Children At Risk! NGO Exposes Hidden Dangers In Rural Schools – Parents, Take Note
Introduction: When Silence Isn’t Safe
In the corridors of many schools across Nigeria, children gather each day to learn about math, science, and grammar. But some of the most crucial lessons—those that could protect them from harm—are missing. For students in rural and semi-urban communities, especially in Delta State, this gap is dangerously wide. A recent campaign launched by the Harmony Advocacy Network seeks to fill that void with something powerful: knowledge.
Background: A Rising Threat to Young Lives
Sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) is a growing crisis across Nigeria, but its impact is often more acute in marginalized regions where formal education on human rights, bodily autonomy, and legal protections is absent.
Children—especially girls—are left vulnerable not just to abusers, but to a system that hasn’t equipped them to recognize abuse or speak out. This systemic neglect is what motivated Harmony Advocacy Network, a dedicated NGO, to take their message directly to the classrooms.
The Campaign: Knowledge Is Their Shield
Between July 3 and 7, the NGO launched its first wave of school-based sensitisation programs in Delta State. The initiative reached students at Ugbolokposo Secondary School, World Light Academy in Effurun, and Pessu Primary School in Warri.
Speaking with PUNCH Metro, Harmony Tachie, the NGO’s coordinator, revealed a troubling reality:
“Most of these children don’t know their rights, let alone how to get help. They’ve never been taught what sexual abuse is or that it’s not their fault.”
During these sessions, students were educated on:
-
What constitutes sexual abuse and gender-based violence
-
How to recognize early warning signs
-
The importance of speaking up and supporting peers
-
Who to turn to for help, including community and legal resources
Beyond facts, the programme also focused on confidence-building, helping children believe that their voices matter.
Why This Matters: Beyond Awareness to Action
This isn’t just another awareness drive. It’s a direct response to a painful truth: abuse thrives in silence. When children don’t understand what’s being done to them—or believe they deserve it—they remain trapped.
Harmony Tachie emphasized the need to integrate these lessons into the formal school curriculum.
“Education is the first step to prevention. But we need structural change. Right now, we’re just filling a gap that shouldn’t exist.”
She’s right. Sensitisation efforts should not be left to NGOs alone. It should be national policy.
Call to Government: Time to Step Up
The NGO didn’t stop at education. They issued a direct appeal to all levels of government to:
-
Update laws to cover emerging forms of GBV, especially those influenced by digital abuse or harmful traditional practices
-
Increase budget allocations for support services like shelters, counselling centers, and legal aid
-
Invest in community sensitisation to destigmatize reporting and hold perpetrators accountable
Conclusion: Building a Culture of Consent and Courage
The Harmony Advocacy Network has started a conversation where there was once silence—and for many students in Delta State, this may be the first time anyone’s ever told them that abuse is not okay, and they have the right to say no.
But the road ahead is long. One campaign won’t fix decades of silence, nor will it undo the damage already done. However, by empowering children with knowledge, building community awareness, and pushing for government action, we begin to change not just minds, but lives.
As Tachie said best:
“Prevention starts with education. And it starts now.”
