In 2013, during a visit to an orphanage in Cambodia, Elliot Costello’s life took a dramatic turn. There, he had an encounter that would change not only his life, but also the lives of thousands of others.
Thea’s tumultuous fate
This encounter has a name: Thea, and above all, a face. The face of a little girl, barely 10 years old, a victim of sexual abuse, who found refuge in an orphanage in Phnom Penh. A little girl whose story would deeply affect Elliot Costello. After a happy childhood, Thea’s life was shattered by the sudden death of her father. This tragic event plunged her mother into dire straits. Unable to provide for her daughter, Thea’s mother had to place her in an orphanage . Alas, this place would become a site of repeated atrocities at the hands of the director . A shameless man who took advantage of his position to abuse the little girl for two years.
The special bond between Elliot and Thea
Thea was eventually transferred to another orphanage. It was there that Elliot Costello, an Australian social entrepreneur, met her over a game of cards. A radiant little girl, overflowing with joy despite all the trauma she had endured. Like many little girls, Thea loved painting her nails, so she offered to paint Elliot’s. ” As she painted one of my nails,” he said, “I assured her I would always keep it that way to remember her and, by extension, her suffering .” That nail polish would thus become the symbol of their meeting. Moved by Thea’s story, Elliot wanted to encourage men to take action to eradicate child sexual abuse. He therefore launched the Polished Man movement , asking them to paint just one nail on their hand to show their support for this noble cause. One in five, like the number of children who are victims of sexual violence.
The goal of Polished Man
The YMCA reports that nearly 70% of assaults involve children aged 17 or younger. It is also extremely disturbing to note that one in four girls and one in six boys experience abuse before the age of 18. Furthermore, 90% of violence against children is perpetrated by men. This is why Elliot believes that men must be the driving force for change. Celebrities from around the world have joined the movement by painting a nail. The Polished Man organization continues to fight for a better and, above all, safer world for all children. Its slogan states that ” being a polite man means challenging violent behavior and language, both locally and globally .”
A growing movement 10 years after meeting Thea
Chris Hemsworth , one of the most committed celebrities, posed for the organization with a painted fingernail that read, ” Being a @PolishedMan isn’t just about remembering to buy flowers, how many rounds you yell, or how much strength you lift. It’s about saying no to violence against children.” Zac Efron and surfer Kelly Slater also participated in the challenge launched on social media by Elliot Costello. This was a way to encourage other celebrities to join the cause, a movement that is gaining momentum. Since its launch, the campaign has indeed increased significantly in notoriety, attracting the attention of major media outlets. Today, Polished Man is ten years old and has raised nearly $8.7 million. These donations are primarily used for prevention and protection programs for women and children who are victims of violence.