JPIC-IDC, Inc. conducted a 3-Day Exposure Trip in the Red Light Districts in Cebu for 33 school based ATIP advocates on October 25-27, 2019. The learning exposure was participated by Schools Division Superintendent, Division Program Development Officers, Division Guidance Coordinators, Secondary School Principals, Guidance Counsellor, and teacher advocates from 12 partner secondary schools from tri-division; Surigao City, Siargao and Surigao del Norte Division.
The learning exposure and outreach activities in the red light districts and visit in the aftercare facility of the Religious of the Good Shepherd (RGS) in Cebu allowed participants to experience and acquire learning outside the four walls of the classroom. The learning exposure and outreach activities in the identified hotspots and or red light areas in Cebu (1) educated participants on the struggles and challenges faced by the victims of commercial sexual exploitation (CSE); (2) informed them on the various contributing factors for these victims to engage in this illegal activities, dynamics and profiles of victims, and the emerging trends of CSE; and (3) aspired to inspire participants to take part in promoting child protection and helping in minimizing the prevalence of child sexual abuses and exploitation especially in their respective locality.
The visit in the aftercare facility also allowed participants to (1) listen to the success stories of those rescued victims and their aspiration of having a better life in the future; (2) see the relevance of having a good and reliable support group or groups to ensure sustainability of the current initiatives on promoting anti-trafficking in persons; and (3) realize that it is about time to stand for those victims of sexual abuses and exploitation.
