south african organization uses puppetry to teach children about sexual violence

Lawrence “Lonny” Mongalo uses puppets to educate children on abuse.

The creator of Ubuntu Puppets, Mongalo got the idea for the organization when he was a volunteer telephone counselor with Childline Free State. The experiences on the 24-hour hotline drove him to start grief support groups and adventure-based, therapy sessions for orphaned and vulnerable children, and a drug abuse support group specifically dealing with teen sexuality, HIV/AIDS, cyber safety, sexual exploitation, peer pressure, substance abuse and bullying.

In 2014, Mongalo began Ubuntu Puppets, which uses puppetry and storytelling to address violence affecting children and youth.

“The problem is that most children don’t even know they are experiencing abuse,” Mongalo told Brand South Africa, “because the same person abusing them could be the person they trust.”

Ubuntu, which means roughly “humanity towards others,” uses puppetry as therapy for intervention by empowering children with the tools to deal with the violence affecting them.

You can support Mongalo’s goal to expand the project into schools in rural and underserved areas where children do not have counseling and necessary support systems here. So incredible!