SafeCircle for Survivors of Domestic Violence

SafeCircle Phase II Report

SafeCircle is a community-driven initiative dedicated to building trust and fostering collective safety. By transforming individual healing into community empowerment, the program creates a structured environment where survivors move from personal recovery to proactive civic leadership through peer-driven support and localized advocacy.

Phase 1: Research, Persona Validation, and Strategic Design

The initial phase of the project focused on building a data-driven foundation by deeply understanding participant needs and the broader community landscape. We began by developing detailed customer personas and mapping the customer journey for a diverse range of stakeholders, including survivors, lawmakers, community leaders, and women from various backgrounds. To validate our theoretical framework, we conducted a pre-pilot study, distributing inquiry forms to these representative groups to capture their perspectives on safety, community contribution, and the SafeCircle concept .

The data from this research highlighted critical gaps in existing support systems. Our findings revealed that 57% of respondents felt their communities lacked adequate resources to address gender-based violence, while 76% emphasized the vital importance of belonging to a group that advocates for mental health. These insights, along with feedback on participant readiness and localized challenges, allowed us to move beyond assumptions and design a program rooted in actual community requirements.

Phase 2: Pilot Study Framework and Operational Execution

Building on the evidence gathered in Phase 1, we developed a comprehensive Pilot Study Framework to test our model in a real-world setting. This phase focused on translating our research into actionable tools and a structured methodology for community engagement. We established the core operational components of the SafeCircle experience, ensuring that every element was aligned with the needs identified during our initial outreach.

• For this project, we built an engaging curriculum filled with practical activities, fun rituals, and badges to keep everyone involved. To support this, we created clear guides for facilitators and a simple handbook for SafeCircle covering  important information for the team members for future use,along with all the necessary consent forms and surveys. We also reached out to the right people for a pilot test to improve our onboarding process, while making sure resources were always available for any concerns. Finally, we used pre- and post-session surveys to easily track how much participants learned and how their comfort levels improved.

1. Programme Snapshot

• Programme name: SafeCircle ( Red Dot Foundation) 
• Geography (city/state): Panjim- Goa / Satara - Maharashtra
• Partner institutions (if any): Goa Agriculture College/ Yashvantrov Chavhan College of Social Work. 
• Mode of delivery: In-person

2. Programme Objective 

• What problem are we addressing?

SafeCircle is designed as a collaborative platform for community engagement and trust-building. In these sessions, participants convene to explore shared themes, facilitating a structured dialogue that moves from collective experience to a definitive conclusion. The primary goal is to translate these discussions into a concrete roadmap, establishing actionable points that directly address the community’s specific concerns and safety needs.

• Who are we targeting?

The primary focus was college students who experience day-to-day street harassment and gender-based violence. The initiative aims to provide these students with a dedicated support community, moving them from a place of individual vulnerability to collective strength.

• What change are we trying to create?

We are trying to build a Community circle where individuals can express their concerns with the group and come out with a conclusion which can lead to active initiative. Also to emphasize community trust , strengthen peer relationships and build confidence.

3. Methodology

Institutional Outreach and Partnership

• The process begins with targeted outreach to colleges to identify institutions interested in hosting the program as a core community-building initiative. This is followed by a structured follow-up process to align on logistical requirements and ensure administrative support for the bi-weekly sessions.

Foundational Session (Session 1)

To establish a secure environment, the first session is dedicated to setting the operational and ethical framework. This includes:

• Welcoming and Understanding: Giving time for people to understand the SafeCircle concept and Welcoming them.
• Establishment of Community Guidelines: Defining shared values of respect and confidentiality.
• Consent and Program Orientation: Explicitly outlining the program’s goals and the voluntary nature of participation.
• Safety Protocols: Introducing the concept of "Trigger Warnings" and the option for participants to pause or remain silent if they feel uncomfortable, ensuring a pressure-free environment and to provide resources to them in case of any concerns.
• SafeCircle : Then beginning with a Ritual , grounding exercise and starting with the Safecircle chosen topic.

 Bi-Weekly Session Execution (Recurring Flow)

• Thematic Introduction: Each session centers on a specific theme displayed via presentation slides to guide the narrative.
• Facilitated Dialogue:  After activity ( If needed depends upon the topic) the facilitator initiates the discussion, which then moves through the circle to ensure every participant has the opportunity to speak.
• Inclusion and Comfort: Participants are encouraged to share at their own pace; those who prefer not to speak can remain present as active listeners.
• Synthesis: Every session concludes with a summary of the discussion. It also starts and ends with the same ritual.

4. Outputs

Emotional Expression and Confidence: 

 Session 1: Participants were initially reserved as they moved to the new environment.

• Session 2: A visible shift occurred as a sense of safety was established; participants felt confident there would be no judgment or harm.
• Session 3: Full involvement was achieved, resulting in high levels of participation and active, open discussions.

