HTCC calls for rapid rollout of child abuse prevention game ‘Gabby’ in schools

September 26, 2026

Lobby group Hear the Children’s Cry (HTCC) is calling for the rapid rollout of ‘Gabby’ a free, interactive computer-based game designed to help high school students recognise and prevent child sexual abuse.

HTCC Director, Nigel Cooper says Government support is needed to train teachers to administer and supervise the game and to ensure schools have adequate laptops and desktop computers to facilitate its use.

Mr. Cooper is also commending the University of Technology Jamaica for leading a three-year research project that tested ‘Gabby’ as a tool for engaging young people in preventing child sexual abuse.

He describes the platform as a game changer.

https://iriefm.net/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/GABBY-GAME-CHANGER.mp3

The project, “Play. Talk. Change: Digital and Creative Technologies for the Engagement of Youth in Preventing Child Sexual Abuse in Jamaica,” ran from June 1, 2023 to June 30, 2026.

The US$105,000 project was funded by the Sexual Violence Research Initiative, which supports research on violence against women and children.