Throughout the session, children learned about safe versus unsafe touches, which aided approximately 50 girls and boys in recognising potentially dangerous situations. Due to the increasing cases of child abuse causing alarm across the nation, the Debabrata Auro Foundation (DAF) has made an important move to address this pressing issue. As a part of their ongoing CSR initiatives, DAF organised an awareness session at the Municipal BMC School in Govandi, for 50 children. This session educated children regarding safe and unsafe touches and physical, emotional, verbal abuse and sexual abuse. This critical initiative encouraged children to voice their concerns rather than suffer in silence which causes trauma and scars for life.
Child abuse awareness is vital, not just for the safety of vulnerable children but also for creating healthy environments. “This awareness session aimed to educate children and the community on the pressing issue of child abuse, with a focus on recognizing different types of abuse and empowering children to protect themselves. The event was designed to elevate awareness, highlight the prevalence and effects of child abuse, and introduce available support resources to enhance child safety. During the session, children were taught about safe and unsafe touches, helping them understand how to identify potentially harmful situations. The discussion covered various forms of child abuse, including physical, emotional, and sexual abuse, as well as neglect. Participants were provided with practical strategies to keep themselves safe and were encouraged to speak up if they ever felt threatened. The session also stressed the importance of creating a safe environment at home and within the community, equipping the children with the knowledge they need to navigate difficult situations,” said Dr Debraj Shome, Director and Founder of Debabrata Auro Foundation (DAF).
“The impact of the session was significant, successfully raising awareness about child abuse and its effects. Children left the event with a better understanding of how to protect themselves and were provided with educational materials to reinforce the lessons learned. To further support the children’s growth and emphasize the value of education, the DAF NGO distributed books to all 50 students present at the session. This initiative not only improved awareness but also laid the foundation for ongoing advocacy and support for child safety in underserved communities,” concluded Dr Rinky Kapoor.