Peer Relationships and Trust:

• Initial Boundaries: Early interactions were cautious, with participants refraining from sharing personal information in the second session.
• Breakthrough Activity: The "Thankful Tree" exercise proved pivotal, fostering peer connection as students used the activity to express gratitude for one another.
• The relationship among participants was seen as effective and strong with passing sessions.

Session Content and Impact:

• Theme Effectiveness: The introduction of new, relevant topics provided fresh learning opportunities that kept the group engaged.
• Resource Engagement: Participants expressed high interest and excitement in exploring the provided educational materials and resources further.

Operational Insight:

• Group Dynamics: Feedback indicates that small group discussions are significantly more effective than large sessions for addressing sensitive topics, as they provide a more intimate and secure space for sharing.

5. Challenges

• Conceptual Outreach: Introducing a new model requires building  trust by clearly communicating the project’s standards for confidentiality, the specific responsibilities of participants, and the long-term clarity of the program’s goals.This was done by clearly communicating the boundaries of the SafeCircle and also understanding the needs of the institution.
• Operational Scheduling: Aligning session timings with the busy academic schedules of college students poses a significant hurdle, as finding a consistent window for high group availability is complex. 
• Momentum and Gaps: Managing the bi-weekly rhythm is challenging; any significant gaps between sessions can disrupt the sense of community, making consistent follow-up and engagement a high priority.
• The session encountered difficulties in areas engagement barriers arose when participants struggled to use the prescribed, formal opening phrases intended to structure the conversation. This necessitated an immediate on-site mitigation, where the facilitator abandoned the complex prompts and encouraged participants to express their views in their own, simple terms. This adaptation proved highly effective, allowing the core conversation to proceed.
• A more significant hurdle was administrative in nature, revolving around digital form completion. Participants found the required Kobo forms excessively long and technically demanding.

6. Key Learnings 

• When introducing the SafeCircle Concept to the organisers it is mandatory to understand their needs and requirements to meet their goals. Also keeping the vision of both parties beneficial.
• It's important to study the demographic and nature of the participants and organisation. It determines the  selection of topic and proposal . We have to understand the needs of the organization.
• Creative and participatory methods help participants express emotions more comfortably.
• Regular follow-up and continued engagement are necessary to sustain impact..
• It's advisable to take at least 9-10 sessions with the same individuals of one safecircle batch and then pass the responsibility of the session facilitator as it takes a sufficient time to build the relationship.
•  When working with college students, the program must continue its flexible approach, emphasizing guidelines and examples over rigid steps. This confirms that participants absorb and respect norms when they are introduced one thing at a time, rather than overwhelming them at the start.
• The new rituals, like the passing affirmations and holding hands to share a good wish, worked really well. They helped end the session with a strong feeling of support and goodwill. We believe we should keep using these structured activities in future sessions, as they help the group bond and create a special identity for SafeCircle.
•  Given the success of the facilitation style, it is critical to standardize the use of appreciative language (paraphrasing, stating "thank you for sharing," and validating the learning) to ensure participants feel fully heard and safe, regardless of the emotional content of their memory.
• Providing information on support services is important as many participants are unaware of available help.Continued sessions can build trust  among organizations and communities. 
• As a facilitator or programme coordinator it is important to read the energy in the room and maintain observation on the participants. The adequate amount of training is important for the Facilitator.

7. Future Roadmap and Conclusion

Internal team alignment and training initially focused on building a deep conceptual understanding and developing comprehensive concept notes. However, due to the prioritized demands of other major organizational projects, the SafeCircle training schedule was temporarily placed on hold to ensure all initiatives receive the necessary focus. We plan to resume these efforts at a later date, specifically once the current high-priority milestones are met or during a scheduled transition phase. Furthermore, we recognize that the team's guidance will be essential in refining these concepts, and we look forward to their strategic input to strengthen the program’s foundation when we re-engage.

Feedback received from Participants :

• Hello mam today's session was really good because it gave us chance to remember our happy times and time which actually gave us core memory and which we would love to live again and again and really felt good today after remembering my favorite time and second theme about letting go our burden from mind that made my mind relax and brain clam so...thank you for today's session. 

•  feel more aware and informed. I felt emotionally good. I felt encouraged and would recommend it to others

• The one thing which will stay are Real life experiences of our maam n my dear friends.

• We were told to share our thoughts on what we seek in a friend.. what expectations we hold from them. It was a wonderful experience. 

• I am an introvert and still I found it nice. I would love to see more convo around this topic, I also felt it's difficult to talk at times like I don't know what to share. Can we discuss the topic in advance so we can come prepared . But thank you Ma'am you do it perfectly. 

• Hi, I really liked the concept of Safe Circle. It feels like a much-needed initiative that addresses the critical issue of safety and well-being of students. What connected with me is the emphasis on creating a supportive community where students feel comfortable sharing their concerns and experiences. For students, I think the program could be a game-changer in terms of raising awareness and promoting healthy behaviors. To make it even more effective, maybe we could incorporate more interactive sessions and peer-led discussions. I really liked the session wherein we had to discuss our happy and sad moments that gave us opportunity to share and express. I would really like to thank you for organising such sessions, looking for more in future.