Where do I start?

[Nessie]

Lately I have been frustrated because I have wanted to help abused children. Being a survivor of child abuse myself, I felt it was tme to get out and help others who have not yet escaped that cruel world. Thing is, most organizations either only want you to donate money (which I don't really have a lot of!) or be 18 to volunteer.

So, after some advice from another forum on here, a couple of people suggested starting my own organization. I know there are a lot of kids in my area that are probably being abused but don't know how to get help due to the lack of resources and/or fear. I want to start an organization where kids/teens can help other kids who are being abused. Kids often feel a lot more comfortable talking to peers about this, and are more likely to tell their friends than adults. So I wanted to make this organization where kids and teens can come talk to us, their peers, about being abused, and see if we can help them, and if necessary, get legal help. And also educate kids and teens about abuse (through lectures at schools or something).

Thing is, I don't know where to start. How do you go about starting an organization? Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

God Bless,
Vanessa

 

[rainbowprism]

The first place to start would be on your knees....Pray for guidance! I think this is incredible that you have this desire to use your past experiences to shed light across the darkness, this is true Christian love manifesting in your heart!

Perhaps you could talk to your youth pastor or maybe even write a letter to your state representatives...they might be good resources to start with? I'm not entirely sure hon, since I have never started an organization myself but what I do know it is with the Lord's blessing and stubborn determination you can do it!

The best thing I can do is give you this quote, it has inspired me greatly and I hope it can do the same for you:

"Without the turbo-charged engine of imagination, nothing can change in our world.* God told his people that they would dream dreams and see visions.* Imagining another world and how it could be and how it could work and where to begin to put it together is where the Kingdom begins." ~Steve Stockman

 

[nyjbarnes]

You could also start a non-profit organization through your parents.

 

[fishstix]

If you're still in high school maybe you could do something in conjunction with the guidance office. My high school had a peer support "club". Perhaps you could start something like that in your school.

 

[rogsr]

Your heart is golden and the Lord is with you. That is a mighty big project to begin on your own, and I'm not saying it's impossible(lest I be struck by Devine lightning ), but there are a lot of things that go into starting a non-profit...like tax stuff, legal stuff, blah blah blah. Maybe you might think about what you are going to do after highschool. Sometimes God needs us to do immediate things and sometimes He needs us to prepare for a greater thing down the road. Definately pray, pray, pray and God will use your life in such a way that only God can do...and then everybody wins. God is happy because you love Him, you are happy in knowing that you are doing something under Devine orders, and everyone you help is happy because they know someone out there and that Someone up there is loving them.

Peace, and good luck answering your calling...don't you wish God had a cell phone?

 

[Rage4Christ]

nessie. Volunteer at a place that is already doing a similar service. Perhaps a RAPE crisis help line, or a homeless shelter, i know they always need help. Learn the infrastructure, ask questions, absorb everything. I betcha most of the absue of these kids will have a sexual component as well, so it would be good training for you.

Also, it will be a real world wake-up call. Whatever system you have imagined in your head, reality has a way of really stomping on it. Abuse is a horrible thing, and sometimes you can't solve problems, you can only be a source of empathy. Don't get discouraged.

Set aside 4-10 hours to volunteer a week. Then get yourself into College. Get a sociology or psychology degree or even an MD if you've got the will power. College teaches you how to teach yourself anything. Once you learn the skills you learn in college, you can start your own non-profit child abuse prevention and outreach center If you get a medical degree, you can really help. Doctors can be a powerful positive influence in a community.

