“The world will not be destroyed by those who do evil, but by those who watch them without doing anything.”

In a transformative initiative aimed at empowering the non-teaching staff, St. Joseph’s Senior Secondary School, Chandigarh, hosted an insightful sensitization session on Child Rights, the POCSO Act, and Cyber Safety. The session was led by the very versatile and accomplished Chairperson of the Chandigarh Commission for Protection of Child Rights (CCPCR),Ms. Shipra Bansal accompanied by her gracious and modest associate, Ms. Ankita. This awakening event bore the torch of the critical role that every individual within a school ecosystem plays in safeguarding the well-being and rights of children.

Ms. Bansal delivered an impactful discourse that highlighted the key elements of the POCSO Act, elucidating the responsibilities of adults in identifying and preventing any form of abuse against children. She skillfully conveyed the essence of child rights, urging participants to be vigilant protectors of the vulnerable. Drawing from real-life cases, Ms. Bansal’s anecdotes struck a chord with the audience, forging a deep sense of responsibility and awareness. Ms. Ankita further enriched the session by addressing the increasingly prevalent issues of cyber safety. She discussed the potential hazards of the digital space, particularly for children, and shared practical tips on safeguarding them from online exploitation. The interactive nature of the session encouraged the staff to actively participate, with several audience members sharing personal experiences and challenges they had encountered in their professional and personal roles.

The event drew our guests’ attention like a moth drawn to a flame as the remarkable staff put in the most ingenious efforts to deliver the vision and mission of the session with simplicity and grace. Ms. Lovely and Ms. Manjeet found themselves in the roles of a mother and daughter deliberating over the rightful usage of the POCSO Act. Ms. Rashi inspired the audience with her witty craft of encapsulating the theme of the session in an originally composed poetry. Candid moments of poetic appreciation by Ms. Anita Gareja Ms. Lovely and Ms. Rashi served as the cherry on top, elating not just the audience but also our distinguished guests.

The session ended on a high note, with participants collectively pledging to uphold the values of vigilance, safety, and care, ensuring a protective environment for all students. Promises were made to not only implement the knowledge gained but to also administer a culture of awareness and compassion.

Principal Ms. Monica Chawla expressed profound gratitude to Ms. Shipra Bansal and Ms. Ankita for their invaluable contributions. “We are fortunate to have such eminent personalities addressing the invaluable members of our Josephian family, it would only be an honour to collaborate time and again with the noble cause of CCPCR,” she remarked, acknowledging the school’s deep commitment to not only academic excellence but also its social responsibility of treating each child as a humane individual. Members of the Management echoed these sentiments, pledging their continued support for such vital initiatives aimed at creating a safer, more informed community.