The internet is a wonderful place for information, entertainment, and social networking for kids and adults alike. But with the proliferation of fake news, explicit content, and cyberbullying, it’s not a very safe space, even for adults.
The web is an even more dangerous place for children in low-income countries like the Philippines where access to low-cost internet and mobile devices is widespread and parental control and adult supervision is lax due to various socio-economic factors.
In fact, the country is considered one of the world’s top hot spots for online child sexual exploitation among 10-14 year-olds.
This is the situation that has prompted Terre de Hommes-Netherlands, an international non-governmental organization advocating and working for the prevention of child exploitation in 17 countries including the Philippines, to develop a revolutionary new digital app that’s totally safe and secure for young users including children.
Called Voice for Change, the app was co-created with victims of child sexual exploitation and those vulnerable to abuse together with children advocates.
Research and development took over one year, from March 2020 to June 2021, to ensure that the platform is truly responsive to the needs of children for support and assistance as well as to carry out the advocacy against sexual exploitation.
Voice for Change has features that are similar to those in popular social networking apps. Users can post status updates, connect to other users and engage in discussions, and get access to online resources for information.
The main difference is in the app’s strict security and privacy provisions. Sign-up requires approval by the Voice for Change administration and goes through a screening process.
Logging in requires a mobile number and a one-time password sent via SMS. To provide further protection, no personally identifiable information including photos is shared among users.
In VFC, users can find relevant and verified information about different issues relevant to children’s advocacies. They can also genuinely voice opinions and engage in healthy discussions without fear of toxic perspectives and language.
It is a truly safe space that comes with a directory of organizations and agencies that users can contact to report concerns and even actual cases of child exploitation and abuse.
Here’s a closer look at the Voice for Change features.
Share your thoughts
Got a high grade in school or achieved a personal goal? Freely share your thoughts in a private and secure way.
Engage in discussions
Start a conversation with like-minded people about concerns relevant to the protection of children and similar issues. Or chime in on other topics that interest you.
Get Help
Feeling down, need guidance, or just want to talk to someone? Reach out to individuals and organizations that can offer professional help.
Verified information
No one wants to read or share fake news. Get only verified information on relevant topics.
Report an Incident
Have you or someone you know experienced child abuse and similar issues? Report the incident safely.
Secure and Private
Sign-up requests go through a screening process. Log in with a mobile number and a one-time password will be sent to you by SMS. No personally identifiable information is shared
The Voice for Change app may be downloaded in the Google Play store. https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.app.voiceforchange
iPhone and Google Chrome users can use the web-based app instead.
https://app.wearevoiceforchange.org/
More information about Voice for Change can be viewed at www.wearevoiceforchange.org.
Very informative and useful topic to mommy ..Kelangan aware tayo
Napakagandang usapin ito sa ngayon Mommy kasi sa panahon natin ngayon masyadong expose na ang mga bata sa gadgets maraming napapanoud na hindi kaaya aya sa Internet.Malaking tulong itong App na ito para mapangalagaan at maprotektahan ang mga anak natin..Thanks for sharing this ❤️
#DownToZero
#VoiceForChange
#WeAreSafeWithTDH
#lallysreflectionsblog
Magandang apps po ito,,malaking tulong po para sa ting mga mommies😊
Wow nice namn to ma ang laking tulong nito nito lalo na sa mga kabataan ngayon
#DownToZero
#VoiceForChange
#WeAreSafeWithTDH
#lallysreflectionsblog
This is very useful webinar to us parents so we will know how to guide our kids on how to be smart in using social media so they will not be a victim of social media abuse
Its a great app especially for a parent like us. A great help to protect our children. We can never trust internet nowadays.
#DownToZero
#VoiceForChange
#WeAreSafeWithTDH
#lallysreflectionsblog
Nakakatakot talaga mga ganyan kasi madaming bata ang nabibiktama ang worst minsan magulang pa ang nagtutulak sa bata sa kapahamakan.
