No more impunity for sexual predators.
Project Sulong is a youth- and volunteer-run referral service for victim-survivors of sexual violence, meant to connect them, free of charge, to legal advice, psychosocial aid, temporary shelter, & other services as they may deem necessary for their pursuit of recovery and justice.
The project operates on the following principles:
1. Self-determination of the victim-survivor
In all cases and above all else, the victim-survivor must be able to choose, positively and with full information, their own path of recovery. Whether subtly or explicitly, they are not to be forced by members or partner organizations to undergo particular services with which they are not comfortable. Victim-survivors react differently to their own trauma; thus, their recovery occurs and progresses at different paces, which we rightfully ought not to infringe on.
2. Commitment
All units of the project are expected to function with highest-level commitment. Members and partner organizations alike must be aware of what is at stake — restitution for victim-survivors and the proactive advocacy for safe spaces — and use that as motivation to do their work well and continue with consistency. This entails project efficiency and effectivity, and relentless reevaluation and reflection as to what can be done better for the people we’re serving. After all, any project must sustain its momentum if it is to be truly forward-looking.
3. Empathy and compassion
This project is merely an extension of the values of empathy and compassion; we care for victim-survivors and see their dignity as human beings, which is why we act on providing them healing and justice. Members and partner organizations should therefore move according to the same values, whether it be towards victim-survivors, colleagues, or themselves.
How do we get things done?
To provide the aforementioned services that Project Sulong offers via referral, we partner with legal, psychosocial, and women’s rights organizations and professionals, and then link victim-survivors to the appropriate organization/professional that best fits their preferred service. We streamline communication with victim-survivors through Google Forms where we accept their requests, and Google Mail or G-Mail where we coordinate with them for the next steps of the referral process.
We recognize that these services usually and reasonably require payment/compensation. Even despite the emergence of volunteer legal, psychosocial, and women’s rights organizations, pro bono services of this kind remain scarce. Project Sulong attempts to mitigate this and keep services free for its victim-survivors through a Survivors Solidarity Fund, which is a donation-based fund drive (allocated based on need) meant to lift the burden off from victims of having to pay for these necessary services.
How are we structured?
1. Project Co-Heads
Responsible for making the executive decisions that concern the overall operations of the project
2. First Responders Team
Responding to victim-survivors messaging the page for inquiries; and referring them to the core team for their specific desired service
3. Finance Team
Managing and tracking financial resources, especially with regard to the Survivors’ Solidarity Fund
4. Externals Team
Accepting prospective partnerships; arranging terms with partner organizations; and maintaining networks
5. Internals Team
Scouting for partnerships; conceptualizing, plotting, and implementing events for the project; and reaching out to victim-survivors with online stories
6. Social Media Team
Made up of Content Writers and Creatives expected to manage the project’s social media pages and branding