Child Refuge Homes

Cebu in the Philippines is home to our largest ongoing project. This vital refuge is a rural, purpose-built group of shelters, providing permanent refuge homes for young girls rescued from sexual exploitation. All of the 22 girls that live here were sexually exploited by trusted adults, often their parents.

Run by the C.U.R.E Foundation, a local Cebu NGO who work in partnership with the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and human trafficking NGO’s; all of the girls at the shelter receive educational, psychological and emotional support, with a designated social worker and house parents.To date the shelter has two children’s refuge homes which house 22 DSWD referred children, the youngest of which, ‘Lily’ is just 2 years old. These very young children have all been rescued from domestic online child abuse – tragically, the Philippines is the number one global source for webcam child abuse.

The shelter became full to capacity after just 12 months of operation and cannot admit any more referrals. BuildAid is therefore constructing additional and much needed children’s homes and classrooms at the site which will greatly increase their capacity and provide permanent accommodation, education and trauma informed care to children who have had a hugely damaging start to their young lives.<b></b><b>Project Outputs:</b>• A total of 7 single storey residential shelter cottages - including dormitory, play area and bathroom facilities.• 1 single storey purpose built school building (including 3 classrooms, office and guest room)<b></b><b>Project Outcomes:</b>1. Increased accommodation and dedicated care capacity for 70 victims of domestic child sex abuse.2. Provision of specialist on-site education for 75 children unable to attend mainstream schools.