Love the way it was. It’s an important advocacy and, which we need to know
#DownToZero
#VoiceForChange
#WeAreSafeWithTDH
#lallysreflectionsblog
Napaka laking tulong nito mommy , Gandang advocacy talaga naman safe and secure talaga🥰
Malaking tulong tlga itong app n to lalo n sa panahon ngayon para sa safety ng kids natin..
Nice topic ! 🥰😍 thanks for sharing po 💖💖
Gandang app tlga ito bighelp sa atin ito lalo n sa safety ng kids natin lalo n sa panahon ngayon..
#DownYoZero
#VoiceForChange
#WeAreSafeWithTDH
#lallysreflectionsblog
Super duper ganda nitong apps na to grabe super laki ng tulong nito satin para sa mga kids natin di na tayo mag aalala na baka kung ano na ginagawa ng anak natin sa kakapanuod nila na hindi maganda.. mas need natin ito ngayon kasi madami ng nag loloko sa mga internet then madami ng napapanuod na hindi naman dapat mapanuod ng mga kids natin. Kaya kapag gamit natin to panatag na loob natin kasi meron tayo nitong apps..
Malaking tulong to lalo na sa panahon ngayon kelangan natin protektahan ang mga bata sa sexual exploitation thankyou for sharing this Lally’s Reflections maraming matutulungang bata o kabataan dahil masyado na silang nalululong sa social media..
A new way to help childrean and be able to prevent child explotation.
Worth it panoorin ung mga ganitong video.Awareness sa mga magulang na hnd dapat makampante at panatilihing malayo ang mga anak natin sa mga masasamang tao.Thank you for sharing.
Great article..thanks for sharing this momsh..
Nowadays, pinakaimportanteng topic to. Its’s great na my lumikha ng ganitong application. Malaki ang maitutulong nito sa mga anak natin. Good job sa mga lumikha!💕
#DownToZero
#VoiceForChange
#WeAreSafeWithTDH
#lallysreflectionsblog
This is very useful webinar to us parents so we will know how to guide our kids on how to be smart in using social media so they will not be a victim of social media abuse
#DownToZero
#VoiceForChange
#WeAreSafeWithTDH
#lallysreflectionsblog
Malaking tulong talaga itong naimbento nilang app Mommy para matigil na ang child exploitation at wala na silang mabiktima 🙏💕
Malaking tulong talaga itong naimbento nilang app Mommy para matigil na ang child exploitation at wala na silang mabiktima 💕
Totoo po talagang malaking itong app nato para sa mga bata, para maging secure ang paggamit nila ng mga website. Must try tong app nato.
Malaking tulong po talagang app nato para sa mga bata ngayong panahon nato. Must try po.
#DownToZero
#VoiceForChange
#WeAreSafeWithTDH
#lallysreflectionsblog
Interesting topic mahalagang malaman natin ito lalo na sa security nang mga kids pag dating sa pag gamit sa social media lalo pa ngayon at nasa panahon na tayo ng teknolohiya.
Very interesting po na topic! Cgurado po na marami ang mamumulat na may ganito palang issue, especially kung about sa mga bata 🙁
Thank you mommy Lally’s Reflections for sharing this 😊
napaka gandang usapin po kasi children nowadays are expose to any gadgets 🥺 which is not really good po talaga .
#DowntoZero
#VoiceForchange
#WeareSafewithTDH
#Lallysreflectionblog
Thank you for the heads up mommy ! Talagang talamak na po dito sa bansa natin ang child exploitation, child pronography at iba pang mga krimen na involve ang mga kabataan sa pamamagitan ng online/internet .. kaya malaking tulong po itong Voice for Change app para mabantayan at maprotektahan nating ang ating mga kabataan mula sa kapahamakang dulot ng internet! Mabibigyan natin sila ng seguridad ..
#DownToZero
#VoiceForChange
#WeAreSafeWithTDH
#LallysReflectionsBlog