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Latwell Nyangu Youth Interactive Writer
No child should ever experience the feeling of terror, fear, and victimisation.
And there is no greater inhumanity in the world than hurting a child. The true character of a society is revealed in how it treats its children.
Stay united in raising your children right, safe from any harm.
This week we look into the agony of abused students.
Abuse is too real and so societally prevalent that some students end up failing to finish their studies. Victims are significantly impacted academically, socially, and behaviourally.
Chances are high that in every class there are abused students. But at times we cannot see it as long as they pretend. When we think of child abuse, physical abuse is the first image that comes to mind yet there are many other forms of abuse, including sexual abuse, verbal, emotional abuse, neglect, and maltreatment.
Sadly, much of the abuse experienced by students is still hidden. Students who are abused often do not speak of it because they feel guilty, may feel they did something to bring the abuse on themselves, or have been told not to tell by the abuser.
Some are threatened with death, some are scared to be abandoned, some are blinded and the list goes on. But the hidden aspect of child abuse makes it difficult to assess exactly how widespread the problem is. Student abuse and neglect is a serious challenge.
Not everyone came from affluence, but we all start from somewhere. And the stories of abused students hit hard. The sad part is that some of the students are suffering at the mercy of the abusers. Fellow students, I feel for some of us who are working flat out while carrying the yoke of abuse.
Imagine preparing for an exam with a bleeding soul. Preparing for final exams with wounds.
Such treatment can cause victims to feel isolation, fear, and distrust, which can translate into lifelong psychological consequences that can manifest as educational difficulties, low self-esteem, depression, and trouble forming and maintaining relationships.As I always say it, being a student is not an easy job and imagine carrying the burden of academic pressure, on top of that, abuse. In such a predicament, we can safely say students are heroes and heroines who also deserve accolades for standing firm against all odds.
As the world commemorates the 16 Days of Activism against Gender Based Violence, may all the students who are victims of abuse be remembered and comforted.
While the theme focuses on women and girls, we also need to have boys in our hearts.
It’s not easy to go to college while bleeding from inside.Many students are bleeding but fortunately or unfortunately, God created the human body without a see-through, otherwise it could have been a different story.
To those who believe in God they know how magnificent he is, when he created a human being.
You can’t see what’s inside unless the agony begins to show from outside but most of the people cannot tell their story.
Some of us go down to the grave with a lot of secrets so as students who keep soldiering on to pursue their academic journey despite going through a lot.
Some of the students have been raped, beaten up, starved, no shelter, emotionally abused, insulted but they still keep fighting to better their lives.
May all the students who are going through different forms of abuse be comforted.
Global 16 Days Campaign is an international campaign to challenge violence against women and girls. The campaign runs every year from 25 November, the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, to 10 December, Human Rights Day.
This year’s theme is “UNITE! Activism to end violence against women and girls and invites everyone to play their role in ending violence against women and girls, show support and solidarity to women’s rights activists among other things. To be honest, abuse manipulates and twists students’ natural sense of trust and love. Her innocent feelings are belittled or mocked and she learns to ignore her feelings.
It’s important to remember that children are innocent and pure and that they need to be protected at all costs. After all, children are the pillars of the future. Shouldn’t they be raised with love and care to ensure that they too will be able to give the same to the world?
It is said, if you want to see the value of a nation, pay close attention to the way they (mis)treat children – for all children are pure, but not all adults are. A child should never suffer or be abused based on the fact that the responsible adult is ignorant or unable to take care of him.
As a journalist of many years myself, I have reported on how abuse affects performance of students at school or college.
The stories I have documented are all sad reading, father sexually abusing their children, mothers, guardians etc.
It’s sad!
Most of them have dropped out of school while some are enduring but it’s not an easy journey, trying to balance school work and abuse.
If the truth be told, it’s not manna on a silver plate to achieve something at college after being abused.
Life as a student is not as rosy as it seems. All those late nights spent in the library or the many hours spent doing research can have a toll on a student, worse so, for abused ones.
Child abuse takes place not only at home but also in the outside environment of the child particularly on the way or back home.
The saddest part is that it’s difficult to tell when someone hasn’t said anything. Most of the abusive incidents come to light when something is said. Your journey to success will also depend on you knowing your potential and believing in it. This will help in motivating you to prove yourself that you can do it. It’s never easy when abused.
Challenges are always around students. Whether the struggle is submitting homework on time or staying focused in class, problems of abuse can cause students to fail.
Some fellow students are facing abuse of neglect, bullying (including cyber bullying), violence, sex and pregnancy, suicide, drugs, and dropping out.
May all the abused students find solace as we fight GBV.
Online Reporter