The Aadarsh Program: Education, Protection, and the Power of “No”

By Hayley Corey, Sambhali U.S.

In 2013, Sambhali Trust began to teach the children of Jodhpur to say “no”. The boys were quicker to shout NO at the top of their lungs. But Sambhali teacher Vimlesh Solanki skillfully encouraged the girls, and their NO became just as loud and just as confident. The look of release and pride on their faces quickly followed. 

Learning to say no is just one part of Sambhali’s No Bad Touch workshop, given by Sambhali Trust staff who teach young children what sexual abuse is and how to take action in response to the abuse. No Bad Touch is the first educational program to address the issue of sexual abuse openly in Jodhpur. In addition to educating children at public and private schools across Jodhpur, workshops are given at Sambhali Trust Primary Education Centers for children and its Empowerment Centers where many of the participants are mothers. Sambhali staff hold regular conferences for local government agencies and community leaders to encourage them to take action to prevent child sexual abuse.

In 2019, Sambhali introduced the Save Youth/Save Nation workshop. This workshop designed for teenagers includes important information about the physical, mental, and emotional changes happening during puberty, sexual abuse and harassment, internet safety, and avoiding crime. Like No Bad Touch, it reaches into Sambhali programs, Jodhpur schools, and the wider community. 

During the winter of 2019, while volunteering at Sambhali Trust, Shereen Arent, President of Sambhali U.S., helped write the curriculum for Save Youth/Save Nation along with Sambhali staff Vimlesh Solanki and Monica Jod, and Dr. Reena Bhansali, a psychologist who serves on Sambhali’s National Advisory Board.  

Having seen the program in action over the years, Shereen shares, “Each time I see one of these workshops I’m aware of how hard it is to talk about these important topics that are otherwise not discussed. And each time, I’m in awe of the skill of Sambhali staff in gaining the young children’s trust, in overcoming the teenagers’ shyness, and in creating an atmosphere of respect and learning.”   

Together these two workshops are combined under the name Aadarsh which means “ideal” in Hindi. No Bad Touch and Save Youth/Save Nation are given to girls and boys because all children and youth are vulnerable to abuse. In the last six months alone, the workshops have reached over 2100 children and nearly 100 adults. The teachings from these workshops further gender equality and help support behavioral changes for future generations.