Aztar

Teddy's name: Aztar

Age when sexually assaulted: between the ages of 0-8

Who assaulted Teddy: a hand full of different people

Town or State where the assault happened: qld

Teddy's message to the world:

I've learned its better to feel and face what happened and how it affects me, then to hide it and run away from the feelings... it's scary to face the reality, but it was by far scarier, to put my self in risky situations when I used to abuse dugs and alcohol as an escape... Please know that no one deserves this kind of treatment and that it does NOT define who we are as a person.... we can truly be whoever and or what ever we want to be in life! Peace Aztar

Charlotte

Teddy's name: Charlotte

Age when sexually assaulted: 8-10 yrs

Who assaulted Teddy: Neighbour

Town or State where the assault happened: Salamander Bay, NSW

Teddy's message to the world:

What they do to us, robs us of our innocent childhood. We grow up and move on in life but we never forget, it never leaves us. We will not be hurt again. We are brave, we are strong. You can't rob us of our right to be happy and enjoy the life we have to live. We need to stand up, shout it to the world, listen to all children and try to stop this happening.

Little One

Teddy's name: Little One

Age when sexually assaulted: 6-8 years of age

Who assaulted Teddy: Primary school teacher and best friends father

Town or State where the assault happened: Williamstown, Victoria

Teddy's message to the world:

The worst thing is when the flashbacks and the night terrors start. The sweats and the shaking, the wanting to claw your way out of your own skin, The wanting to escape your brain, and the voices you hear in your head, those whispering voices that tell you "they won't believe you", that your worth nothing, worth less than the other people they could be abusing instead of you. The voices that tell you your a whore, that whisper the numbers, the times tables in your ear as they hold you down and abuse you. The way they tell your family your no good at your maths and that they need to force you to repeat your times tables over and over again. the betrayal and the pain. The Pain and the fear of everyone around you, but your not sure why, the fear that your going insane, the insomnia and the anger and the hatred. Hatred for yourself, hatred for them and the guilt. The guilt because you can't stand to be touched, but want to be near people, but being afraid, afraid of everyone. The turning to drugs and the fury when they stop working and you realise they in themselves have become a form of self punishment. And while this is not a light a fluffy story from teddy a little ray of hope, a counsellor that listens, a friend that talks to you in the middle of the night , the day when you walk out into the morning dawn and watch the sun rise and smile and feel happy, for no other reason than because. It gets better, but its hard, and it's shit that it's even necessary that life should be so difficult for you because that sucks. But mid 30's and i have friends i feel safe around, and a job i love, and every day is little bit better.

Olivia

Teddy's name: Olivia

Age when sexually assaulted: 7-8 years old

Who assaulted Teddy: Colleague of my father's

Town or State where the assault happened: near Glasgow, Scotland

Teddy's message to the world:

Survival is the ultimate chance to create a better life and world... even if your parents don't understand, find someone to look to who supports you and grow don't let this break you. Turn this experience and your survival into a strength.

What is Child Sexual Abuse?

Child sexual abuse occurs when an adult, more powerful child or adolescent uses his or her power to involve a child in sexual activity.

Sexual abuse can be physical, verbal or emotional and can include:

• kissing or holding a child in a sexual manner
• 'flashing' or exposing a sexual body part to a child
• speaking to children about sexual matters
• making obscene phone calls or remarks to a child or young person
• sending obscene emails or text messages to a child or young person
• fondling a child or young person's body in a sexual manner
• persistent intrusion of a child's privacy
• penetration of the vagina or anus either by the penis, finger or any other object
• oral sex
• rape
• incest
• showing pornographic films, magazines or photographs to a child
• having a child pose or perform in a sexual manner
• forcing a child to watch a sexual act
• child prostitution

(The above definition is from Child Safety Queensland)

What Child Sexual Abuse is NOT:

• it is NEVER ok
• it is NEVER the child's fault
• it does NOT make survivors "broken" or "damaged goods"

If you have experienced childhood sexual assault, in any form, you are not alone. What happened to you was not ok, it was never your fault and it does not make you broken or damaged goods.

To join fellow survivors in ending the silence surrounding childhood sexual assault, please consider submitting an anonymous Teddy Tag.

