Enfold working with Karnataka State Govt to create Child Protection Units

Enfold's DrShaibya Saldanha, after undergoing training in Philippines under the agies of UNICEF and IPSCAN, is working with CWC and Govt of Karnataka to set up Child Protection Units in 5 hospitals in Bangalore. It involves linking and training counsellors, medical practitioners, social workers, police and judiciary for the benefit of the sexually abused child. It will ensure that the child is not repeatedly harassed to give multiple statements to different agencies. A single center will ensure that the child is gives evidence/ statement and is examined just once. Counsellors will ensure support to the child and the family.

Training of personnel has already begun at Ramianh hospital, Bangalore. Once functional and working well, CCPU s wil be set up in other cities/ states too.

Hurrah for child safety!

Experience of Mentors in Peer Education Program

Well the pep program finally launched and it was a really good introduction abt enfold and a totally fun and interactive class.

We had 67 attendees and had about 85 registered initially so i think that is a gr8 beginning. we now are a group of 7 working on this program.

Mentors created this warm, open, safe and witty space for the kids n although they didn't ask questions they readily and volubly answered and seemed really clued in. They enjoyed the role plays, related to them and i didn't freeze on stage ( yes i had to climb a stage to do the role plays the hall was as big as football field!! )

They say a job well begun is half done , keeping that thought this program will be a real super duper success. We all left feeling energised and glad to be part of a movement that will only bring good things .

I'm really glad to be a part of enfold, thank you once again for inviting me.

Enfold Starts Peer Education Program in a College in Bangalore!

Peer Education Program

Adolescence is a period of transition – physically, emotionally and socially. As adolescents develop, peer groups help young people gain a sense of their own identity and become their primary social outlet. This, in turn, leads to the development and practice of social skills that will stay with them throughout their lives. Peer education takes advantage of the positive aspects of peer groups by helping young people learn from each other – something they do naturally anyway.

Peer education helps identifying one member of the peer group who receives special training in order to better facilitate a desired change within the group and adapted it in several key ways:

The young people form groups, elect their leaders, draft a working plan, establish rules, identify a range of activities they will undertake and select for themselves the young people that will be trained as peer educators (who receive training on both facilitation skills and sexual and reproductive health).

In this way the peer education process is facilitated and supported, but not directed as with most traditional youth programmes. Young people are not simply involved, but take the lead in all stages of design, implementation and monitoring.

Why Peer Education

Peer educators are not professionals, but they are trained to assist young people who need health information. Peer educators receive special training in decision-making, in imparting information and in making client referrals. In recognition of the work they do in motivating young people to obtain the information and services they need, peer educators/counselors are sometimes called "peer promoters."

Peer promoters usually work with participants in one-to-one or small group settings. But they often have other responsibilities. They make presentations in front of large groups, represent the organizations they work for on boards and councils, and consult with program managers. Peer projects are often part of larger programs that have added a youth-to-youth outreach component.

Q: What are the advantages and benefits of peer programs?

• Peer programs build on evidence that young people already get a great deal of information from their peers.
• Young people relate well to people similar to them in age, background, and interests.
• Peer programs allow for the direct involvement of young people in their own programs.
• Peer programs can be implemented economically.
• Peer programs often reach not only the peer group but also the peer promoters' relatives and neighbours.
• Peer promoters often gain long-term benefits from their experiences. These include an ongoing commitment to responsible reproductive health behaviour, leadership potential, useful employment experience, and personal development.

Enfold will train the peer educators and have monitoring sessions with them. Enfold will provide support to the peer educators for any obstacles they may encounter during the process

Why Enfold?

Enfold Proactive Health Trust, a registered trust in Bangalore since 2002, is the only organization in India that is working with school children, including primary school children, on issues of personal safety since 2002. So far we have interacted with over 25,000 students and adults, discussing issues of life skills, personal safety (including child abuse), sexuality and HIV prevention. A documentary film on Child sexual abuse in India features Enfold's work.

