(below is the Google translate version of this article http://www.hs.fi/ihmiset/16000+kilometri%C3%A4+lasten+hyv%C3%A4ksi/a1381120748520)
Actor Matthew McVarish walks across Europe to ensure that child sexual abuse would stop
The huge calves. It comes to mind first when Matthew McVarish walks Katajanokka, Helsinki on Sunday afternoon. He is a 30 -year-old Scottish man who is going to walk more than 16 000 km, 32 European town.
” Pohkeeni are doubling bigger than when I started this project . My weight has dropped eight pounds ,” says McVarish .
Now he is on the way from Helsinki to Tallinn . McVarish beyond the seas by boat , by the way she walks . The back is a 3 200 km , eight cities and more than four months. So, the trip is just beginning.
Sept. walking The contract is stark: McVarish had a child sexual abuse . He wants no one else ever would experience the same . And it does not work, unless the subject of soothing stopped .
Walking the rapture is intended to stimulate debate , because the debate is McVarshin , the only thing that helps .
The project is called The Road to Change . It has organized a US-based, non-profit Stop the Silence organization. Along the way, he’s trying to get to speak in schools and among other things, the way politicians and the media. Funding comes from donations, and donations require visibility.
Helsinki, he has discussed the British Ambassador Matthew Lodge , and had contact with the local child welfare organizations.
Before the contracts through McVarish was contacted by two hundred companies. No did not take a trip sponsor . ” Companies do not want to see the logo and the brand in the context in which we talk about sexual abuse of children . Ohjeistivat My family and my friends to change the project name in the protection of children . ”
Accompanied by his special vehicle , which passes above etapilta another. There McVarish only sleeps and eats. The driver often change : Tallinn, waiting for the fifth driver.
McVarishin the body has been a hard journey . At worst, eating has been difficult , because he has been so exhausted . At such times McVarish think that this is just uncomfortable. There is suffering , as was the childhood .
” My uncle took me and three of my brother sexually abused ,” says McVarish . “I’m the only one of my brothers , who do not have depression medication. Only reason is that I am able to talk about it . I’ve seen next to what causes speechlessness . ”
For the first time McVarish himself talked about their experiences at age 17. He had run away from home and worked in England. A co-worker McVarishin sense of anxiety . He did not ask about anything, but hinted that there are people who can not speak.
“At first, I gave the wrong name for the therapist , and I do not tell any details. Afraid that they will tell the police ”
Since the brothers were not able to speak in favor of the use of McVarish wrote about the play. To Kill a Kelpie is running in the theater in New York.
“My brother came to see it, and then we discussed the abuse for the first time properly . Enoamme We decided to prosecute the case in point . , He worked as a teacher at the time among the boys . ”
Six wrote the play in addition to McVarish has appeared in eight years the British Broadcasting Corporation BBC children’s program, Me Too ! McVarsih to present the program a restaurant wagon boss Raymond.
Along the Netherlands at the beginning of a set of nine teenage boys began to shout McVarishille . ” Statistically, one in the sixth son is the exploitation of the victim. Went over to them and told that I have walked the Brits up . They asked why . When I told one of the boys changed completely . , He became anxious. Said – of course everyone and not just for this boy – that if they know anyone who might need help in this case, they can contact me. Nobody needs to know about it. ”
It is still waiting for an email McVarish .