including girl’s empowerment programs), women’s clubs, vigilance groups, and awareness activities), intervention (risk factor identification and targeting, partnering with law enforcement and other NGOs, and short-term residential therapeutic programs for victims of human trafficking), and aftercare (alternative family care programs). Global Family seeks to research and implement a best practice model for protecting children and preserving families, and to share effective approaches with other organizations and agencies.
Global Family's ultimate goal is to develop innovative best practice models that protect children and preserve families. Our program approaches include (1) locally imagined and managed solutions that bring awareness, empower girls, as well as strengthen families and communities; (2) shelters that preserve dignity, provide quality care, and prioritize restoration with families and returning victims to the highest level of independence possible; and (3) after-care programs that are family-based and volunteer caregiver dependent.
Our approaches are consistent with published and peer-reviewed studies which are consistently reviewed and incorporated. This includes, 1) identification of victims (sensitization and training of personnel; multidisciplinary task forces; youth empowerment groups), 2) rescue (screening and physical assessments; information around available services; drop-in and short-term shelters), 3) rehabilitation (medical, legal, social, and psychotherapeutic services; partnerships between child welfare agencies and other NGOs; combined trainings from multiple sectors; incorporation of family and friends in recovery; home-based support), and 4) reintegration (vocational and skills training; capacity building; community-based services; family identification and assessment; follow-up).
Prevention aims to protect children from being at-risk of trafficking and commercial exploitation, and targets both the supply and demand of trafficking. The best measures of protection and defense are locally driven efforts beginning in homes, villages, schools, and communities by those most affected. These efforts have taken the form of Daughter Project clubs that mobilize citizens and equip them to protect, intercept and restore girls at risk.
Clubs are founded and run by community volunteers, who may be youth or mentors from the surrounding area. The model for club development was established in response to the environmental and individual risk factors of child trafficking and abuse. Clubs follow a curriculum and often meet on a weekly or bi-weekly basis in local community centers, public spaces, schools, or alongside partner organizations. Club activities include children advocating for their peers, girls’ clubs that build self-work, women cooperating to keep girls in school, and community leaders upholding children’s rights. Other clubs aim to intercept girls being trafficked or trapped in abuse and restore them back to their families or guide them to a restoration shelter.
Empower consists of lessons around building character, overcoming challenges, influencing others well, and planning for the future. Meetings consist of foundational lessons designed to build a sense of community and friendship amongst young girls and strengthen self-image, social skills and healthy habits. Each meeting is composed of a lesson, discussion, activities and a sample journal prompt for girls to record their thoughts. The lessons are adaptable to different age groups, religious affiliations and educational systems.
Empower is designed to teach girls how to address the challenges and obstacles that they will face, especially as they grow older and take on more responsibility. While each girl encounters different trials, it is important to provide a safe environment to prepare her for the future. Many of the stories in this book involve older female characters that are portrayed as trusted figures. These trusted relationships should be emphasized to encourage your group to reflect on the trusted and reliable adult females in their lives. You can also reiterate that you are available to offer support and discuss any questions or issues that are brought up.
Meetings that address positive thinking are designed to help girls discover healthy ways of dealing with stress and difficult situations. Those that address facing obstacles and enduring hardship are meant to allow a space where girls can identify and tackle the challenges they face, whether at home, school or in their communities.
This handbook consists of Part 1, a training for club leaders, and Part 2, club lessons. We encourage you to take this curriculum at your own pace. Meet once a day, once a week, or once a month, and have fun!