PAVE and SUSS launch new application empowering young children against child sexual abuse
- SUSS Chancellor Mdm Halimah Yacob unveiled the Garden of Safety mobile game app at PAVE’s 25th anniversary dinner.
- The app aims to empower young children, parents, childcare educators and caregivers by equipping them with essential knowledge about body safety and protective behaviour.
Singapore, 29 February 2024 - PAVE, a leading integrated service for family violence prevention, child protection and sexual abuse, and the Singapore University of Social Sciences (SUSS) today launched a new Garden of Safety mobile game application designed to educate and empower young children, with the support of parents, childcare educators and caregivers, on body safety and protective behaviour knowledge.
The app was unveiled by guest-of-honour Mdm Halimah Yacob, Chancellor of the Singapore University of Social Sciences (SUSS), at PAVE’s 25th anniversary dinner at the Conrad Centennial Singapore. This follows the release of the Garden of Safety video, also launched by Mdm Halimah last August1, which has the same objectives as the game.
Co-developed by PAVE and SUSS, and supported by Lam Soon, the interactive game will provide a user-friendly and engaging platform for understanding and applying essential body safety rules. Tailored for children aged four to nine, this innovative resource equips them with vital knowledge to respond effectively when their safety is threatened.
The game centres around three pivotal themes:
(i) Empowering children to identify private parts and assert ownership of their bodies;
(ii) Equipping them with the skills and confidence to assertively say “no” and remove themselves from uncomfortable or unsafe situations; and
(iii) Helping children identify trustworthy adults whom they can approach for help.
The game immerses children in scenarios through an engaging narrative, interactive multimedia features and familiar characters from the Garden of Safety video, guiding them to recognise their body’s warning signs and distinguish between safe and unsafe secrets. Prompts within the gameplay encourage users to initiate meaningful conversations with their parents, teachers or child-minders.
The app will be piloted with a selected group of stakeholders before being made available for download on Android and iOS mobile devices by June 2024.
Screengrabs from the Garden of Safety game app
As an advocate against child sexual abuse, Mdm Halimah Yacob, Chancellor of SUSS, expressed: “The launch of this app marks a significant milestone in our journey toward creating a safer and more empowered future for individuals and families. The prevention of child abuse and domestic violence is a critical endeavour that requires collective action. I’m pleased that the partnership between PAVE and SUSS has yielded this valuable resource, which will support the most vulnerable among us. While organisations like PAVE contribute significantly to preventing domestic violence, each of us also plays a crucial role by actively supporting our family, friends and neighbours, offering assistance and guidance whenever needed.”
Celebrating 25 years of empowering families and preventing violence
Since its inception, PAVE has been at the forefront of addressing family violence in Singapore. Responding to the urgent needs of children living in fear of violence at home, PAVE took a courageous leap of faith to become the first ground-up specialist organisation dedicated to combatting family violence. Over the past 25 years, PAVE has tirelessly served over 37,000 beneficiaries, guiding individuals and families towards healing and hopeful futures.
“Today signifies a pivotal moment for PAVE as we commemorate our achievements and steadfast dedication to forging a society liberated from the grip of abuse. Our mission is to continue empowering every individual, nurturing futures brimming with hope and promise,” Dr Serene Ng, President of PAVE, emphasises. “Every life, whether that of a child or adult, holds immense significance. At PAVE, we remain steadfast in our commitment to providing a voice for those in need for many more years to come.”
For more information about the mobile application, services and programmes PAVE offers, please visit www.pave.org.sg.
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1 https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/new-animated-video-teaches-pre-schoolers-body-safety-skillsFor media queries, please contact:
Kee Tai
Email: intake@pave.org.sg
Edward Poh
Email: edwardpohm@suss.edu.sg
Ain Ahmad
Email:
RFSingapore_MSFRPG@RuderFinn.com