History:
The work with Children Sangam threw up the challenge of addressing adolescent issues which emerged at the meetings and interaction with children. Adolescents are crossing a sensitive period in which they are not children anymore but not yet adults. This stage, because of its fragile nature, calls for specialised strategic interventions. A lack of information on their own development and a nearly non-existent dialog with adults put adolescents in a tricky situation. They often feel alone to face their difficulties. They don’t know much about themselves, their own body and their own development. This makes the adolescents vulnerable to family violence, sexual abuse and suicide attempts. There is a need to organise adolescents as a special group and enable a smooth transition form childhood to adulthood.
In response to the above situation, Arunodhaya launched the new project “Adolescent Awareness, Counselling and Empowerment project” (AACEP).
The project started in 2007.