Opening Hearts
01. What is Opening Hearts?
Opening Hearts is one of Genesis Diez’s four ministries. This vital ministry helps children and orphanage staff detect and prevent sexual abuse. It began as another way we can help heal the hearts of children, which is Genesis’ goal.
Our trained team visits orphanages and present an entertaining play called Uncomfortable Secrets for 3 to 12 year-olds that carefully introduces the idea of safe and not-safe touching. After the play, we explain that any child wanting to talk more about the topic can contact Genesis through their orphanage directors.
Several of our staff have been intensively trained to do one-on-one visits with children that will address their hurting hearts and teach ways to live in freedom.
Once a week, for 17 weeks, our trained staff visit the orphanage and give a 30 minute one-on-one class to the kids. This class is specifically for the children that have gone through sexual abuse, but more specifically, for the kids that said yes to take it. Children are not obligated to take the class. We feel it would be very difficult for them if their hearts are not willing. Opening Hearts ministry works very closely with the orphanage directors in ensuring we are working with kids that are ready for healing.
The classes are based on a book called Conquering Giants, which contains very dynamic activities and crafts. We study and use this book before presenting the classes.
02. Get Involved
Right now, the Opening Hearts play is showcased through puppets, but there are also full-body suits available to purchase. We feel that these costumes would provide a more interactive experience for the children. If you would like to help Genesis purchase these, you can follow the “Support Opening Hearts” link below to give. When giving, under special instructions, please specify your donation is for “Opening Hearts Costumes”.
Soon, we will also begin recruiting licensed Spanish-speaking Christian children’s therapists, from around the world, who are willing to give their time and talent freely to the orphanage children God has called us to serve through this program. Does this sound like you?
If so, we’d love to talk with you. Please email us at info@genesisdiez.org.
03. Experience Opening Hearts
Children experience Opening Hearts through a series of steps followed by our trained staff and orphanage directors. The children that go through this program have been deeply hurt and it is vital that the team carefully follow protocol.
We implement Opening Hearts through the following steps:
The team makes a visit to the director to explain the play and the program of the one-on-one visits, and we offer them the opportunity for the kids to see the play.
The play is performed for the children, and we do activities and crafts with them. We also teach them a song called Three Colors. This song is about the areas where people can touch our body, the areas where we should pay attention and give caution to, and the areas where people should not touch.
The three colors and their meanings are:
*Green- When someone touches our head or hands or gives a hug. Green means it is okay to touch.
*Yellow- When someone touches our legs. Yellow means we need to pay attention and be careful.
*Red- When someone touches our private parts. Red means no- they cannot touch there.
3. Our team visits the kids at their orphanage and explains a little bit of what we do in the one-on-one visits. The children are asked who would like to be a part of the program. The team then talks to the director and confirms the children wanting to go through the program, to their knowledge, have been abused.
4. Our trained staff wait 1-2 weeks and then begin the weekly visits.
5. The last visit (#17) is a celebration/graduation for the kids who completed the program.
