|
Barnardos > Barnardos Today > Latest Appeal
Scared and alone , Amy hides but cannot escape the pain and fears for her life.
It’s an all too familiar sound – insidious and frighteningly assaulting to her ears. Amy winces – her parents’ drunken angry voices vibrating through her body. To Amy, these screams are the worst noise in the world – and she knows what will follow. Mum will be gone and Dad wont get out of bed for days or even a week.
Amy is 9 and she will have to look after herself. She fears being alone.
Alone, she walks to school – sad, she can’t bring her special project to class. Amy knows she lags behind the others in class but Art is her special subject – and now this cherished opportunity to show her talent will be wasted.
Alone, she watches the other children proudly present their projects. Alone, she tells her teacher that she simply didn’t do her project. She can’t tell him what really happened.
Alone, she feels the stares from the other children. She dare not look at them – and dreads they will tease her, yet again.
Again, Amy will have to hide. She is getting really good at that!
The hidden scars – and why your help is important.
Amy’s life is all too typical. Hidden beneath the veneer of society is the fact that Australia is facing an epidemic of child abuse and neglect. And it’s getting worse.
Emotionally paralysed, children struggle to progress in areas we think as ‘ordinary’ and ‘healthy’, a situation Barnardos must not leave unchallenged.
You can make a difference.
By supporting Barnardos in our work with children, like Amy and so many more, you’ll be helping children build their sense of self worth and a better future. |
