Rebuild your world.
Speak your truth and step forward into the light for help.
In this week’s Brave New Girls podcast, Pooja Taparia discusses with me how empowering it is for people with lived experiences, to learn to say no, seek help and trust in the healing process. She is the founder of Arpan, one of the largest NGO’s in the world preventing child sexual abuse, and for the children who have already been abused, supporting them on the path of healing.
"For children, I would say courage, I think would be not worrying about how parents will react, going ahead and sharing what happened and seeking help. I would say that would be courage. Children who are thinking no, and someday they will build the courage to say it, That would be amazing. People with lived experiences, survivors taking the journey of healing, going for therapy, building resilience and working on that and continuing in therapy.
…But we can all play our part and I feel courage would be acting on it. Let's go and do something about it. Empowerment is a journey. Becoming assertive is a journey. I think we need to make the intent to take that journey."
Courage manifests uniquely in the lives of children and survivors of abuse, embodying the strength it takes to share their stories and seek help despite the uncertainty of outcomes. This courage is not just a moment of action but a sustained effort, a journey of healing that involves therapy, building resilience, and perseverance.
For children, especially, courage means overcoming the fear of how their revelations of abuse will be received by their parents and others in their lives. It's about speaking their truth and stepping forward into the light for help. For survivors, it's about engaging in the arduous process of healing, facing the pain head-on, and not relenting in their quest for a life defined by thriving, not just surviving.
Courage, as Pooja Taparia articulates, is also about grit and determination. It's about not giving up, continuously striving towards one's goals, and persisting through challenges. It's about the collective effort of listening and acting, of being part of a community that uplifts and supports each other. Empowerment and assertiveness are not just states of being but journeys to embark upon with intention.
Drawing on Pooja Taparia's insights, here are ten actionable steps toward cultivating this kind of courage:
Speak Your Truth: Encourage open communication with children, allowing them to express their feelings and experiences without fear.
Seek Support: Remind children and survivors that reaching out for help is a sign of strength, not weakness.
Educate on Consent: Teach children about consent and their right to say no, building their confidence to resist unwanted situations.
Foster Safe Spaces: Create environments where children feel safe to share, whether it's at home, school, or within the community.
Embrace Therapy: Promote mental health support and therapy as healthy, normal, and effective ways to process experiences.
Build Resilience: Encourage practices that strengthen mental and emotional resilience, such as mindfulness, meditation, and self-care activities.
Be a Role Model: Show children what courage looks like through your actions. Be the adult you needed when you were younger.
Encourage Community Action: Get involved in community efforts to prevent abuse and support survivors.
Advocate for Change: Support policies and legislation that protect children and provide resources for survivors.
Commit to Learning: Continually educate yourself on the issues of abuse and the best practices for prevention and support.
The courage Pooja speaks of isn't a fleeting emotion but a transformative force that compels us to act, to heal, and to empower both ourselves and others. It's a courageous journey that we are all invited to join, to ensure that the voices of children and survivors are heard, honoured, and uplifted.
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