The women empowerment cell of Sri Ramakrishna College of Arts and Science for Women in association with Aram Foundation Charitable Trust organised a session 'Train the trainer’ at their college today.
As a part of this session, a set of experts will train the volunteers from this college who will in turn educate and train children from various school about the 'Good and Bad Touch’. In the past, Aram Foundation Charitable Trust has implemented several projects targeting school children, especially in the schools that are aided by the Government.
Today’s programme was presided over by R.V. Ramya Bharathi, Superintendent of Police Coimbatore district, in presence of Latha Sundaram, Managing Trustee of Aram Foundation Charitable Trust and Dr. K. Chitra Principal Sri Ramakrishna College of Arts and Science for Women.
In her address to the audience, R.V. Ramya Bharathi appreciated the efforts of Aram Foundation and the volunteers from the college for taking up this much-needed initiative. She advised the students to work compassionately towards the cause as a wholesome change cannot be created without people's participation. She also requested the students to educate school kids about good and bad touch and persuade the kids to report any bad touch incidents, without any hesitation to their parents/teachers.
“Many-a-times people coming up with complaint about sexual abuse are prevented from doing so and they are embarrassed because of the social stigma associated with it. So, the department too has felt defeated when it comes to dealing with such cases.”
SP, Ramya Bharathi, insisted the students to be aware of the crimes prevailing in the society and the tricks played by the fraudsters. 'By being aware, one can prevent themselves from such crimes and act prudently when encountered with such crimes' she said.
“Sexual abuse is one of the most stigmatized issues in the country and a lot of crimes of this nature are reported every day. You must take up this cause, sensitize and empower children against sexual abuse as they are the ones who are more vulnerable to these type of crimes'. She shared with the audience, a few tips on how to finely explain to the kids about good touch and bad touch and sexual abuse.
Dr. K. Chitra inspired the students to bring the change in the society. She stated that the biggest achievement will be when each volunteer will educate at least 10 kids about the subject. She asked the volunteers not to stop this initiative with the schools itself but spread awareness among everyone in the society.
Latha Sundaram, Managing Trustee of Aram Foundation Charitable Trust trained the volunteers about how to host the session on good and bad touch for kids. She said “The children at corporation schools come from very poor backgrounds. A majority of the kids attend the school just for the mid day meals. Lack of awareness has made them prone to sexual, emotional and physical abuses. Pathetically, many of the kids are not even aware of what is abuse.”
The training given to them has to be started in an informal way by building a rapport. As this kids lack affection, once you build a rapport they will easily open up. By elaborating them with examples, the kids will understand the need to be safe in a much better way. They should be educated about private and non-private parts of the body. They should be asked to do three things - 'Say No' when needed, 'Run' when something is bad and 'Get Help' by sharing things with their parents/teachers'.
'It's often falsely believed that girls are the ones who are prone to sexual abuse but in reality that's not the case, even boys are also victims of sexual abuse. And, shockingly, in most occasions the culprits behind the scene are mostly known people of the affected children' revealed Latha Sundaram.
Post this meet, the student volunteers from this college will hold awareness sessions with students from corporation schools across the city. Upon interaction, if the volunteers suspect or reported of sexual abuse on any child, the same would be escalated to Aram Foundation, who will in turn provide necessary counseling for the child.