Interview with Melanie Gonzales Zavaleta by Mary Ward International Peru
For those working directly with the Childhood Without Fear Project, each day is an opportunity to stand in solidarity with children and families navigating hardship in Huaycán, Peru. This densely populated urban community on the outskirts of Lima is home to many families living on steep hillsides. They face economic insecurity, high levels of violence, and have limited access to services. “For me, it means actively and directly contributing to children and families,” said Melanie Gonzales Zavaleta, a social worker with the project. “It’s about striving to create a positive impact that encourages change and improves their quality of life.”
Often, moments of hope arrive quietly: in the relief on a parent’s face or the returning spark of hope in a child’s eyes. “What impacts me most is when I see a family no longer feeling alone – when they find their own solutions to overcome challenges.” These small, but profound, shifts capture the true progress of the program: transformation beginning within the families themselves.
The project creates a safe environment where children, especially girls in grades 4 to 6, can break free from cycles of violence and discrimination. Through small discussion groups, educational workshops, and personalised support, students learn about their rights and how to protect them. This empowers them to pursue education with confidence while developing the skills to reach their full potential and contribute to stronger, more resilient communities.
The work is not without its challenges, yet resilience grows through self-awareness. “I am encouraged by the self-knowledge I’ve developed, recognising my abilities, limits, strengths, and even my fears,” Melanie shares. This reflective practice shapes how they accompany others: with clarity, compassion, and purpose.
Melanie shares a powerful insight about her work: listening is the key to the project’s success. “By opening myself to people’s stories and emotions, I recognise their dignity and strength. That trust allows me to support them as they take the lead in changing their own lives.”
Finding Her Voice
Eleven-year-old Cami had always shown great potential in the classroom, yet she often struggled to make sense of the discrimination she saw around her. As part of the project, she joined a safe discussion group for girls and adolescents, which gave her space to express herself and develop her leadership skills.
Cami now speaks confidently when something feels unfair and encourages the project to reach younger children so they can learn about their rights too.
“The right to freedom is very important,” says Cami. “It’s not about doing whatever we want but doing what is right.”
From Chaos to Safety
Twelve-year-old Davide lives in a neighbourhood affected by gangs, drugs, and violence. His class had been known for its disruptive behaviour, making learning almost impossible. Through the project, he and his classmates learned about their rights, including the right to education in a safe, respectful environment.
With the support of their teacher, the classroom atmosphere changed dramatically. Davide now feels safe and focused, yet he is deeply aware of the challenges older students continue to face.
“I would ask the project to also help the first years of secondary school, because here drugs and gangs are a very big problem that stops them from having a future,” says Davide.
Courage to Break the Cycle
Living in a precarious home on one of Huaycán’s steepest hillsides, ten-year-old Isabel faced domestic violence and economic hardship from a young age. Despite her cheerful personality and excellent grades, fear and uncertainty followed her into school.
Through the project’s workshops, Isabel learned she has the right to live free from violence and that her voice matters. She soon began helping to teach other children about their rights, speaking calmly and confidently about emotional safety and violence prevention.
Most remarkably, Isabel used her new understanding to seek external support for her mother, demonstrating courage and leadership beyond her years.
“Now I know that my opinion is valuable, and that it’s important for us to be treated with equality and without violence,” Isabel notes.
A Snapshot: The Difference You've Made in 2025
Peru
Child Rights in Huaycán
In Huaycán, community commitment to children’s rights is growing. This year, 37 primary and secondary teachers participated in child protection workshops, up from just three the year before. Teachers say the program has helped them better recognise risks and changed the way they advocate for children’s wellbeing in schools.
South Sudan
Early Childhood Health and Nutrition
At the Mary Ward Health Clinic, 150 malnourished babies and 140 mothers received baby kits, essential medicines, and practical health education. Caregivers are now reporting fewer childhood illnesses, improved energy, and stronger school readiness. Described as life-changing, this program brings families and clinic staff together to nurture healthy, hopeful futures.
Zambia
Baby Milk
Over the past year, 56 undernourished babies received essential nutritional support, while their mothers and caregivers took part in health education sessions. Volunteers monitor the babies’ growth and provide intervention when needed. Some caregivers walk up to nine hours to access the service, showing extraordinary commitment to their children’s health and wellbeing.
Kenya
Combatting Human Trafficking
In Kangemi, an informal settlement in Nairobi, poverty creates conditions for exploitation. In 2025, over 26,000 people, including students, police, local leaders, and motorbike taxi drivers, took part in human trafficking awareness sessions. The community is now better equipped to prevent exploitation, with 35 people rescued and now accessing wraparound support services.
