This year’s AMLA GALA 2023 will dedicate funds raised by the auction and tombola to the Panamanian “Fundación Unidos por la Niñez” and commemorate its co-founder and president, Jennie Barb for her pioneer and successful work preventing and reintegrating sexually abused children and young adults.
The United for Children Foundation (FUN), a pioneer in the prevention and treatment of sexual abuse in Panama, has been operating for 19 years to assist children, adolescents, and families. It was founded by psychologist Jennie Barb in the aftermath of a commercial sexual exploitation scandal involving school-age girls. Jennie, moved by the heartbreaking experience of these girls, brought together professionals from various disciplines to form a non-profit organization that would work to prevent and treat children and adolescents who are victims of sexual assault and other forms of violence, and their families and so FUN was born. Despite the critical need for attention, sex abuse of minors is often a taboo, that society often fails to adequately address.
Today, FUN coordinates 30 civil society organizations that work with children and adolescents through Allies for the Children (Aliados por la Niñez), an advocacy group that holds the secretariat of the National Council for Children and Adolescents of Panama. In collaboration with UNICEF, FUN has prepared the Care Model for children and adolescents who are victims-survivors of sexual abuse, for the National Secretariat for Children, Adolescents and Family, SENNIAF. This model includes: the Treatment manual for children and adolescent survivors of sexual abuse and the Manual for strengthening their families. Both manuals are available on the UNICEF pages for use in the region.
In FUN’s Care Center, recently renovated with support from the Republic of Japan, you can find an extensive platform of prevention and recovery programs, working on restoring mental health and wellbeing of the many children and adolescents who suffer in silence and its impact has been substantially consolidated by the partnership with Save the Children and its Civil Society Support Program, PASC.
FUN has launched innovative campaigns that have had an impact on Panamanian society. Among our campaigns we can mention: Esperanza, la niña de cera, Conóceme, esta es mi historia, Pudiera ser tu hijo, (Esperanza, the wax girl, Know me this is my story, It could be your son). The purpose of these campaigns was to educate and sensitize the population about the consequences of child sexual abuse.
Panamanian psychologist, who has a vast experience trabajando in domestic violence in particular infantile sexual abuse and incesto. Obtuvo una Licenciatura en Psicología en la Universidad de Panama. Realized occupational therapy studies at the Escuela Colombiana de Rehabilitación de la Universidad del Colegio Mayor del Rosario in Bogotá, Colombia. You are a master of family therapy and a member of the Universidad Santa María La Antigua, earning the distinction of “Summa Cum Laude”. You have the opportunity to become an NGO and Corporate Social Responsibility.
