It doesn't cost much to protect a child from sexual abuse

90 million children in India have been sexually abused. This means that they have been touched, kissed and fondled inappropriately, sometimes raped. This has been done to them usually by someone they trust and know and at an age when they cannot even begin to understand what might have been happening. Most of these children grow up believing it was somehow their fault that this happened to them. They either grow up to be very disturbed and traumatised adults or many a times abusers themselves.

90 million children - if it hasn’t happened to your child or to someone you know, it is just sheer providence.

Arpan was set up by me to help sexually abused children and adults and prevent it from happening as commonly as it does. Arpan has been working on the issue since year 2006 and has reached out to over 3500 adults and 800 children so far.

We wish to expand our programs and reach out to over 3000 adults and children this year for which we need 25 lacs. We need your support.

Your contribution will help.

Teach personal safety skills to children so that they can protect themselves from sexual abuse .
Train parents and teachers to prevent and intervene in the event of CSA .

Children and adult survivors heal through counseling and therapy, and restore their dignity and self respect to become healthy happy human beings.

To know more about what we do and see a video on Child Sexual Abuse click here - http://www.arpan.org.in/whatwedo.html

To see a video of our Personal Safety program being taught in schools - http://www.arpan.org.in/personalsafetyed.html

A variety of donation options are available for you to support. For eg. it costs only Rs. 400/- to teach a child how to protect him/herself from sexual abuse and for us to help the child if he needs any intervention. Please click here to view more such donation options and the different modes of payment. http://www.arpan.org.in/contribute.html

I really look forward to your support. I would also appreciate if you could send this appeal to people in your organization, friends and family.

Thank you so much! : )

For more information you could contact me (Pooja Taparia) on 9820135567 or pooja@arpan.org.in


Warm regards,
Pooja
*******
Pooja Taparia
Founder - CEO
Arpan
Our vision - A safe world free from Child Sexual Abuse and its ill effects.
email: pooja@arpan.org.in
website: www.arpan.org.in
blog: www.arpancsa.blogspot.com
facebook: arpan
You Tube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rfmo8kjezs8

Teaching children smart ways to stay safe

Staff Reporter

CHENNAI: Does your child know the ‘touching rules?’ Learning to differentiate between a good touch and a bad touch could be a crucial in children’s safety. ‘Tickles and hugs – Learning the touching rules’ is aimed at just that – teaching children smart ways to keep themselves safe.

An initiative of Tulir – Centre for the Prevention and Healing of Child Sexual Abuse, ‘Tickles and hugs …’ is an audio book on personal safety for children, which was launched at Landmark here on Wednesday. The audio book is a production of Karadi Tales and the project has been supported by ActionAid India.

Joint Secretary to the Union Ministry of Women and Child Development Loveleen Kacker, who launched it, said that a study conducted earlier this year brought out the instances of physical, sexual and emotional abuses children encountered.

The National-level study, commissioned by the Ministry of Women and Child Development, revealed that over 53 percent of the children in a sample size of about 14,000, had been sexually abused. “Abuse is highest among children in the age group of 5 to 12 years.” It was shocking that those children who are usually accompanied by adults are among the most abused lot, she said. She urged parents to seek help from lawyers, the police, counsellors and non-governmental organisations.

Actor Revathy, who has narrated the story in the audio book, said it was important to listen to what a child has to say. “They do not lie, unless we teach them to, and talking to children is easier than speaking to adults,” she said.

The human body knew when someone’s touch is not right, and only if one is willing to listen will a child report an incident of abuse, she said.

Sensitive issue

Shobha Viswanath of Karadi Tales said great care was taken while scripting the story as the issue was sensitive. The book has stories revolving around episodes of abuse and how a child needs to report them to a trustworthy adult.

Vidya Reddy of Tulir said the Tamil version of the audio book, ‘Kattipidi kichu kichu mootu – Thodudal vidhiyai therinjukalama?’, was launched at the Corporation Primary School in Koyambedu earlier on Wednesday. Students were very receptive to the content dealt with in the audio book, which was enacted by students of Women’s Christian College.

[ Source: http://www.hindu.com/2007/08/30/stories/2007083058980200.htm ]