Why We Are Needed

48% of persons living in Belize are under the age of 18 years old.
33.5 % of the population lives below the poverty line and have difficulty meeting basic food and non-food needs such as education.
1 in every 5 children is a victim of child exploitation or abuse or neglect with poverty being the main cause.
Children who are victims of exploitation are primarily victims of commercial sexual exploitation, that is, children are participating in sexual activities in return for money, food, clothes, drugs, payment of rent or other financial benefit.
The age of victims range from 4 years old to 17 years old, though majority of victims are between 12 and 17 years old.
Most victims are generally victims of other forms of abuse which went untreated or undetected.
More than half of victims are runaways from broken family situations.
Most victims are not enrolled in school or are doing poorly in school.
Most victims regularly abuse drugs, alcohol and other substances.
Most victims have experienced harm and abuse as a part of the exploitation.
There is a degree of cultural tolerance for early sexual activity and/or sexual exploitation of children, especially teenaged children.