In Costa Rica, where incestuous abuse is epidemic and often remains hidden behind closed doors, Del Silencio a la Libertad is an organization that works tirelessly to shift the cultural taboo that keeps many victims from speaking out. Kimberly, one of Darkness to Light's newest Certified Instructors, plays a key role in this organization’s prevention efforts to break the silence. With personal experience with trauma and abuse, Kimberly is determined to help others find the support and resources they need. In her role, she focuses on educating the community, particularly children, parents, and educators, about how to recognize and prevent abuse. Through Guardianes de los Niños, which is our Spanish-language version of Stewards of Children®, Kimberly has trained 111 people to protect vulnerable children and break the cycle of familial abuse.
The work of Del Silencio a la Libertad goes beyond education. They also provide a safe house for victims of abuse—especially those who, after reporting their cases, find themselves without a home. The safe house offers a refuge where mothers and children can find shelter while they await relocation or more permanent care. This initiative helps bridge a critical gap in the country’s child protection system, giving survivors the stability they need to begin healing. In addition to providing immediate care, the organization also offers free legal advice to victims. They are spearheading an outreach campaign to raise awareness about the need for reform and to ensure that the voices of victims are heard at the highest governmental levels.
The organization also proivdes one-on-one meetings to support survivors. Kimberly has seen firsthand the transformative impact of these meetings. “It’s in these spaces,” she says, “where survivors start to regain their voices and understand that they are not alone.”
Through their safe houses, legal advice, and sexual abuse prevention trainings, Kimberly has seen the first signs of healing in her community. Schools and churches that once avoided the topic are now having open conversations, and families are starting to recognize the importance of addressing this issue. Children who once struggled with the trauma of abuse are now thriving, showing the profound impact of breaking the silence and finding safety.
As one of Darkness to Light’s newest Certified Instructors, and one of our only Instructors to conduct Facilitator Workshops entirely in Spanish, she is now going out into her community and authorizing new Facilitators to bring Guardianes de los Niños to more people in their own communities! The work that Kimberly and Del Silencio a la Libertad accomplish is not just about offering help in the present—it’s about creating a Costa Rica where victims no longer suffer in silence.
What's one piece of advice you would offer on this topic?
Silence perpetuates abuse. My advice is to not be afraid to speak up, and to not be afraid to listen, either. If you are a victim, remember that you are not alone. You are not alone! And there are people willing to support you. If you are part of a community, be brave and break the taboo. When the truth comes out, it brings healing to so many victims. Talking about the issue can even save lives and end generations of suffering. Change begins when we dare to look at what nobody wants to see and work together to solve it. This cannot be done alone; I cannot do it alone, I cannot do it with even the four members of our organization–but if we as a society unite, we can achieve so much! So let’s be brave, every one of us, so that we can eradicate child sexual abuse.
Commenti