Sakshi

Overview
>>A gender-transformative initiative aimed at preventing gender-based violence (GBV).

>>Focuses on educating NSS Volunteers about the POCSO Act, 2012 and the PoSH Act, 2013.

>> Implemented by Sakshi, in collaboration with the Directorate of NSS, Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, Government of India.

Vision:
>>Create a nationwide movement of youth as informed and active citizens against GBV and child sexual abuse.

>>Develop Rakshins (Preventors) equipped with life skills, rights-based language, and a strong commitment to gender equality.

>>Ensure one informed Rakshin (RAIDRR) in each home/workplace who can:

>>Recognize and lead conversations on sexually abusive behavior

>>Address the abuser and call out the behavior

>>Identify allies and support survivors

>>De-escalate situations and create safe spaces

>>Report abuse

>>Resolve residual trauma

Objectives
>>Equip NSS Volunteers to:

>>Use tools and knowledge to prevent child sexual abuse and workplace harassment

>>Build adult allies and teach children about boundaries and autonomy

>>Secure survivors and ensure access to support and redressal

>>Understand long-term impacts of GBV and create safe spaces

>>Lead community conversations on the prevention of sexual violence

Three Pillars
<>Education & Skill Building –

>>Via The Rakshin Fellowship, develop a collective of skilled, empathetic youth capable of recognizing and responding to GBV.

<>Resolution Mechanisms –

>>Offer psycho-social support, legal advice, online counseling, and creative outlets to address trauma and promote healing.

<>Sustained Engagement –

>>Utilize both in-person and digital platforms to foster continuous youth participation in GBV prevention efforts.

Sakshi’s Child Protection Programme aims to establish a network of SASHAKT RAKSHINS—empowered, informed protectors at Anganwadi Centres focused on child safety and well-being.

>>Pilot Initiative with Saint-Gobain India
--Launched in Sriperumbudur, Kanchipuram district, Tamil Nadu.

--Focused on gender-transformative training with an emphasis on child sexual abuse (CSA) prevention.

--Delivered workshops covering core modules, best practices, and collaborative learning.

--Created WhatsApp groups for microlearning and regular knowledge reinforcement.

--Trained over 650 beneficiaries, strengthening Anganwadi workers as frontline defenders of children’s rights.

Women Safety Accelerator Fund (WSAF) is a gender-transformative initiative led by IDH, Unilever, Twinings, Ethical Tea Partnership, and Taylors of Harrogate.

>>Implemented by Sakshi in 98 tea gardens, impacting 33,980 workers
and 99,100 community members

>> It uses an ecology-based model for systemic change through community accountability, awareness, and capacity-building to ensure safe, inclusive, and violence-free environments for women and girls.

>>Engagement spans governance, estates, and community levels.

>>WSAF 2.0 adds SRHR, financial and digital literacy, and empowers local Change Agents. Core interventions include stakeholder engagement, training, PoSH compliance, legal literacy, and SRHR education.

SBOX is a Media & Communication agency for impactful communication and social development.

>>We work towards creative communication solutions that are rooted in research, experience, and analysis for sustainable social & behaviour change.

>>Founded in 2018 by a group of India’s industry leaders, subject matter experts, content creators & filmmakers alongside collaborators across the globe, SBOX employs a range of specialised skills to develop tailor-made content strategies for social impact.

>>Since our inception, we have managed campaigns and created communication assets for Indian and global organizations such as Save the Spirit of the Sea and Girl Effect, including 3 nationwide campaigns for the National Commission for Women.

>>Our work has been recognised and awarded at the national and international levels. The four cornerstones that motivate our purpose are Strategy, Science, Storytelling, and Systems (the SBOX) to achieve sustainable social impact.

In 2022, Sakshi was empanelled as the Implementing Partner for the LEAD (Livelihood & Entrepreneurship Awareness Development) Project by CASE Constructions, a CNH Industrial brand.

The project aims to encourage entrepreneurship among rural youth in India.
--11 states
--67 districts
--60,190+ beneficiaries

Project Objectives & Focus:
>>Conducts awareness campaigns to promote alternative income avenues in agriculture and infrastructure sectors.

>>Supports young entrepreneurs in building safe, inclusive, and enriching workplaces.

Sakshi’s Role & Contributions:
>>Leverages expertise in gender-centric training to promote inclusive, harassment-free workplaces.

>>Educates rural youth on government schemes and compliance frameworks, including PoSH and POCSO.

>>Aims to build a cadre of young entrepreneurs equipped to prevent gender-based violence while fostering sustainable livelihoods.

Spearheaded by the Department of Social Welfare and Women Empowerment and the Department of Handlooms, Handicrafts, Textiles & Khadi, Government of Tamil Nadu.

TiC (Textile Industry Coalition) is a multi-stakeholder initiative focused on achieving zero tolerance for sexual harassment and violence against women and girls (VAWG).

The initiative is convened by UN Women, with support from the European Union and global apparel brands like H&M and Target.

Sakshi is the on-ground implementing partner for the programme.

>>TiC currently covers 13 factories and 28 linked communities.

>>The initiative reaches over 16,000+ factory workers.

>>It impacts more than 2,00,000 community members.

Operations span across six key textile districts in Tamil Nadu: Coimbatore, Tirupur, Erode, Karur, Namakkal, and Dindigul.

Vision & Objectives:
>Zero tolerance for sexual harassment and VAWG (Violence Against Women and Girls)

>Empower women and girls across home, workplace, public, and digital spaces

Sakshi has signed an MoU with the Ministry of Rural Development (MoRD), National Rural Livelihood Mission (NRLM) to implement the KalGyani Project nationwide.

It provides access to 10 million womerural households via Self-Help Groups (SHGs), Cluster-Level Federations (CLFs), and State Rural Livelihood Missions (SRLMs).

Aims to strengthen legal literacy and interrupt the cycle of gender-based violence (GBV).

Through KalGyani, we aim to build legal awareness in over 10 million rural households on the following laws: POSH Act 2013, POCSO Act 2012, PWDV Act 2005, Dowry Prohibiton act 1961, ITPA 1956, Prohibition of Child Marriage Act 2006.
What we are creating:
1320 short films in 22 languages, dramatizing real-life GBV scenarios.

17,160 microlearning videos that decode legal rights into short, relatable, multilingual content.

Customizable learning modules for Gender Point Persons, Master Trainers, and SHG women.

Training pathways aligned with Gender Resource Centre (GRC) handbook