Arpan

[Trigger warning: This profile contains material about sexual abuse.]

Child sexual abuse (CSA) impacts children of all ages, socio-economic classes, and genders. It is a global issue of pandemic proportions, with severe psychological, physical, and emotional consequences for victims. One in two children face sexual abuse in India. Yet, there is tremendous taboo and silence; caregivers lack the knowledge and skills to identify or intervene, children are unequipped to recognize abuse or seek help.

Arpan, an established nonprofit in India, works toward a world free of child sexual abuse by delivering training and educational programs focused on prevention, awareness building and understanding to create safer environments for children. Arpan has several distinct programs that can be broken into three areas:

Focused on Prevention:
Arpan’s Personal Safety Education (PSE) Programme for children delivers age-appropriate education programs mostly in schools (with some application in communities) with boys and girls from Grade 1 through Grade 10. Arpan also provides training for teachers, parents, mental health providers, and NGOs, as well as prevention training that teaches parents and caregivers how to keep their kids safe online.

Focused on Healing:
Arpan provides long-term mental health services to children and adult survivors. They currently work with counselors and therapists to deliver child and family therapy to victims of CSA.

Focus on Public and Policy Advocacy:
Arpan is recognized as the leader in the prevention of CSA in India. They are creating mass awareness and advocating for systemic-level change through conferences, talks, and advocacy for schools and NGOs, at both national and international levels.