THE REQUIREMENT OF A NEW LEGISLATION TO ADDRESS SEXUAL OFFENCES AGAINST CHILDREN.

India According to Many Studies Has Rising cases of Child sexual Abuse. Yet we seem to have been lacking in Legislation in this area. However In a meeting held in Jan by the National Commission for the Protection of Child Rights to discuss the Prevention of Offenses against Children Bill- 2009, It was felt that sexual offenses against children should be addresses separately. (Certain draft bills maybe found online for reading)

Therefore many consultative processes have begun in order to look and existing laws and recommend changes and draft new legislation where required.Enfold Proactive Health trust was part of one such Consultation. The Whole two day process was one of great learning.

It really is an important step forward as we sorely need legislation to protect our children. And I feel happy that enfold Was part of the process.

"Daddy are you Gay?"

Working with school children in the National Capital Region has been an eyeopener! I have been conducting sessions on sexuality and personal safety in Bangalore since 2001 - and every year I felt that the younger and younger children were asking questions related to sexual practices. But I had not realised how rapidly children as young as 2nd and 3rd std students are being forced to 'grow up". Innocent childhood experiences are being contorted. A 3rd std boy on being hugged by his Dad asked- "Dad are you Gay?" His father, hoping to difuse the situation, replied " I am hugging you, I am happy, I am gay". The son admonished his father "Not that type of gay, but Gay!" The father was too shocked and embarrassed to answer.

3rd std students can read newspapers - and so are aware of all the words used there. Parents need to educate themselves and practice answering questions related to sexual practices authentically and in a matter- of -fact tone. Avoiding the question, punishing the child, or simply shutting them up will not solve the problem. The kid will turn to the internet or an older child for answers! Worse still, the child will stop asking questions and clarifying doubts with his/ her parents. It is better if the information comes from parents who can put things in perspective and state their values at the same time.

Enfold Trust conducts Demystifying Sexuality courses for lay people, parents, teachers and counsellors.

Enfold in Delhi and Gurgaon

Hey we are now in Dehi and Gurgaon!
Enfold is conducting training sessions for facilitators who may be interested in working with school and college students on issues of personal safety and sexuality. We lay emphasis on prevention of child sexual abuse and we empower adolescents and youth to be assertive and responsibe.
The course, demystifying sexuality is also useful for lay people to understand their selves and help their children/ teenagers be safe and responsibe.

Please visit our website for more details about Enfold's work and to contact us.

My Recent Session on Parenting Adolescents

It's been a long time since i have shared ....

I would like share my experience about how the session went...

Firstly, i was pleasantly surprised to see the no.of parents (120) who had come for the session.
Good to see you all Parents!!!

I entered the session hall thinking that a very few parents would come and i can actually finish the session sooner...
Myself and my Colleague were jointly conducting the session and that too in the regional language...

We started off with what are the different issues parents of adolescents face these days and all the parents really did contribute to our session.
they were really amazing...

We jotted all the points they have given us and went on to discuss both sides of the coin viz., the parents perspective as well as the adolescents.

W did some role plays to show what the young adult might be thinking... and what are the concerns of the parents...
most of the parents agreed with " oh! This is exactly how my daughter behaves".

So we had to take them through changes during puberty, why young adults behave the way they behave ...
and how to build communication channels and keeping them open always so that when ever the child wants he/she can approach the parent with out any difficulty or fear...


Parents also did participate in the role plays..

The discussion went on to how can one improve the child's self esteem and building trust in the child.

We had concentrated a lot on the feelings of the child validating the child's as well as parents....

We had to wind up our discussion due to shortage of time, but believe me the session went on very well.

Towards the end when tea and snacks were being served many parents spoke to me and were very keen on having this kind of Brain storming so that they also get a fresh view of seeing the issue and also the ways they can cope with and make parenting a very pleasurable experience...


I really hope schools and colleges take the initiative in arranging for these kind of sessions so that everyone present benefits from all the brainstorming...

That's it from me for now...

Will post something very soon...