A non-profit group, The Healed Shop, has kicked off its fight against child sexual abuse with a school outreach programme in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
The Healed Shop founder, Chimenem Nsirim, launched the outreach recently at the Community Secondary School, Ozuoba, where over 400 students participated in interactive sessions and open forums designed to educate and empower young people.
Nsirim, in a statement, noted that the initiative marked the beginning of a movement to raise awareness, collect meaningful data, and inspire collective action against child sexual abuse in Nigeria.
“We founded The Healed Shop to break the silence and build a future where no child has to suffer in silence,” Nsirim said. “With data, we can shift the conversation on CSA from perception to fact.”
The outreach featured student-led discussions, safety education and opportunities for students and staff to voice their concerns.
Parents, teachers and child advocates also joined the engagement, which focused on building safer communities for children.
A key part of the launch was the unveiling of an anonymous online survey aimed at collecting data on experiences and perceptions of CSA across communities.
According to the group, the findings will inform policy advocacy and shape targeted interventions across Nigeria.
“The online survey gives us a direct line to stories and experiences that are often hidden,” Nsirim added.
The Healed Shop urged Nigerians to take part in the survey and engage on social media using a dedicated hashtag.
