Mélange Travel & Lifestyle Magazine July 2019 | Page 108
others reclaim theirs, just as
we’d love to have them join
us in spreading the message
of hope that though CSA has
debilitating effects, it doesn’t
have to be a death sentence.
About current projects
GLOWpower! This is an
annual retreat, currently for
girls who have been sexually
abused. It is an intensive multi-
disciplinary retreat where we
retool survivors, giving them the
resources to heal. From yoga to
journaling to practical ways to
change the internal dialogue,
GLOWpower (Girls Lighting Our
World) calls on primarily female
survivors who have transcended
victimhood to become mentors
and role models, helping to
paint a picture of hope and
triumph for girls fresh on the
other side of abuse.
About advice for those
who are being abused but
are afraid to speak out
Sexual abuse is an incredibly
isolating thing where you
feel like you’re the only one
in the world. Sadly, it is all too
common but that it is of little
consolation when you’re being
abused.
My advice to anyone suffering
is to find someone in whom
you can confide. I realize how
incredibly difficult it can be
but really strongly encourage
them to find that one person
with whom they can have a
candid conversation. Thankfully
now there are a number of
online support groups, a lot of
which appreciate anonymity
while providing a safe space for
sharing experiences.
Please know that the sooner
you speak up, the sooner the
abuse can end, the sooner
healing can start. It might not
feel like it in the midst of abuse,
but everything passes, even the
evils of sexual violation, and
with proper care and self-care,
healing is possible.
Sexual abuse is a universal
plague that does not
discriminate. It knows no
bounds but unless we focus on
our community, on our island,
on our districts, we will never
find meaningful and sustainable
prevention of sexual abuse. We
must continue to encourage
perpetrator shaming - not
victim blaming.
We need financial
support, and
perhaps just as
important, we
need people
to be mentors,
role models and
support. For those
who have reclaimed
their voice, we
would love to
have them join us
in helping others
reclaim theirs . . .
~ Julie Mansfield
E: [email protected]
W: www.givemedignity.org
W: www.GLOWpower.org
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