 

[forgivenmuch]

my suggestion.. is finish school first.. if you have this desire to help ... try to get some schooling on the matter.. i would not suggest that you do this alone at first. you need someone that has the same desire as you in this field. in the mean time .. try to help others that need to talk and are willing to. i know for my own self.. i came from one of the worst abusive homes.. its never easy to talk about it.. and you being so young.. i would suggest if you were badly abused to seek counsel also... i would also suggest that getting some kind of schooling to help you .. collage is where you need this.. you are going to have to study to show thyself approve.. i can see that you have a great desire to help others and thats wonderful... but you are young right now and if thats what you want to do ..do it skillfully, do it with wisdom.. this is not a easy task. and remember that its important ..to try to help anyone that needs it .. i will pray for you..however i do not think God would want you to do this with out knowing what you are doing.. there is alot that needs to be taught in this matter, i am not trying to put you down i want you to grow and prosper in God.. i must warn you .. when a abusive parent is going to be told on.. they can get fierce with anger.. and you will have to be careful.. and even try to hurt one before the truth comes out on them.. there is no much to this..that is why i am saying to get educated..then... get in a safe place to do this... be legal in the matter... and do it right on your part.. and always lean on God..but be wise .. i will remember you in prayer.. i just want you to see..that when dealing with abusive people... it can be dangerous.. .so be careful and use wisdom ..this is a great calling to want to help people in the area.. and every calling on your life..should be held in a serious matter ... God bless you..

 

[Nessie]

I know how bad it can be... it's just, you know, when I was 10 years old, CPS came out to the house and my father made us all sit in the dark, in silence, until she went away. She came back another time. And another. And one time left a card on the door, then drove away. Well, my brother opened the door and took the card. Then the lady came back five minutes later. So she knew someone was home. She knocked again and no one would answer. She never came back. All I can think of is how people give up so easily, when 1000s of kids die each year from abuse. And then, if a child tells someone at school that they are being abused, the school talks to the parents, the parents say "oh, he's just mad because we grounded him or something", and the school accepts that, then the kid goes home and get abused even worse. It just kills me to know this happens. I know I can't change the entire world or stop it all--but if everyone always believed that then nothing would ever change. It just feels so bad knowing I'm sitting here now, and that I can't really do anything.

 

[rainbowprism]

Those who are crazy enough to try to change the world are that ones that actually do it. I know that bad feeling that youre talking about, you almost feel sick to your stomach because you want to do it all, now! Those are the times when you need to pray...ask God what he thinks you should do, however small, to get to the "bigtime". I remember talking to a younger kid in church who just didn't have his act straight...couldn't responsibly hold a job and get up in the morning to attend school ect. He always was talking about this pseudo-intellectual schemes and I said to him...."If you want to be the next MLK you got to get your behind out of bed and take the path that gets you there!".

But I also do want to say a la I Timothy 4:12: “Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young. Set an example for the believers in what you say and in how you live. Also set an example in how you love and in what you believe. Show the believers how to be pure.” I mean regardless of what your politicals ideals are, a 12 year old (who can't even vote yet!) founded Kids For Kerry....so don't let age be a hindrance to you hon!

 

[forgivenmuch]

i know excatcly what your talking about.. my mom and dad had 7 kids besides me... 8 total.. they beat us until we bled and had bruises all over us.. i know for me..speaking for me... the seriously abused kids loves the ones that beat them most.. they will protect them in everyway... and i also know..that we were tought that family stick together.. when all the sexual abuse and mental abuse and physical abuse was going on in my home as a child.. we were all to ashame to talk about it. in this serious case.. in the 70s you never heard of anyone helping much..but todays time is different.. more law inforcements are putting a stop to it.. although it still goes on quiet a bit... you know it does... it takes a very strong will kid to come clean..most of the time.. you wont hear of it... they will lie and they are afraid of the parents... i know for myself..i was very scared of my dad..he was very angy..an alcholic .. he would pick anything up and hit you with it... you never made dad mad, if you did you would pay... what im saying..is most serious abused kids..wont tell , my best friend knew it.. but i never told her... its very hard for one that is abused to come clean.. the damage that is done to the mind as a child lingers into adult hood ... and it will be there until.... God steps in...and you have went thru series of abuse counsling for yrs.. that is why im telling you.. to be careful... we cant save the whole world ..but its important to be educated on this matter..even though you were abused as a child and you have that desire to help .. that is great.. i am glad that people are having a call for that...its very important that people specialize in this.. there is so much going on today.. in homes that is so evil and unGodly.. for me again.. being very abused in my childhood.. i would not talk to anyone..even after i became a christian... i still would not... i loved my parents..it was up until i got to 25 i started coming out of it..i got married..and got out of the home.. then at age 29 i started seeking counsling over the matter... and now after all the hard times..i have nothing to do with my parents..i pray for them... i have been a servent to them in my life even after my marriage.. they will not change for me or my brothers and sisters..they are the same..they contiue to be the way there are..they have been reported to the proper authorities.. when you see poverty in homes... alot of times they are looked over..and you know that those homes are more likely to do this. its a generational curse that has to be broken.. and it takes one to stand up and say... i will not do my children like this... and they have to turn to God.. i hope you see that its not going to be easy ... this calling you have... its going to be heartaches..and dangerous.. i hope you know that if God is calling you into this... that he will be there for you... i dont mean to discourage you..i want you to see how bad it can be... i was there myself... i was that child you are going to try to help... i would of never talked to anyone... i was so closed off... the damaged was already there... God was the only one that broke the chains..i would teach jesus to them.. and that is what will do it more than talking about the abuse itself... they are going to have to be the ones that stand up and say no more to thier parents or gaurdians... its going to take God to heal.. i pray good blessings on you.. you have such a great desire.. and that is wonderful... God bless you

