After three years of sexual abuse, a twelve-year-old Peruvian boy had completely withdrawn from his regular routine. Sinking into a deep depression, he rarely left the house and stopped attending school.
The perpetrator? A twenty-seven-year-old man who had befriended the boys’ family after he began working construction in the rural area of Chao, Peru. Not only was he sexually assaulting the child for years, but he was also recording the abuse and distributing the videos of it on the internet. It was those videos that caught the attention of the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC). Peruvian National Police (PNP) authorities were alerted; they then contacted Our Rescue for assistance.
Along with providing logistical support, Our Rescue also provided transportation for an intelligence team to go to the rural area where the child and the alleged perpetrator lived. After the arrest of the suspect, Our Rescue funded plane tickets, food and lodging for the boy and his father so that they could go to Lima and give formal statements to the Peruvian prosecutors.
Additionally, Our Rescue purchased new clothes for the boy so that old clothing, which was a reminder of the abuse, could be disposed of. Lastly, when our team learned that neither the child nor his father had ever attended a movie theater, we made arrangements for both of them to experience a Disney movie together. Our Rescue was later informed the experience brought tears of excitement to their eyes and helped lift the boy’s spirits.
While prosecution of the alleged abuser was a priority for Peruvian authorities and Our Rescue’s assistance helped make that happen, it was clear that survivor care was absolutely necessary for the twelve-year-old boy. Our Rescue’s team is working with him to help manage his depression and rebuild his self-esteem so that he can re-integrate into school and other childhood activities. The consequences weren’t just emotional; the sexual assault he endured was so violent that the boy might require surgery to correct the damage from his abuser. Our Rescue Survivor Care personnel will continue monitoring him and will travel to the rural area of Chao to help determine his school needs.
The generous contributions of Our Rescue’s donors not only help to prosecute abusers but also fund the crucial and often challenging care that survivors of child sexual abuse require. Survivor care can sometimes last years. When a survivor is from a less-populated area, Our Rescue’s survivor care teams are often the only resource for that care that is available. Contribute today to Our Rescue to make a lasting impact for the survivors of child sexual abuse.