Raising Awareness During Child Abuse Prevention Month

By The Girls Education First Staff

During the month of April, the Girls Education First Foundation was able to launch two major initiatives to help build awareness and educate young girls, primary victims of child abuse, to allow them to have access to a safe and quality education for girls in Oregon.

They Are Young, Homeless, and Eager to Learn

At just 8 years old, Jessica Harley found herself living on the streets of Medford. After that, she suffered from years of sexual abuse and a complete lack of educational support. While Jessica managed to find a stable shelter by the age of 18, she was still struggling to finish high school. 

The state of Oregon struggles with one of the highest levels of homelessness in the United States The problem is especially endemic among the younger population in the state. While these numbers are alarming, it’s even more disturbing to learn that over 50% of young people (generally between 8 and 20) who live in shelters or on the streets report that their parents told them to leave. Homeless girls are especially vulnerable on the street because they face unique health challenges and outcomes.

 Children experiencing homelessness often lack the stability and support necessary to succeed in school. To help improve their learning conditions, the Girls Education First Foundation, with the support of Craven Financial Solutions, has provided school supplies to the children,  the majority of which are girls, sheltered by the Hearts with a Mission Foundation. We were able to provide notebooks, pens, pencils, backpacks, and other basic necessities for school.

Standing Up Against Child Abuse in Oregon

When the pandemic broke out, twelve-year-old Amanda had to stay at home with her family. Tensions rose high and the situation worsened when her father started to abuse her emotionally and physically. However, her situation went unnoticed for several months until the Oregon Department of Human Services was alerted. Unfortunately, Amanda’s situation is all too common. Hundreds of girls experience abuse every day in the U.S. and around the world. However, the best way to fight child abuse is to prevent it.

During the month of April – recognized as Child Abuse Prevention month – GEFF made a five hundred dollar donation to the Children Advocacy Care of Jackson County in Oregon to help improve the well-being of girls in the community. This contribution is going in support of the campaign Caring For Kids: A Coalition for Hope.

This local initiative aims to support and educate families on the consequences of child abuse, prevent a crisis and work with children and families to strengthen the state’s family and child well-being system. According to the Oregon Department of Human Services, DHS, while child abuse calls have decreased during the global pandemic, that doesn’t mean it still isn’t prevalent within communities. As such, the program aims to provide trained professionals’ assistance in detecting and caring for child abuse.

For more information about the campaign, click here.

Improving Girls’ Education Around The World

At GEFF, we strongly believe that education enables upward socioeconomic mobility and is a key to escaping poverty. Hence, our commitment to support a wide array of efforts to promote a safe, fair, and quality education for underserved girls in low-income, developing and war-torn countries. Collaboration plays an important part in our mission to forge strong ties with other grassroots organizations and academic institutions.