By Asia Akter, from Singair, Manikganj
Every part of the human body is important. Our bodies deserve care, respect, and protection especially during childhood. A healthy, strong, and safe body is something everyone wants, yet not everyone gets the chance to grow up safely. However, children both boys and girls can become victims of violence and abuse if they are not informed and protected.
Since 2018, BARCIK has been working across 16 villages in Baira Union and Singair municipality. During this journey, women’s groups, youth forums, and adolescent girls’ clubs were formed. Every year, these groups jointly plan their activities through participatory discussions. As a result, they have taken initiatives to prevent child marriage, violence against women, sexual harassment, and violence against women in public transport.
While these awareness activities were ongoing, a growing number of incidents related to child rape surfaced on social media. In response, adolescent clubs began holding awareness sessions on “Good Touch and Bad Touch’ recently with support from BARCIK.
During these discussions, children were shown and explained: What a good touch is such as a handshake or a gentle pat on the head and a bad touch is any touch to sensitive areas that makes a child feel uncomfortable or unsafe.
Children were also taught that five certain body parts should never be touched by anyone except their mother or caregiver for necessary care.
Many children grow up surrounded by relatives such as grandparents, uncles, cousins, and family friends. While many of these relationships are caring, some individuals misuse trust. Too often, parents ignore or laugh off uncomfortable interactions, thinking they are harmless. But these small moments can later lead to serious trauma.
Teaching children from a young age to understand and communicate boundaries is a powerful step toward protection. When children know the difference between good touch and bad touch, they are better equipped to speak up, protect themselves, and seek help.
During the discussion members of the adolescent groups expressed that this was something they had never discussed before, but now they realized how important it was. They took the lessons home and began teaching younger siblings and children in their neighborhoods. Slowly, the knowledge began spreading throughout the community.
In 2024, discussions began about extending this awareness effort to eight primary schools in Baira and Singair. Although many teachers welcomed the idea, some initially worried that children would become “too bold” or “too aware.” However, BARCIK’s longstanding reputation built through activities such as essay contests, art competitions, recitations, climate awareness sessions, and tree planting in schools helped to open the doors for the program.
Once sessions began, the response from teachers was overwhelmingly positive. Not only did they attend attentively, but many later said the sessions were essential and long overdue.
Khorsheda Begum, Head Teacher of Jamalpur Government Primary School said, “This is an excellent initiative. We never considered the importance of teaching children this way”.
Teacher Sultana from Baira Primary School and Survona Dutta from Noyabari Government Primary School said, “BARCIK’s work is meaningful, and if such activities continue, society will become more aware and violence will decline”.
Teachers later thanked BARCIK and recommended that the program be included regularly in classrooms from preschool to grade five.
The growing awareness in these communities represents hope and this arises hope among children that they will grow up informed, confident, and protected. Talking about good touch and bad touch may feel uncomfortable, but silence puts children at risk. Knowledge protects and every child deserves that protection.