 

[TheMainException]

Start getting a small group together if you know of anyone who has been abused...get the word out with flyers and such and talk to businesses about sponsering you.

 

[TheMainException]

Forgivenmuch really puts up a good point...and one of the best things you can do for a child who is abused is to love them. Maybe something you can do is to go to college to be a social worker and start from there?

 

[EmSchmem]

I know that waiting is hard but unfortunately that may be what has to happen. There are often legal reasons why someone under age cannot volunteer for any kind of crisis support. MAYBE though you can volunteer there with copying or filing or cleaning. Nothing hands on but still important work. RainbowPrism and I both work for a pregnancy hotline and here (and at the centers we refer to which have volunteers) you have to be 18. In Ohio at least it has something to do with the confidentiality clauses.
If you have to wait, do spend time in prayer, not only asking God for opportunity but for Him to prepare your heart as well.

 

[Anna N. Amos]

This info many not be helpful, unless like another poster suggested, you offer to do other things. You could offer to do a bake sale to acquire money.


How about a "Big Sister?"

So the rest of this might not be helpful!


Nessie you can call an abuse hotline and offer to volunteer . You can also volunteer on a suicide hot line to answer their 1-800 line.

I wanted to help rape victums and I started by calling the 1-800 number for rape abuse in the area and asking how I could help BESIDES writing a check. Maybe by lobbying your school to have someone come and speak?

 

[Anna N. Amos]

Maybe these will give you a starting point

http://www.sssalas.com/HelpKids.html

http://www.healthyplace.com/Communities/Abuse/holli/survivor_resources.htm

... Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network (RAINN) 1-800-656-HOPE

[font=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Adolescent Crisis Intervention & Counseling Hot Line
1-800-999-9999[/font]

[font=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Child Abuse Hotline
1-800-4-A-CHILD (1-800-422-4453)[/font]

[font=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Domestic Violence Hotline
1-800-799-SAFE (1-800-799-7233)[/font]

[font=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Domestic Violence Hotline
1-800-548-2722 [/font]

[font=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]National Resource Center on Domestic Violence
1-800-537-2238 [/font]

[font=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Drug Help National Helplines
1-800-378-4435[/font]

[font=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Family Violence Prevention Center
1-800-313-1310[/font]

[font=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Healing Woman Foundation (Abuse)
1-800-477-4111

Ask how you can volunteer. Sometimes they need teddy bears for the kids they remove from homes. You can ask if that would help. Then you can do a teddy bear drive. Collect Teddy bears at school for abused kids...[/font]

 

[Nessie]

Thanks everyone! I will definitely take all of y'all's advice! I really feel that God is directing me towards this--like this is the purpose of my life--to help others...

God Bless!
Vanessa