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

Rehearsal in Progress

Steps Forward - The Brochure

Partners' Meet

A collaborative meeting - “Partners’ Meet on Enabling a Child Protective Environment for Children” - was organised with the agencies involved in child development and protection under the aegis of the Social Work Department and World Vision India, Kottayam-Allepey ADP on 11 June, 2008 at B.C.M. College. The aim was to orient representatives from different partnering agencies on child protection and enable the formulation of a child protection policy for their organization, with child participation.

70 representatives, including 26 children, participated. Four child representatives from different institutions inaugurated the programme. Project Director, SOS Children’s Village, Aluva, Titus Poovakulam gave the key note address and acted as the facilitator for the programme.

The Superintendent of Children’s Home at Thiruvanchoor James Peter felicitated the programme, sharing the history of the home and the major problems the children there faced.

Dr. Ipe Verghese presented a situational analysis on the neglect and abuse of children. Jolly K. James facilitated the session where the representatives introduced themselves and their agencies.

Rashmi Nair’s session looked at child rights and the neglect and abuse of children. She explained the types of abuse and its impact on the child. She also emphasised the need for an awareness of the legal systems with regards to child protection. The students of the department enacted a skit on the problems of insensitive parenting and the dangers of neglecting child rights. Jasmine Mathew’s talk followed on the child’s need for a protective environment. She highlighted the adult’s role in ensuring safe surroundings.

Titus Poovakulam handled the session on “Child Protective Policies and Minimum Safety Standards for Child Protection,” focussing on preventive measures of child abuse. He explained the need for empowering the child to respond to problems and harmful situations and oriented the participants towards preparing a child protection policy, providing the necessary guidelines.

The afternoon session happened at two parallel venues. The child participants, under the guidance of Rashmi Nair, discussed their understanding of the previous sessions and expressed their view points on child rights and protection. Adult participants were oriented on JJ Act 2000 by Binoy, Probationary Officer, Department of Social Welfare. He explained the services of juvenile homes and the importance and role of Child Welfare Committees (CWC).

Following these sessions, child participants presented reports of their group discussions before the adult participants with the help of charts they had prepared. Titus Poovakulam was the facilitator for this session where the children were actively involved and raised varied questions.

Pre and post-evaluation forms were distributed to help recognise attitudinal changes. All participants signed the flex placed near the venue, expressing their solidarity with child protection.