Rebecca

Teddy's name: Rebecca

Age when sexually assaulted: 8months - 15years

Who assaulted Teddy: grandfather

Town or State where the assault happened: NSW

Teddy's message to the world:
I am 43yrs old. I am a survivor of childhood sexual abuse. It has taken me many years to finally realise that it was NOT my fault and with this realisation my true self has been able to emerge like a butterfly from a cocoon. As children, we are/were societies most vulnerable. For many of us who suffered in silence all those years ago, let us now be loud & proud advocates for those children who are currently suffering at the hands of spineless predators and help to expose them so that these children can be free of them & live the childhood God intended for them.......

Pia

Teddy's name: Pia

Age when sexually assaulted: 14

Who assaulted Teddy: Ben

Town or State where the assault happened: Brisbane, Queensland

Teddy's message to the world:
... my light went out, but now it's burning again ... I won't ever be broken like that again ... my heart is mine with all it's scars ... and through this evolution of scar tissue I have come back strong ... don't ever treat me that way again ...

Can you help to break the silence?

The Teddy Tour is about ending the silence surrounding childhood sexual assault, but we cannot do this without the courage of survivors who are willing to speak up and submit a Teddy Tag.

Read more here.

Malibu

Teddy's name: Malibu

Age when sexually assaulted: 16

Who assaulted Teddy: member of the public

Town or State where the assault happened: melbourne

Teddy's message to the world:

“You Can Shut Me Out...But You Can Not Shut Me Up! I Broke My Silence!”

Mari

Teddy's name: Mari

Age when sexually assaulted: first time about 3 and then 16

Who assaulted Teddy: great grandfather when teddy was 3 and teddy's “best friend” when she was 16

Town or State where the assault happened: south australia

Teddy's message to the world:

one day teddy's will rule the world :~) we are stronger than they are and we know in our hearts what is right and what is wrong... never let anyone tell you it 'didn't happen' or that you made it up. our bodies are our own, listen to what your body tells you. healing is possible and the person you are is beautiful.

Embe

Teddy's name: Embe

Age when sexually assaulted: 7 through to 15

Who assaulted Teddy: Many different perps but mostly a politician

Town or State where the assault happened: PNG and Queensland

Teddy's message to the world:

Teddy may be a symbol of innocence but our Teddies had our innocence robbed by adults - adults who lie, manipulate and use children.

Embe Teddy says, "Silence can say lots. Hear our silence perpetrators and quake in your pathetic adult pants because the day of bringing you all down is coming. Imagine if we all named you between ourselves and finally you, your businesses and your status will be identified by our silence. One in three makes for a hefty impact upon family, business, corporate and government perpetrators of child abuse."

Little S

Teddy's name: Little S

Age when sexually assaulted: 14

Who assaulted Teddy: Stepfather

Town or State where the assault happened: Queensland

Teddy's message to the world:
Forgiveness is important for you. It does not mean what the abuser did was ok.

Hope

Teddy's name: Hope

Age when sexually assaulted: 6-11

Who assaulted Teddy: Step father, 2 uncles & sister

Town or State where the assault happened: Melbourne

Teddy's message to the world:
Don't keep punishing the survivor for what they tell, it was not their fault.

Big Em

Teddy's name: Big Em

Age when sexually assaulted: 11

Who assaulted Teddy: Boarding school teacher

Town or State where the assault happened: QLD

Teddy's message to the world:
It's OK to be yourself. It's OK to be kind to yourself. It's OK to love yourself.
YOU are OK.

Rosebud

Teddy's name: Rosebud

Age when sexually assaulted: 5-8

Who assaulted Teddy: 1. Uncle, 2. Family friend

Town or State where the assault happened: NSW

Teddy's message to the world:
The abuser only instils fear into their victim because of their own fear of getting caught...take back the power by speaking up!

Blue Ted

Teddy's name: Blue Ted

Age when sexually assaulted: 7

Who assaulted Teddy: Uncle

Town or State where the assault happened: Qld

Teddy's message to the world:
Listen to your child no matter how young. Investigate sudden changes in behaviour towards others. Everyone is a potential offender!

