Child Protection & Safeguarding Program
REAL’s Child Protection & Safeguarding Program ensures that every child grows in a safe, nurturing, and abuse-free environment.
In vulnerable rural communities, children often face risks such as child labour, early marriage, school dropout, neglect, violence, and lack of awareness about their rights.
REAL works with families, schools, child protection systems, and community groups to prevent harm, respond to risks, and strengthen protective environments where children can develop with dignity and confidence.
Program Objectives
To protect children from all forms of abuse, exploitation, and neglect, while ensuring strong community systems, awareness, and supportive structures for child safety and rights.
Our Approach
REAL follows a rights-based, prevention-focused, and community-integrated approach:
✓ Building awareness on child rights and protection
✓ Identifying children at risk and providing timely interventions
✓ Strengthening child protection committees and local governance systems
✓ Supporting survivors of abuse with counseling, referrals, and rehabilitation
✓ Promoting safe school and home environments
✓ Engaging parents, teachers, and youth as child safety champions
✓ Facilitating linkages with Childline, police, and social welfare departments
Key Actions
✓ Conducting awareness programs on child rights, child marriage, and child labour
✓ Forming and strengthening Village Child Protection Committees (VCPCs)
✓ Providing case management, follow-up, and referral support
✓ Conducting school-based safety sessions and life skills programs
✓ Offering counseling and psychosocial support for vulnerable children
✓ Supporting families to keep children in school and prevent early marriage
✓ Running community campaigns against trafficking, abuse, and exploitation
✓ Training teachers, youth volunteers, and frontline workers on safeguarding
Target Groups
✓ Children at risk of abuse, neglect, exploitation, or dropout
✓ Adolescent girls and boys
✓ Parents, caregivers, and guardians
✓ Teachers, schools, and child protection committees
✓ Community leaders and frontline workers
Direct Impact
✓ Reduced cases of child labour, child marriage, and abuse
✓ Increased awareness and reporting of protection risks
✓ Strengthened community systems to monitor child safety
✓ Improved psychosocial well-being of vulnerable children
✓ Safer homes, schools, and community environments
Indirect Impact
✓ Long-term reduction in violence and exploitation
✓ More supportive family and community attitudes towards child rights
✓ Greater participation of children in school and community activities
✓ Stronger collaboration with government child protection structures
✓ A culture of safety, dignity, and respect for all children
Story of Change: “Stopping An Early Marriage”
Lakshmi, a 15-year-old girl, was about to be married due to her family’s financial struggles.
A trained Village Child Protection Committee member quickly informed REAL’s team, who counseled the parents, explained the legal implications, and connected the family to government support schemes.
Lakshmi returned to school, joined REAL’s adolescent girls’ club, and now advocates for child rights in her village.
Through community vigilance and timely intervention, a child’s future was protected—and a harmful practice was prevented.