At SOS Children’s Villages, Ben and his mother were given a safe place to live, recover and begin to heal. Ben was introduced to Josephine, an SOS Children’s Villages counselor trained in providing care to children who have experienced trauma. While their first visit was short, Ben kept going back week after week, building trust, and sharing his feelings.
For children like Ben, violence can have serious, lifelong effects on their development. “The abuse turned me into a silent, fearful person. I could not speak up for fear people would judge me, and that took away opportunities for me. It slowed me down. If I had not gone through a difficult childhood, I would be a very different person.”
But today, thanks to a caring sponsor like you, Ben is in his second year at a local university, studying information and technology. While he still receives counselling, Ben is looking forward to a bright future:
“When I am happy and confident, I have something to offer the people around me. That is what I want to do. If it were not for the inspiration, the talking, and the opportunity to open my heart, I would be in a bad place. Now I have the courage to face my fears, the courage to wake up in the morning and to speak up.”
*Ben's name has been changed to protect his identity.