Facilitators Workshop Training

The Ministry of Education, Employment and Gender Affairs (EE&GA) provided a training workshop for facilitators of the Darkness to Light: The 5 Steps to Protecting Our Children child sexual abuse prevention programme at Governor’s Square Boardroom on Wednesday, 30 October 2013.

Darkness to Light (D2L) is a programme based out of the United States.  Its mission is to empower people to protect and prevent child sexual abuse through education and training.

This programme has been offered through the Ministry of Education since 2007 and made possible from funding by Hedge Funds Care Cayman (HFCC).  A portion of this funding is also used for the D2L facilitator workshop training.

The D2L: The 5 Steps to Protecting Our Children programme is mandatory for all government school staff and Extended After-School Programme (EASP) staff.  It is also available to all private school staff.

The objective for these training workshops is to increase the number of qualified D2L facilitators.  With more D2L facilitators, the programme can then extend to provide training sessions for the general community, parents, individuals and organization.

“We would like to see this programme offered to private and public groups and organizations, churches and the general public,” said Camila Ferreira.  “It is extremely important that all parents and individuals working with children be equipped with the necessary tools to identify and respond appropriately to issues related to child sexual abuse.”

“The Ministry of Education is committed to our children, their education and overall well-being,” said Hon. Tara Rivers, Minister of Education, Employment and Gender Affairs. “D2L is an important programme that enables our teachers and those that work with our children to be stewards for the protection, prevention and treatment of child sexual abuse, and to provide support intervention and facilitate treatment for those children who are victims of such abuse.”

To request more information on the programme or to schedule a session, please contact Camila Ferreira via email at [email protected]

Photo Credits: Government Information Services (GIS)

Photo Captions:

Photo One – Stewards of Children facilitator’s guide and material provided during the workshop.

Photo Two – Group photo of participants and instructor Sophia Chandler, Child Psychologist, Health Services Authority (front row, fourth from right).