Mi Escudo

Mi Escudo (My Shield) is the first play-based pedagogical kit developed in Latin America to prevent sexual abuse and promote mental health among youth aged 10–14. The program includes two components—a Family Toolkit and a School Toolkit—designed to be used together by educators and parents or caregivers. These toolkits help equip youth with essential self-protection skills, foster protective environments at home and in school, and promote safe spaces that support overall mental well-being.

La School Toolkit is implemented by educators with on-site support from Fundación Azulado staff and university student volunteers. It includes 12 structured curriculum sessions delivered over three months, using engaging, age-appropriate, play-based learning methods that encourage active participation and emotional development.

Over the past 10 years, Mi Escudo has reached approximately 3,606 educators and professionals, 59,016 children, et 21,817 parents.

With Transition-to-Scale funding, Fundación Azulado will implement the School Toolkit in 80 public schools across Ecuador. This next phase aims to demonstrate the program’s impact by measuring key mental health outcomes such as resilience and self-esteem, generating credible evidence to support the national expansion of Mi Escudo and its integration into Ecuador’s education and child protection policies.