"CHILD ABUSE is not an individual issue but a community one,'' says Lois Englebrecht of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, founder of the Centre for Prevention and Treatment of Child Sexual Abuse. Creating awareness, writing the curriculum for schools, equipping parents, teachers, children and social workers with skills on how to handle the problem... all these have been part of her crusade against child abuse. Tamil Nadu-born Englebrecht, who holds a Masters Degree in Social Work from the University of Washington, Seattle, recently conducted a workshop at the American International School (AIS) in Chennai. Teachers from other schools also participated. The programme was organised by the AIS in line with the work being done in the curriculum relating to personal safety of children and "to ensure policies are in place before a problem arises." Excerpts from an interview: