“Change begins when we acknowledge the problem and take proactive steps to address it.” ~ Pooja Taparia
She was just 17, carrying the unbearable weight of abuse, guilt, and silence until a therapy session changed everything. Like her, thousands of children in India endure the invisible wounds of child sexual abuse, many never finding the courage or the space to speak. But for those who do, Arpan becomes a light in their darkest hour.
Founded in 2007 by Pooja Taparia, Arpan has been on a quiet yet powerful mission to prevent child sexual abuse and offer survivors a path to healing. What began as an awareness initiative has grown into a nationwide movement, reaching over 1.5 lakh children and 1.15 lakh adults with its Personal Safety Education (PSE) programme. It teaches children that their voice matters, that they can say “no,” seek help, and trust again.
Classrooms are not the only places where one receives healing. At Arpan, trauma-informed therapy is done through TF-CBT, EMDR, art, and play therapy, which allows survivors to gently confront their pain, rebuild their sense of self, and begin to hope once more. One girl mired in shame and silence was able to face her trauma and disclose her abuse with her mother, this singular act of bravery transformed their lives forever.
Children like Anuj, who were once aloof and anxious, now smile, engage, and set their imagination free. Shilpa, plagued by memories of her adolescence since she was 15, found in Arpan a patient listener and steady hand that helped her come to terms with her past.
These miraculous changes come to fruition thanks to an unwavering team that refuses to surrender despite societal stigma, funding cuts, and public alienation. They pay for everything guaranteeing children constant access to therapeutic services and ensuring no children’s healing ever finances soft boundaries.
Arpan is more than an organisation. It’s a promise: that even the most profound wounds can be healed when there is tenderness in the world, that no survivor truly stands alone, and that every child is entitled to not just safety, but the opportunity to live, love, and laugh.
But this journey is far from over. The fight against child sexual abuse begins with awareness and continues with each one of us. Speak up. Educate children about safe and unsafe touch, about boundaries, and the importance of telling a trusted adult when something feels wrong. Let’s create a world where no child ever has to suffer in silence again.
