Christmas gift to fight violence against children

Everyone in Norway surely remembers the terrible Baneheia case in 2000 where two very young girls, Lena (10) and Stine Sofie (8) were raped and killed. Since then, the Stine Sofie Foundation has worked persistently for everyone’s right to a childhood without violence, in addition to increasing public awareness about violence and sexual abuse of children. This year, the foundation will receive NOK 1.6 million from the Telenor Christmas fund to develop a national e-learning tool called “I want to know” which will be used in the fight against the abuse of children.

“We are very grateful, not only for our own sake but for all the violence-exposed children who now get a new opportunity to speak out and get help. It has always been important for the Stine Sofie Foundation to think innovatively about ways to prevent and detect violence against children, and Telenor now makes this possible through its Christmas gift for 2011,” says Ada Sofie Austegard, President of the Stine Sofie Foundation.

A lot of good applications

Telenor’s Christmas fund is a joint initiative for Telenor’s Norwegian companies to make charitable donations at Christmas time. All the participating companies have contributed with NOK 250 per employee, and the amount for the 2011 is NOK 1.6 million. The Christmas present is going to a Norwegian and an international purpose every other year. There were 17 applications to the Telenor Christmas Fund. The applications had to meet several criteria to be a candidate to receive support from Telenor, including being relevant in relation to communication technology and Telenor corporate responsibility.

“There is always a struggle to find funding for new projects and we could not have established this project without the Christmas gift from Telenor. You are helping us in this important initiative that will really make a difference and help many children in Norway,” Austegard says.

Dare to speak up!

“I want to know” is an interactive tool where children can learn about violence and sexual abuse, and adults can learn how to talk to children about this subject. The main goal with the tool is that more people will dare to speak up about violence and sexual abuse – both the children themselves, and adults who have heard of the assault. “I want to know” will be a webpage with instructing videos and information about different subjects associated to violence and sexual abuse. The website will have different entrances for adults and children, and will be adjusted to the children’s age. The Stine Sofie Foundation wants the e-learning tool to a be part of children’s tuition at school.

“The Stine Sofie Foundation has worked for children’s safety for years. They have bravely defied taboos and highlighted the fact that children are exposed to violence and sexual assault in their daily lives. We hope that the new e-learning tool will contribute to help even more children,” said Jon Fredrik Baksaas, Telenor President and CEO.