“No child should suffer in silence”

Non-Profit Organisation (NPO), STʘPS has launched an initiative for children who have suffered sexual abuse to have access to confidential support.

STʘPS held an awareness campaign at a school in Pretoria with the message, “no child should suffer in silence without direct access to confidential support.”

Founding Director of  STʘPS Teresa Mordoh launched the NPO in honour of her late son, Julio Mordoh, who endured sexual abuse by a teacher in primary school which led to him taking his own life.

Mordoh says, “His trauma cut so deep that he didn’t feel safe enough to seek support, not from his parents, family, friends, teachers or
anyone at all. In November 2022, Julio died by suicide after suffering in silence for almost a decade and we as his family vowed that he died in pain but not in vain.”

In 2023, a UNICEF study revealed that 65% of youth aged 15 to 24 in South Africa reported feeling anxious and depressed and 30% had considered suicide.