Help prevent sexual abuse of children in India

We had a great last quarter of 2015. A quick look at the numbers:

PSE: This quarter we completed PSE lessons in 5 schools in Mumbai.

Parents - 1033

Children - 4456

Counselling

PSE - 122

Adult survivors - 8

TOT

Institution

174 - Caretakers & staff

1^st PSE CONFERENCE

Arpan hosted its first ever Personal Safety Education (PSE) Conference to discuss and strengthen preventive strategies with School authorities on 17^th December 2015. The conference focused on sharing experiences of Personal Safety Education implementation in schools to prevent child sexual abuse – the impact of the program, challenges faced by Principals and teachers and future steps to ensure the safety of children from sexual abuse. Key decision makers from over 30 schools all over Mumbai, who have already run the PSE programme, participated in this conference.

The conference started off with a panel consisting of children, who spoke about the need and impact of Personal Safety Education. One of the children suggested, “Personal Safety Education should have practical assignments with the help of role plays. After six months there should be a refresher so that we remember the lessons well and are able to take the appropriate steps to keep ourselves safe.” Bringing children’s voices in the forefront has been one of Arpan’s objectives. BCG Schools and Zee Learn were part of the Training of Trainers panel where they presented the need of institutionalization, how they have integrated the PSE program into their curriculum and the visible benefits. The Principals also engaged in small group discussion to discuss their overview of the PSE Program and to ascertain their interest levels in the Step-up programs.

The idea about introducing new step up programmes and refresher/alternate tools for teaching personal safety were received well. 72% participants showed interest in a refresher programme through lesson plans; 56% participants showed interest in using the Personal Safety workbook as tool for refresher with children; 91% participants were keen to participate in the Training of Teachers programmes. 44% participants said that they would like Arpan to help the school create a Child Protection Policy

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/mumbai/Spread-awareness-on-child-sex-abuse/articleshow/50227953.cms

http://www.dnaindia.com/mumbai/report-schools-tie-up-with-ngo-to-fight-child-sex-abuse-2156989

Capacity building with APNE AAP WOMEN’S COLLECTIVE (AAWC) – Mumbai Center 

Anti – trafficking organization that serves the women and children of Kamathipura, 15 members took place. They had many challenges that were enlightening for our training coordinators as well.

Pooja Taparia, the Founder has been profiled in a book, Speak Up with 13 other social entrepreneurs (including the likes of Anshu Gupta of Goonj) authored by Prashant Sinha. While the book covers various issues ranging from education to rural employment, primary healthcare to transportation, Child Sexual Abuse is the first chapter of this book and this book will be used as a case study at TISS. 

http://www.amazon.in/Speak-Up-Prashant-Sinha/dp/9384180645

SNIPPETS OF CHANGE

A child who recognized that his personal safety rules were being broken spoke to the trainer about it. “I go out to pee and my safety rules are broken when people see my private body parts.” The child’s mother was scared to allow the child to use a communal toilet because of the death of an older woman in the same toilet. The trainer spoke to the child to be assertive and ask the mother to allow using the toilet. The next day, a very confident child informed that he could convince his mother to use the toilet.  We think of change as a gradual process, but there are times when it is swift and just as empowering.