National Conference on Prevention of Child Sexual Abuse.-Feb 6,7

This is an exclusive invitation extended to all to “Come Together to Protect the Child”. As you might be already aware, the college in this academic session has taken up the very pertinent issue of Child Protection as its key area of focus. The concept has its roots in the Field Action Project on “Prevention and Intervention in Child Sexual Abuse”, initiated by the Department of Social Work in July 2006. Last few months have seen various pioneering initiatives in an attempt to reach out in keeping with the commitment to the cause. One of the significant events was held on August 25th 2008, Samanwaya; The Annual Social Work Students’ Meet and Samanwaya Sandhya- The Cultural Infotainment programme. The event was a distinctive endeavor whereby a proactive attempt was made to reach out to a cross section of the society; comprising of those who can create and be social change agents to effectively communicate the pertinent issue of Child Sexual Abuse using the innovative media of theatre, dance and drama. Through numerous such events we have been able to create a network of aware and sensitized professionals and educators in the field working among children.In an attempt to validate this initiative, we believe a skill development programme is essential to the now sensitized and aware professionals in the field.So we are hosting a conference on February 6-7th 2009 in collaboration with UNICEF on the topic “Coming Together for Child Protection- An Insight into Child Sexual Abuse”.The key Resource Person for the same is Dr. Shekhar Sheshadri- Child Psychiatrist – NIMHANS, Bangalore who undoubtedly is among the most eminent & credible persons working against Child Sexual Abuse in India. The conference–having as its aim the capacity building of participants expects a limited but keen participation from educators, practitioners, research scholars and students. Let us come together, reach out & make a meaningful difference in the lives of the child.

Activities - November 19

With the objective of spreading the message on child protection, the department organized several programmes on November 19th, the World Day for the Prevention of Child Abuse. The important message that we were trying to convey on the day was “November 19th is not the only day for the prevention of child abuse but every day is”.
The programmes including slogan campaign on child protection in Baselious College Kottayam, putting the hand prints of BCM College students to express their support in all the initiatives for children, and a rally with placards and slogans on child protection along with a mime, in Kottayam town, etc. were organized on November 19th to get the attention of the community on the need for child protection.

Activities of the Field Action Project

As part of the Field Action Project, for the prevention and intervention
in Child Sexual Abuse, the department has initiated various endeavors to prevent
and respond to child abuse. SAMANWAYA 2008, “Coming Together for Child
Protection – insights into child sexual abuse" was a year long response of the
Department against child abuse. This includes sensitisation programmes for
varied groups including community members, students, parents, teachers. Some of the activities were:
Awareness Classes taken in Thiruvarppu Panchayat in association with World
Vision, Kottayam -Alleppey- ADP on November 22nd.
Awareness Session taken in association with Child Focus Community
Development, Project-at CSI, Kanakkary.
Awareness Session taken at Kuruppanthara as part of one week NSS camp
on December 22nd 2008.
Awareness Class at Mutholy Panchayath as part of the Continuing Education
Programmeon December 12th 2008.
Seminar on Child Sexual Abuse at St.Mary’s College Manarkadu organized
by the NSS unit- 20th January 2009.
Awareness programme on CSA with special focus to differently abled children
at St. John of God Special School, Pampady in July 2008.

Nishabdadayude Thengal- Radio Drama for the prevention of CSA

“Nishabdadayude Thengal”, a Radio drama developed by the students of our
Department aired in the Mahilalayam
programme of All India Radio on 6th
October at 8.30 pm. Chinnumol, the
central character of the drama,
represented many children who are
being sexually abused by the immediate
relatives inside the family. The
programme served as a mass
communication material to reach out the
preventive message of Child Sexual
Abuse.

Information through Entertainment

Cultural Infotainment








Samanwaya Sandhya 2008, the cultural infotainment programme, was an
amalgam of various forms of arts and theater which reverberated the theme of
Samanwaya, the child protection. The cultural infotainment was not just the
continuation of the Social Work Student’ meet but was also a gathering of various
change agents in the society. The Samanwaya Sandhya was inaugurated by Mr.
Blessy, the famous film director. With his presence and inaugural address he had
promised his support and lighted the spark of initiation in enabling a protective
environment for children. The programme was enriched with the presence and the
inspiring talks of Sri V.N Vasavan, MLA, Kottayam, Mr. Thomas Kunnapilly,
District Panchayath President, Kottayam, and E.P Rajan, Hon. Additional District
Magistrate. A choreographic series themed around protective environment for
children and a theater named Ullvanam highlighting the nature of the sexual abuse

National Social Work Students Meet

“SAMANWAYA”
The “blend of all” an annual gathering of students of Social Work from different colleges took place at BCM College, Kottayam. The meet
was conducted with the aim of
developing non threatening medias of
communication to be used in the field
action programmes in prevention and
intervention in Child Sexual Abuse. The
cultural meet was inaugurated by Dr.
Varghese Punnoose, Child Psychiatrist,
Medical College, Alappuzha. 15
colleges and a total of around 300
students were participated in the various
competitive events of Samanwaya.
Debate, Documentary, Collage making,
Mime, Theme song, Street theater, Folk
dance, Semi classical dance, Poetry
writing and project proposal preparation
were the competitive events in
Samanwaya and all the events were
themed around aspects of Child Sexual Abuse