3) Strategy Summary:
We were able to talk about one of the taboo issues in our society by engaging a very diverse base of supporters and holding many different activities, as well as getting coverage in the media.

Our supporters included scholars, legislators, the church, the media, professional people, other NGOs and members of the public. It included diverse activities, such as education and awareness events, protest events, media events lobbying and fundraising.

Our strategy worked on three levels: it built awareness at the grassroots level; built support for legal changes; and gained support for the GOH.

When people became aware of the problem of child prostitution they wanted a law to ban it, and they also supported the Garden of Hope.

Volunteers take part in a street drama to protest the abuse of girls' rights. This time, the demonstation represents the way children are treated as disposable objects, which can be carted off and thrown away.

4) How the Strategy Works:
Step 1: Build grassroots support

First, we started with activities at grassroots level: speeches and education to community groups, churches, and clubs; street drama; local flea markets with GOH merchandise and education activities such as the street dramas. We relied on help from volunteers to hold all these activities. These grassroots events built up our initial support base.

Step 2: Offer a concrete goal and widen support

Next, we conducted a study of the problem of child prostitution and drafted a law to ban child prostitution. We also lobbied legislators to support the law, thus widening our support base to scholars, legislators and their staff.

We also held many different activities to engage as many people as possible, both small and large-scale. For example, we cooperated with 7-11 to organize a petition of 100,000 signatures and we gained approximately NT$10 million (US$310,000) in donations.

More than 15,000 supporters take part in a jog, which led through one of the main red-light districts in Taipei as part of a public protest against child prostitution.

Step 3: Develop a media strategy

Then, to make our lobbying more effective, we developed a media strategy. We had no money for large media campaigns, so we planned events, which would receive media coverage. For example, we asked controversial questions such as, Should a prostitute s clients be punished? which promoted debate in the legislature. This meant more media coverage for the issue and the Garden of Hope.

We organized more than 10 hearings on the law, and we kept up the pressure with press conferences, street dramas and skits performed by staff and volunteers. These were covered by the news media and in this way, our organization became well known and we gained more supporters.

Step 4: Consider your supporters

The biggest event was a jog through the red-light district of Taipei (the capital city), in which more than 15,000 people took part. The event was a protest against child prostitution, but some of our supporters would be reluctant to take part in a protest activity, so we called it a jog to maximize the turn-out for the event. There was even more media coverage for this event, which then generated more support.

Step 5: Plan for follow-up

Finally, an anti-child prostitution law was passed and it was based on our original draft. As a follow-up, we organized a watch-dog campaign so that the law would be carried out.

We invited members of the public to check local newspapers for prostitute recruitment ads and send a post card to public prosecutors to report such ads. This prompted the government to crack down on the ads, with prosecutors receiving as many as 200 post cards each day of the campaign.

Volunteers take part in a street drama for the Garden of Hope. This time women dressed as brides walk past a government office. These events generated media coverage for girls'/women's rights and the Garden of Hope.

Results

The result was that the Garden of Hope gained two major resources. We gained a legal basis to challenge child prostitution and we gained a large pool of supporters including volunteers, donors, scholars and close links with the media.

How this can be replicated

Other organizations could copy this model in other countries. It was very important for us to develop grassroots support. Then, we reached out to a very diverse base including scholars, the media and corporations (7-11), and this meant our public awareness campaign was very well developed.

Also, we were sensitive to our supporters. When we became aware that many supporters would not like to take part in a protest we changed the focus to a jog through the red-light district. This flexible approach would be very useful in many other situations and helped to unite supporters on the main goal.

A "bride" taking part in a street event for the Garden of Hope walks past a row of police officers in Taipei.

5) Key Strategy Elements:

i. Mobilizing Citizen Support:
Building grassroots support for the issue was very important for our success. Also, we built a very diverse support base because of our public events.

Our supporters included members of the media, scholars, members of other NGOs and the general public. By holding different kinds of events we were able to bring in new resources from many different supporters.

We published articles written by our clients and social workers and this was very moving for supporters. After the law was passed, we involved police so that the law was enforced.

iii. Establishing Relationships with Strategic Partnerships:
Our relationships included members of the media, corporations, legislators, scholars, and other NGOs. For example, when we cooperated with 7-11 on the petition we gained three benefits: public awareness; a petition signed by 100,000 people; and funds (more than US$300,000).

Establishing a relationship with the media was one of the most important partnerships. Every article meant public attention and support. We planned events, which the media would cover (for free) press conferences, attending legislature hearings, and public events.

Later, it was important to get help from legislators to make sure the law was passed, and then to build ties with the police so that the law was enforced.

v. Developing Information and Spreading the Message:
Child prostitution is a "taboo" so it was important to develop different types of information to reach the maximum number of people. We used the media as much as possible. We used flyers, street drama, and held flea markets where we gave out information along with the charity sales.

We also held campaigns to involve supporters directly: a mass petition, which was signed by 100,000 people, a post-card campaign in which around 200 cards per day were sent to prosecutors, and a mass jog (street protest) of around 15,000 people. We also published several books of writings by our social workers and some of our clients. This way, the public was able to learn about their lives first-hand and get a better understanding of their experiences.

6) Increasing Self-sufficiency and Social Impact:
This campaign was a turning point for the GOH. We gained huge numbers of supporters, which meant financial support and credibility. Our organization and services grew around Taiwan to include shelters, counseling and social work, education and prevention programs.

As we gained support for the issue we also established a good reputation, so eventually the government had to listen to our concerns. Such widespread support gave pressure to pass the anti-child prostitution law.

Our public education meant support for girls /women s rights at grassroots level and a decline in some traditional beliefs such as sleeping with a virgin will make you stronger. The number of child prostitutes dropped greatly after the law was passed because of this grassroots support.

So, with this campaign, our organization gained a huge amount of financial and non-financial resources, we were able to raise public awareness, as well as offer a lot of practical help to the target population.

8) Organization Mission and Vision:
The Garden of Hope Foundation is a non-government, non-profit group established in 1988 to help disadvantaged girls and women. We offer counseling, shelters, education, prevention, research and advocacy services. We work to end sexual exploitation, sexual abuse and domestic violence. Organization Size:
The Garden of Hope has 138 full-time employees, 3 part-time employees and approximately 300 volunteers.

We have service centers or shelters around Taiwan.

Looking Forward to the Next Three Years:
Our mission has changed from protecting girls to empowering girls. At the same time, our focus is shifting from girls rights to gender issues.

For legal changes, we are focusing on modifying the law to handle changes in technology such as the Internet and pornography, and international women trafficking.

Ms. Hui-jung Chi, CEO The Garden of Hope Foundation
7F, 75 Roosevelt Rd, Section 2, Taipei, 106, Taiwan
Taiwan
Telephone: 886-2-2367-9595
Fax: 886-2-2367-3002
Email: master@goh.org.tw
Web site: www.goh.org.tw

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