Nurturing our children
The Nurturing our children project, led by Le Va through our Atu-Mai violence prevention programme, is a dedicated initiative aimed at preventing child sexual abuse (CSA) within Pasifika communities across Aotearoa.
We engaged with Pasifika parents, youth, educators, subject-matter experts and community leaders through talanoa sessions to gather valuable insights into the unique needs, challenges and solutions for CSA prevention.
This community-centred approach emphasises the importance of empowering our children to reach their full potential and highlights the harm of child sexual abuse.
It also acknowledges the importance of fostering open conversations and addressing collective shame and silence around CSA.
The voices and wisdom of these communities have directly shaped a suite of practical, culturally aligned resources to support Pasifika caregivers in safeguarding their children.
Resources
Le Va will be introducing a series of resources designed to empower families and communities with the knowledge and tools needed to prevent child sexual abuse.
Each resource will be available for download before the end of 2024, and will include:
Nurturing our children with Pasifika values
- How to nurture our children using Pasifika values to protect them from harmful behaviours like sexual grooming and child sexual abuse.
Talanoa to protect
- How to have open, trusting conversations that nurture the va (sacred relationship), strengthen bonds and create a safe space where children feel empowered to share any concerns, including worries about inappropriate or harmful behaviour.
Protecting our Pasifika children
- Equips Pasifika parents and caregivers with essential knowledge and practical tools to recognise, prevent, and address child sexual abuse, empowering families to create safer environments for their children.
Knowing who is in our villages
- Supports Pasifika parents and caregivers with tools to recognise and address grooming behaviours, helping to protect children by identifying warning signs and nurturing open communication.
Responding with courage
- Guides Pasifika parents and caregivers in providing supportive, confident responses when a child discloses sexual harm, offering practical steps to create a safe, understanding environment and access professional help as needed.
