Rotary Club of Pune Metro Back
Project ‘Samvedana’   - A Domestic Violence Awareness Initiative.

Over years, Rotary Club of Pune Metro (RCPM) has developed an ability for identifying newer social challenges and coming up with an innovative solution, based on extensive expert interactions and members’ involvement to create lasting impact.
 
This year, RCPM has identified ‘Domestic Violence’ as an important social issue needing attention. The issue is Global and covers all kinds of abuse, leading to health issues like depression, malnutrition, injuries..  Studies have suggested that gender inequality, socio-cultural norms, poverty, substance abuse, lack of education/awareness are some of the key contributors to this issue. 

After many rounds of deliberations, RCPM and Baya Karve Woman Study Center, jointly designed Project ‘Samvedana’ to address this issue. In the first round, Project Samvedana, would raise awareness among adolescents and youth about domestic violence and encourage a zero-tolerance attitude towards it. To amplify impact, 6 extensive sessions will be organized to empower students with gender sensitivity, equality, empathy, emotional intelligence, power dynamics and recognizing early signs of domestic violence and taking action thru structured guidance. All these sessions will be using interactive activities, case studies, scenario discussions, storytelling/ simulations as well as sharing of anonymous unfair experiences at home (or outside). Sessions will be spaced to help students absorb and apply learnings, along the way. 
As a pilot, RCPM is running this program at 4 schools in Pune, India along with a special session for teachers to recognize early signs of domestic violence within students. Co ed schools are purposely selected to further improve understanding/sensitivities. On July 23rd, we inaugurated the first session at Prerana School in Pune. Project ‘Samvedana’ has immense potential across the world. As a pioneer, RCPM will be sharing project learnings. Solution approach, with local alterations, can then be replicated elsewhere.