Transform childhoods of 300 slum children in India

Rohit* (name changed) a participant in a child sexual abuse – awareness drive by YUVA-Child Resource Centre (CRC) recently reported a case of child sexual abuse in his community in Mankhurd, he spoke to us about it and we together reported to Childline – YUVA. The case was later taken over by police and Rohit also gave police statement. He felt confident enough to even take initiative and convince other adults in his vicinity to speak about the incident. This case brought the issue of Child sexual abuse and helped the community break the silence about the same.
At the CRC children are provided with non-formal education including life skills trainings, these include awareness against drug abuse & sexual abuse.
In India, every second child is being exposed to one or the other form of sexual abuse and every fifth child faces critical forms of it. A total of 33,098 cases of sexual abuse in children were reported in the nation during the year 2011. It is estimated by the government that 40% of India's children are susceptible to threats like being homeless, trafficking, drug abuse, forced labor, and crime.
There is a silence due to the fear of indignity, denial from the community, social stigma, not being able to trust government bodies, and gap in communication between parents and children about this issue.
At such awareness drives in the CRC – we conduct focussed group discussions and special film screenings (Fild created by UNICEF for child sexual abuse) with children. We speak about good touch & bad touch and provide information about self protection and precautions a child must take. Also we share with them what should they do - if they see it happening and how should they report about it and to whom.
We conduct these campaigns as part of our protection, development and participation of children in the community framework. We empower children to tell them about their rights and demand for them. We support them to deal with several issues on their own and provide them enough resources to know how to seek help. In the past 6 months we have been able to create awareness about the issue of child sexual abuse, all thanks to our donors for supporting us in our work to help children lead a dignified life! Thank you!