“Don’t let abuse be your child’s story: Make a change. End child abuse”

The Child Development Division within the Ministry of National Mobilisation, etc. will be observing the annual Child Abuse Awareness and Prevention Month from April 1 – 30, 2024. This is in keeping with St. Vincent and the Grenadines' commitment to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child.

The theme chosen for this year is “Don’t let abuse be your child’s story: Make a change. End child abuse” with a focus on child neglect and abandonment. This theme addresses our goals of informing parents of their tremendous power to prevent child abuse; to educate and increase awareness in homes, schools, and communities as we use positive promotional activities geared towards strengthening families and fostering a network between the Ministry, the Police and Communities.

As part of the month’s activities, churches are invited to commemorate “Blue Sundays.” This is an annual event where churches of all faiths are asked to pray for the victims of child abuse and to demonstrate their appreciation to those who help abused or neglected children. You are asked that you join with churches from across the region to recognize April 27, 2024, as “Blue Saturdays” and April 28, 2024, as “Blue Sundays”. On these special days, congregations are asked to wear blue in solidarity for victims of child abuse and to pray for families and children who have been abused and experiencing violent situations, as well as the wisdom and resources to decrease abuse issues confronting our community. 

March and Rally with Torch Run – These activities will take place on Friday 19th April in Union Island and 26th April 2024 through the streets of Kingstown with a Rally in Victoria Park. Both activities begin at 11:00 am in their respective places. An invitation is extended to members of the congregation to join in solidarity in marching against child abuse. You are asked to wear blue and make signs with messages against child abuse. There is hope that many persons can join because it's recognised that the Church has a critical role in protecting our Nations children.

In solidarity with the theme for this year April, 2024, here is a poster presentation from the District Children's Ministry Department of Church of God of Prophecy in St. Vincent & the Grenadines. 

“Don’t let abuse be your child’s story: Make a change. End child abuse”

There are over 3.6 million confirmed new victims of child abuse reported annually and over 100K children are awaiting adoption.  Children aging out of foster care have extremely poor outcomes. Most end up on the street, in jail or dead within the first year.

Churches are the perfect partners in the fight against child abuse. We bring faith, encouragement, and resources into the most heartbreaking mission of all, abused children.

Please join millions for the 30th Annual Blue Sunday Day of Prayer for abused children on April 28th. Pray the children are rescued, placed with good people, their hearts and bodies healed, and please pray for those who rescue them. Blue Sunday Day of Prayer for Abused Children began in 1994 with 20 churches and has grown into a national/international campaign reaching over 17 million people that has led the way for churches to connect with the needs of abused children living in their own cities.

What will your church do?

Watch this video👇🏼 now and become educated about the harmful effects of child abuse on the life / lives of children. Let us help to end this crisis of child abuse. Pray for a child / children in your neighbourhood, village, community, city, country, region and worldwide today. 🙏🏻 ❤️

2024 Press Release

30th Annual Blue Sunday - A Day of Prayer for Abused Children

and Those Who Rescue Them   -   For Immediate Release

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April is Child Abuse Prevention Month, and to remember the millions of children who are victims of abuse and/or neglect, Blue Sunday Child Abuse Prevention is asking the faith community to pray on Sunday, April 28, 2024.

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Who: The faith community 

What: A day to pray for the millions of victims of child abuse and for those who rescue them 

Where: Churches across our nation (you may add your church information here)

When: Sunday, April 28, 2024 

Why:  April is Child Abuse Prevention Month. It began when a report about abused and neglected children caught the attention of President Ronald Reagan in 1983. Sadly, since that first Child Abuse Prevention Month, the number of abused victims has grown from half a million children to over 3.6 million new reports of abuse along with 1600 child abuse related deaths annually. One is too many.

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Faith Community we must face the facts:

• One in four girls and one in six boys will be sexually abused before their 18th birthday.

• Most child abuse incidents are drug and alcohol related.

• Within one year of aging out of the foster care system, 66% of victims will be homeless, in jail or dead. 

• There are over 100,000 children waiting for adoption in the United States.

  
  

How to pray for abused children on Blue Sunday:

1. Pray they will be rescued

2. Pray they are placed with caring people

3. Pray their minds and bodies can heal

4. Pray they find hope

5. Pray for those who rescue them

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Let’s pray, educate ourselves, and volunteer until black and blue are just colors in a child’s crayon box.

 

Blue Sunday Child Abuse Prevention Initiative is dedicated to helping communities reach out to abused children and to support those who rescue them.