Rainbow

Teddy's name: Rainbow

Age when sexually assaulted: 10

Who assaulted Teddy: Son of Family Friend

Town or State where the assault happened: NSW

Teddy's message to the world:
You are Fabulous. You are Beautiful. You are worth the world. You can smile.

Umbrella Baby

Teddy's name: Umbrella baby

Age when sexually assaulted: 8 to 13

Who assaulted Teddy: step father

Town or State where the assault happened: NSW, Aust.

Teddy's message to the world:
Don't let them rein over you any more. Silence is the language of perpetrators. Speak up!

Quidam

Teddy's name: Quidam

Age when sexually assaulted: 12

Who assaulted Teddy: father (aka “the donor”)

Town or State where the assault happened: Australia

Teddy's message to the world:
You are not your past! You do not have to live the life that your perpetrator set out for you.

Peaches

Teddy's name: Peaches

Age when sexually assaulted: 5

Who assaulted Teddy: Family friend

Town or State where the assault happened: Adelaide, Aus.

Teddy's message to the world:
Sometimes friends can help too much. Parents beware of the “kind neighbour” who's hands are anything but helping. My mum was a single parent just trying to do her best for her kids. He took advantage of all of us. He raped my body and in doing so, he raped my mother's spirit.

Passion

Teddy's name: Passion

Age when sexually assaulted: 7 to 10

Who assaulted Teddy: father and his mates

Town or State where the assault happened: Victoria

Teddy's message to the world: It is never your fault.

A message to all survivors of childhood sexual assault

The Teddy Tour is about ending the silence surrounding childhood sexual assault, but we cannot do this without the courage of survivors who are willing to speak up and submit a Teddy Tag.

Perpetrators rely on silence and secrets the keep the abuse hidden - It's time to bring childhood sexual assault out into the open so that they have no where to hide. The more voices that unite in saying NO to childhood sexual assault, the louder and more powerful the message will be.

Submitting a Teddy Tag is a way to:

• Tell your story safely and anonymously
• Let other survivors know they are not alone
• Help to raise awareness of childhood sexual assault
• Promote a zero tolerance attitude that tells perpetrators we will not keep their secret
• Take back your power and reclaim your voice

You can submit a Teddy Tag using the form below, or by emailing your Teddy's name, Age when sexually assaulted, Who assaulted Teddy, Town or State where the assault happened and Teddy's message to the world to: ali@theteddytour.com

No matter how old you are, whether you're male or female, how long ago the abuse happened, where you live in the world or if you've ever told anyone before, please consider submitting a Tag and help the Teddy Tour end the silence surrounding childhood sexual assault.

We cannot do it without you.

Submit a Teddy Tag

If you're a survivor of childhood sexual assault - in any form - then we want an anonymous Teddy Tag from you. No matter how old you are, whether you're male or female, how long ago the abuse happened, where you live in the world or if you've never told anyone before - your story of being sexually assaulted is important and deserves to be heard.

Teddy Tags are anonymous and do not contain any identifying information about yourself of the perpetrator. Although we ask for your email address, this is just to make sure we are being accountable (not making up Tags etc).

NO identifying information will ever be published here or passed on to anyone else. 

You can submit your Teddy Tag using the form below, or alternatively you can request a form by email, fill it out and submit it by return email to: ali@theteddytour.com

About the Teddy Tour .com

In Australia, 1 in 3 girls and 1 in 7 boys are sexually assaulted before they turn 18. This is shocking and unacceptable, yet the issue of child sexual assault is still smothered by silence.

No more!

The Teddy Tour is about giving survivors of childhood sexual assault a voice. It's time to break the silence surrounding childhood sexual assault and hear the stories of survivors all over the world.

No shame, no blame and no judgement - Teddies wear an anonymous tag with no real names or identifying information. Just the story of survivors speaking up about childhood sexual assault.

If you're a survivor of childhood sexual assault - in any form - then we want an anonymous Teddy Tag from you. No matter how old you are, whether you're male or female, how long ago the abuse happened, where you live in the world or if you've never told anyone before - your story of being sexually assaulted is important and deserves to be heard.