Honoring the Spirits of Our Little Sisters
In February 2003, a home was created by the Ma Mawi Wi Chi Itata Centre, supported by Manitoba Family Services and the Manitoba Strategy for Sexually Exploited Children and Youth and the Winnipeg Housing
and Homelessness Initiative. The name of this home is, "Honoring the Spirits of Our Little Sisters". Little Sisters was developed to specialize in the area of child sexual exploitation through the sex
trade. Referrals into the Little Sisters program can come from Child and Family Services, community agencies and self referrals.
For more information visit www.mamawi.com
Protective factors that help to prevent
exploitation
of children through prostitution
- Positive family communication
- Parental supervision
- Strong parenting skills
- Family boundaries
- Models of mutually committed and enduring intimate relationships
- Being respected by teachers and other students
- Sense of accomplishment
- Strong connections between family and school
- Positive peer influences
- Resistance skills
- Cooperative relationships
- Relationships that are reliable and lasting
- Youth programs in the neighbourhood
- Caring neighbourhood
- Natural surveillance in neighbourhood
- High neighbourhood attachment
- Child feels safe at home, school, in the neighbourhood
- Positive sense of identity
- Social competence
- Problem-solving skills
- Communication skills
- Active coping style
- Strong perception of their ability to control the outcome of their future.
- In the face of stress, do not withdraw and socially isolate themselves.
- Capacity for empathy and perspective-taking
- Establishment of at least one relationship and secure attachment with a trusted adult.
Source: Kids in the Know: Risk and Protective Factors Checklist, Child Find Manitoba, 2006
