The Ripple Effect: Young advocates, big contributors in the fight against OSAEC
Everything starts with a ripple.
A shared story between friends. A youth lending an ear. A brave question in a community meeting. These moments may seem subtle, even invisible. But like a stone dropped into still water, they begin to stir the surface—spreading outward, touching lives in ever-widening circles.
In the battle against online sexual abuse and exploitation of children (OSAEC), silence is often the greatest enemy. Many victims don’t even realise they are being exploited. According to the Disrupting Harm in the Philippines report published by ECPAT, INTERPOL and UNICEF in 2022, 55% of children do not know how to report harmful content online, and 44% are unaware of where to seek help if they or a friend are experiencing harassment or abuse.
The same report also found that 13% of surveyed children had their sexual images shared online without their consent, while another 13% were threatened or blackmailed into engaging in sexual activities within the past year. Many of these stories remain untold as digital threats persist daily—but among those who choose to listen, learn, and act, change is beginning to make waves.
One such ripple comes in the form of the Peer Support Group (PSG), a child-led organisation composed of members from various barangays across Cebu, supported by the Safety for Children and their Rights Online (SCROL) Project.
The idea behind it is simple, but powerful: when it comes to fighting OSAEC and other forms of abuse, children and youth are more likely to open up to people their own age.
“It was born from that observation,” said Judith Pulvera, SCROL Project Coordinator at Bidlisiw Foundation. “A lot of children are more comfortable to disclose, to seek help, to talk to people their same age. And through [the PSG], they can have a shoulder to lean on and ears that could listen to whatever problems they are experiencing.”
Their mission is not just to inform, but to connect through initiated activities. Not just to speak, but to listen through peer-to-peer sessions. And from every activity they conduct, every online post they share, every child they comfort, another ripple begins.
The voice amidst the deafening silence
In many communities across the Philippines, silence around OSAEC persists—not from apathy, but from invisibility. It hides behind screens and quiet chats, preying on children in digital spaces no one sees.
“OSAEC is very silent, but it’s very rampant,” shared PSG Member, Seal. “A lot of it is happening without you even knowing.”
Gilmar, a fellow PSG member, seconded, “This type of issue kay gamay ra ilang nakuha nga report pero daghan og mga kaso. Gamay ra ilang nadawat nga reports kay wala kahibaw ang mga biktima nga usa na sila ani. ”
(This type of issue gets very few reports, but there are actually many cases. Only a few are reported because most victims don’t even realise they’re already victims.)
For the children and youth who face these dangers, help sometimes comes from someone their own age—someone who listens without judgment, who speaks their language, who understands what it feels like to be young, curious, and vulnerable.
“One of the biggest learnings nga akoa gyud na-uphold until now is ‘Empty your cup.’ Wagtangon nimo tanan nimong prejudice, biases towards these children inig abot nimo sa usa ka lugar, inig session or activity, you see them as an equals,” exclaims Xy, who started being a PSG member at the young age of 13.
(One of the biggest lessons I’ve upheld until now is to ‘Empty your cup.’ You let go of all your prejudices and biases toward these children. When you enter a place, start a session, or facilitate an activity, you see them as equals.)
Reclaiming the digital space
Their involvement goes beyond mere conversation. The SCROL Project has equipped them to bring the battle where it has become prevalent—online.
The Peer Support Group Federation has played a key role in advancing the SCROL Project’s advocacy by creating child-friendly digital content through the social media management training it provided. The group has produced podcasts, memes, reels, and TikTok challenges—small steps that made a big impact in spreading awareness and promoting online safety for children.
Their content speaks the language of their generation: visual, fast-paced, relatable, and packed with messages about digital safety, red flags in online interactions, the importance of consent, and more.
On the other hand, these young people aren’t just teaching—they’re healing themselves, too.
Xy even recounted how the project reshaped her understanding of digital boundaries, prompting her to lock her Facebook profile to prevent stalking or the misuse of her content by posers.
17-year-old Pats who’s been serving as a member for three years already, also shared. “Dili man kaayo hingtingog sauna, hilom ra kaayo ko ug sige ra ko’g katawa, pero karon maka-istorya na, maka-atubang na sa laing taw.”
(I didn’t use to speak up much before—I was really quiet and just laughed a lot. But now, I can already hold conversations and face other people.)
“Everything starts with yourself. If you can’t teach yourself, you can’t teach others.” Riza echoed.
These shifts in digital and social behaviour are not isolated. They’re part of a ripple effect. When they are made aware, they begin teaching others—often in the same language, apps, and platforms that OSAEC offenders exploit. In doing so, they reclaim the space, turning platforms once used for harm into tools for healing, resistance, and awareness.
The ripple continues
There are now eight PSG clusters in Cebu with over 500 members and counting. They’re not just raising awareness; they’re building a culture of empathy, digital responsibility, and child protection.
From quiet children to vocal advocates, these youth are proving that age does not define capacity. They are not just teenagers with smartphones, students in uniforms, and kids with compassion; they are the ripples that refuse to stop and continue to make waves.
The fight is far from over. By simply sharing their content, leaving a comment, or starting a conversation, you’re already helping them with the visibility and support they need to protect more children.
Through the SCROL Project, Terre des Hommes Netherlands and Bidlisiw Foundation strengthened the PSG’s advocacy work, not merely by tapping the youth in the fight against OSAEC, but by empowering them to become the solution themselves.
Author: Bryan G. Fernandez II