India
Collective Voices
In Darjeeling, where opportunities beyond working on a tea estate are limited, career guidance sessions are helping young people consider new directions. So far in 2025, over 50 students have explored pathways for further study and employment. Many are now pursuing courses in geography, political science, and tailoring, taking steps toward futures they once thought were out of reach.
Vietnam
Vinh Loc Learning Support Program
The Vinh Loc Learning Support Program is helping families build brighter futures through literacy. In 2025, 51 out-of-school children and three parents or grandparents joined classes to improve their reading, writing, and numeracy. These skills are helping families manage daily life, run small businesses more effectively, and inspire children to continue learning.
Timor-Leste
Mary Ward Sewing Centre
In Ostico, the Mary Ward Sewing Centre is helping women develop income-generating skills in sewing and tailoring. Participants are now learning how to produce clothes, bags, and uniforms - skills they can use to earn an income, support their families, and take an active role in shaping their community’s future.
Australia
Women’s Supported Accommodation
The Women’s Supported Accommodation project is helping vulnerable women regain control over their lives. In 2025, ten women and two single-parent families accessed safe housing, case management, and pathways to employment. Tailored support is helping them build confidence, develop independence, and take steps toward long-term stability.
Leading Through Adversity in West Bengal
In the border region of Basirhat, India, where hardship and vulnerability run deep, a quiet revolution is unfolding. Amidst economic uncertainty and social stigma, a leadership and empowerment program is transforming survivors of trafficking, sexual assault, and domestic violence into courageous leaders. These are women rising above their pasts to protect and support others in similar situations.
In many communities across India, survivors of abuse face isolation and shame, trapped by cultural norms that silence them. But the Kolkata Mary Ward Social Centre program breaks those chains. It offers survivors healing, a chance to reclaim their dignity, build resilience, and grow into powerful advocates.
Through counselling, mental health support, and legal aid, survivors find safe spaces to share their stories and realise they are not alone. Supported over a period of three years, these women develop leadership skills and become peer mentors, guiding others through trauma toward recovery.
Many participants train as nursing assistants and healthcare workers. These new roles allow them to support fellow survivors, provide compassionate care, and earn a steady income, turning their personal struggles into sources of strength and opportunity. Others cultivate organic produce or learn tailoring, while some return to school, opening new doors for themselves and their families.
The program also trains survivors to lead awareness campaigns in schools and communities, breaking the silence and reducing abuse. Partnerships with local authorities have helped rescue victims and offer timely support, showing that empowered survivors are a vital force for change.
One participant shared, “Before joining the group, I thought it only happened to me. Now we fight back together as a team.”
What began as a small initiative in a remote border region has grown into a powerful model of survivor-led transformation. By centring healing, skill-building, and leadership, the program helps women reclaim their lives while reshaping their communities. Survivors are showing that with proper support, trauma can lead to leadership, and resilience can become a collective movement for justice.
Against All Odds
At just 14, Prisha* left home to marry, hoping for a better life, only to endure years of abuse from her husband and his family. When financial pressures mounted, she was lured with the promise of work in Mumbai but was trafficked and severely exploited. With the help of her brother, she managed to escape and return home.
Initially, her family, burdened by shame, refused to let her join the Kolkata Mary Ward Social Centre’s program. Persistent outreach from staff and fellow survivors eventually won their trust. Through the program, Prisha received training in organic farming, enabling her to contribute to her family’s income, reduce household costs, and sell surplus produce. Today, she is one of the group’s most active leaders, raising awareness about domestic abuse and trafficking, guiding peers, and identifying women at risk.
Return to Hope
At 16, schoolgirl Anitha* faced a heartbreaking ordeal after running away with a boy she met online, only to be locked up and abused. Rescued by police with the help of the Kolkata Mary Ward Social Centre, she returned home deeply traumatised, withdrawn, and unable to continue school.
With the guidance of staff and support from fellow survivors, Anitha gradually rebuilt her confidence and sense of self, receiving counselling, legal aid, and encouragement to resume her studies.
Today, Anitha is back in school, an active leader of the program that helped her reclaim her life, and a strong voice against trafficking and online exploitation. She speaks in schools and communities about the dangers of social media grooming, helping other girls recognise and resist manipulation.
Fighting for Freedom
Munna* grew up in a remote village near the India–Bangladesh border, where poverty was constant and girls were often pressured into early marriage. Despite threats from a boy who tried to intimidate her into marrying him, Munna refused to surrender her dreams. After a terrifying attempt to kidnap her, she found refuge and support through the leadership and empowerment program.
With regular counselling, legal support, and emotional care, Munna rebuilt her confidence. She completed a certified nursing assistant course and now works in a nearby hospital. Today, Munna not only earns a steady income but also provides compassionate care to others, proving that safety and dignity are possible, even after deep trauma.
