Sharon House
Sex Trafficking in the Philippines
An estimated 60,000 to 100,000 children in the Philippines are forced into child sex trafficking every year. The victims are predominantly girls between 14 and 17 years of age. Among the main causes of child sex trafficking in the Philippines are poverty, low economic development in communities, limited education, gender inequality, limited employment opportunities, large family sizes, official corruption, and inadequate awareness of trafficking among families. The Philippines Social Welfare Department estimates that there are up to 200,000 children on the streets of Manila (a city just 30 minutes from Bacoor), and that at least one-tenth of these children are victims of trafficking. The Philippines ranks FOURTH in the world in terms of countries with the highest number of sexually exploited children.
Who Is at Risk?
Children are especially vulnerable to being trafficked because they are often less educated, easy to overpower, and easy to convince that they must do what an adult tells them to do. Children in the Philippines may also be in a position where they are told that they must help support their families, and they may be sold or sent abroad by family members to do so. In the Philippines, child sex abusers are both foreigners (mainly North American, Japanese, Chinese, Korean, and European) and local men, and include military men, taxi drivers, politicians, police officers, businesspeople, and college students. Girls in the Philippines are also trafficked into cyber-sex dens, where children are exploited in front of a camera for abusers abroad.
What does Sharon House Provide?
It is a fully furnished facility where the girls can stay until they are able to safely live independently. While living at Sharon House, the girls have all their meals and basic health and hygiene needs provided. They also have their school fees covered to ensure the completion of their education. The center provides sexual abuse prevention education to mitigate their risk of being sex trafficked. The girls also receive Spiritual discipleship training to provide them with the wisdom and knowledge to grow spiritually and share their faith with others.
100% of your gift toward the Sharon House program will be used for the girls. Thank you for your prayerful support!
Sharon House Resident Story
Maricar has five siblings and comes from a broken home. Life has always been difficult for her, and financial struggles have always been part of her life. Because her older siblings were never able to finish their studies, they do not have stable jobs and continue the cycle of poverty and hardship.
Maricar lived at Sharon House for 4 years and was able to finish her high school education. Now she is studying at the International Christian College Manila (ICCM) and is in her second year of study.
She credits the love and support she received at Sharon House for her ability to continue studying. With faith, perseverance, and hard work, Maricar knows anything is possible. Currently, she is a Sunday School teacher and helps lead worship in her church.
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