The Rakshin Project
Who Is A Rakshin?
A Rakshin is a preventer of harm, who works to put a stop to child sexual abuse.
1 in 2
Children in India are survivors of CSA
2-8%
The Global impact of
CSA on GDP
95%
of CSA offenders are known to the victims
>50
Number of Children
raped in India every day
“If women and children cannot be safe in their own house, then they cannot be expected to feel safe anywhere.”
― Aysha Taryam
The Rakshin Project by Sakshi aims to prevent sexual violence and create safe spaces within homes and communities. Sakshi’s vision of creating safe spaces for changemakers, i.e., Rakshins, to empower families, communities, and workplaces to identify and prevent gender-based violence aligns closely with our efforts to create safe, inclusive environments.
With access to 4 Million Youth (18 to 22 yrs) in 40,000 Colleges Pan-India through the Directorate of NSS, Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports, Government of India, The Rakshin Project by Sakshi is working towards a social tipping point to build an accountable ecosystem that encourages responsibility and communication to prevent child sexual abuse and workplace sexual harassment. The ultimate goal is to enable AlliesForSafeSpace.
The purpose of The Rakshin Project is to have One Informed, Skill Built Rakshin (Preventer of Harm) RAIDRR In each HOME who will -
● Recognize and lead conversations around sexually abusive behavior.
● Address the Abuser and call out the prohibited behavior.
● Identify allies and secure the child in instances of abuse.
● De-escalate the situation and create safe spaces.
● Report the sexual abuse.
● Resolve residual trauma.
The Rakshin Project Model
The Rakshin Project, located within the family unit of the youth, aims to contribute towards ending child sexual abuse within the families and communities by engaging youth as ‘Rakshins,’ empowering them by building their capacities to address systemic and everyday forms of microaggressions rooted in misogyny, sexism, patriarchal mindsets, and unconscious bias, both within families and the community and replace them with acts of everyday equality. TRP equips the youth with the two legislative provisions - POSH 2013 and POCSOA 2012.
At its core, the Rakshin Project integrates a rights-based, gender-transformative approach by skill-building students with 21st-century skills, as outlined in the NEP 2020. The ecology-based model of prevention of child sexual abuse, adopted by The Rakshin Project, shifts the burden from the children to the adult community to secure the child from any form of sexual abuse and ensure that children have safe, stable, nurturing relationships and environment.
30+
States & UT
250+
Districts
1260+
Colleges
88200+
Students
The Rakshin Project aims to have one informed Rakshin (preventor) in each home to make home a safe space, free from child sexual abuse and gender-based violence.
Three Pillars of The Rakshin Project
Fellowship Programme
5 Levels, 18 Modules and 12 Certificate Fellowship Programme for Sustainable Capacity Building
Resolution Mechanisms
Free of Cost tools for Survivors to resolve Unaddressed Trauma through Creative Expressions, Mental Health Couselling and Legal Advice
Sustained Engagement
Support Structure and Community Building for Difficult Conversations through Campaigns and Events
Become a Rakshin
Covid-19 has brought on a surge in demand for violent child pornography by 200%, and sexual violence has spiked by 7.3%. We have seen an emergence of an unprecedented rise in domestic violence and child sexual abuse. While everyone says, “Stay Home, Stay Safe”, TRP’s working principle is important to ensure that home is a Safe Space.