Please spread the word and share the site.
Thank you for your support as we continue to expand what we have to offer
The Hula Hoop Initiative
Breaking Silence.Building Safety.
....
About THHI
WHAT WE DO
The Hula Hoop Initiative is a youth-led organization dedicated to preventing childhood sexual abuse through education, awareness, and empowerment. By teaching children about body safety and their right to be heard, we work to create safer environments where every child is protected and respected.
We also support survivors in finding their voice and provide communities with the tools to recognize and respond to abuse - ensuring that no child feels alone or unheard.
The initiative was founded by survivor and youth advocate Ismena Toscan, whose lived experience inspired her mission to break the silence surrounding childhood sexual abuse and empower the next generation to speak up and find their voices
"The shame isn't ours-it never was. I’m going to keep using my voice, because these conversations need to be had, and because every survivor deserves to be seen, heard, and supported."
-Ismena Toscan
Teaching children EARLY about body autonomy and what safety looks and FEELS like.
Teaching children to be comfortable in saying no - regardless of who the adult is when they feel unsafe. (Including parents themselves, a coach, a neighbour, or a relative)
Teaching children self care and autonomy with showering and personal hygiene.
Prevention
Understanding cues children may give, depending on age group so that early detection is possible.
Early Detection
Educating children, parents, caregivers, coaches, family members, and community members about CSA (Childhood Sexual Assault). Learn how to be respectful of a child's sense of body safety irrespective of cultural norms. Understand it is everyone's responsibility to report CSA - children first, always.
Education
Bridging the community of survivors and those linked to survivors to share a message of hope, strength, and courage. Building community awareness across culture, religion, and socio-economic barriers.
Predators count on and control through isolation. An empowered child, an empowered person who knows their rights and boundaries is less likely to become victim to such a person.
Culture and religion can often impact a persons sense of autonomy and independence but the education has to be there that safety is everyone's right - and that their voice will be heard when it says NO or STOP.
Community
Survivors in Numbers (Globally)
The World Health Organization (2003) provides the following definition:
“Child sexual abuse is the involvement of a child in sexual activity that he or she does not fully comprehend, is unable to give informed consent to, or for which the child is not developmentally prepared and cannot give consent, or that violates the laws or social taboos of society.
Child sexual abuse is evidenced by this activity between a child and an adult or another child who by age or development is in a relationship of responsibility, trust or power, the activity being intended to gratify or satisfy the needs of the other person” (p. 75).
Girls
Over 370 million girls and women
1:5 will experience sexual assault or rape before age 18
Including non-contact forms the number rises to 650 Million
Boys
Estimated range from 1:15 in sexual assault and rape
410 to 530 Million when non-contact forms are included
Unreported Cases