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I hope that this safety story brings you joy ― and that these skills will also empower you and your loved ones.
In a dimly-lit room near a garment factory in an impoverished neighborhood in Bangladesh, excited factory workers with their children gathered in November ― eager to learn how to stay safe with people.
New Kidpower Bangladesh Instructors Kalpana Bosu and Shahnaz Munni had dedicated hundreds of hours to learn and translate our program into Bangla and were ready to teach the first Kidpower workshop in their country!
As eager eyes followed their every move, Kalpana and Shahnaz taught their students time-tested empowerment skills ― how to set boundaries, how to yell “STOP!” to protect themselves, and how to run from trouble to safety.
Because of cultural norms, many had never yelled and moved like that before – and their smiles were bright!
Kalpana and Shahnaz say that the most moving moment for them came when parents took their children’s hands, looked into their eyes, and made the Kidpower “Protection Promise” in Bangla:
YOU are VERY important to me. If you have a safety problem, I want to know ―
even if I seem too busy, might get upset, or don’t understand at first ―
even if someone we care about will be upset ―
even if you promised not to tell, feel embarrassed, or made a mistake.
Please tell me, and I will do everything in my power to help you!
Many mothers shared that they wished somebody had said these words to them when they were young, and that they felt that learning how to communicate this clear and essential message to their own children deepened their connection as a family.
Kidpower Safety Champions like Kalpana and Shahnaz and all our Bangladesh team are deeply dedicated to bringing our services to their communities, and your support helps to make that happen!
Thanks to the generous contributions from donors like you, we will continue to provide long-distance coaching, online training, and tailored programs, so that instructors and community educators worldwide can bring the gift of safety to those most in need.
We are thrilled with the surge of generosity we’ve seen in response to an amazing $100,000 Challenge Grant for all new gifts received between December 22nd-31st. With just 3 days to go, we are half-way there! Please give as generously as you can. This exciting challenge will enable Kidpower to help millions more children and people around the world.
Published: December 29, 2020 | Last Updated:
Irene van der Zande, Kidpower Founder and Executive Director
Kidpower Founder and Executive Irene van der Zande is a master at teaching safety through stories and practices and at inspiring others to do the same. Her child protection and personal safety expertise has been featured by USA Today, CNN, Today Moms, the LA Times, and The Wall Street Journal. Publications include: cartoon-illustrated Kidpower Safety Comics and Kidpower Teaching Books curriculum; Bullying: What Adults Need to Know and Do to Keep Kids Safe; the Relationship Safety Skills Handbook for Teens and Adults; Earliest Teachable Moment: Personal Safety for Babies, Toddlers, and Preschoolers; The Kidpower Book for Caring Adults: Personal Safety, Self-Protection, Confidence, and Advocacy for Young People, and the Amazon Best Seller Doing Right by Our Kids: Protecting Child Safety at All Levels.