Our Roots

Personal Safety & Wellbeing Education

Our roots lies in Personal Safety & Wellbeing Education to transform socially constructed powerlessness of individuals to empowerment by supporting them to connect with their own inner and physical power. 

Talash’s articulation of Personal Safety goes beyond ‘physical safety’. We believe that Personal Safety resides in, and emerges from, the inner agency that is intrinsic to every individual. We define Personal Safety as a combination of inner life force, attitudes, traits, skills and real acts of leadership through which individuals can keep themselves and others emotionally and physically safe. Talash understands and defines Personal Safety as inter-sections of gender, sexuality, mental health and human rights, women’s rights & child rights. These issues form the basic framework of our curriculum.

The domain of Personal Safety is thus, relevant for individuals of any age, culture, and ability.

Talash imparts Personal Safety & Wellbeing Education through trainings and games. Training curriculum is named TALEEM, while set of games is called GOLLACHUT.

Conceptual Framework

We have collaborated with cutting-edge theories, practices and methodologies that are globally recognized and employed for personal transformation processes. Thus, Talash’s modules on Personal Safety has been informed by Nonviolent Communication, (frameworks created by Marshall Rosenberg in US during 80’s) Wenlido,  (women’s self-defense techniques developed in Canada in 70’s) Aikido, (form of Japanese martial arts developed by Morihei Ueshiba, which focuses on principles of non-violent techniques/responses) and Mindfulness Practices (developed by Thich Nhat Hanh in the 60s). 

Core Guiding Principles

TALEEM

Training for Transformation

Series of modules has been designed to address various forms of violence across the life cycle. Social conditioning instills sense of powerlessness among individuals. Social construct of victimhood makes individuals feel helpless and choice-less in combating challenges and violence. The training involves techniques that facilitate evolution of the individual from a passive victim into a strong capable individual who can control one’s own life. Offers ‘ways out’ in situations participants feel a sense of powerlessness both at the physical and emotional level. Participants learn the skills to stay present mentally, as opposed to getting paralyzed in fear; to de-escalate aggression verbally, if possible; to stay safe and get out of victimhood and become aware of personal boundaries; along with learning practical self-defense techniques to survive violent, physical attacks.

Talash’s Approach: Fun, Not Fear

Our vision is to work together in creating cultures of caring, respect, & safety for everyone, everywhere. Talash aims to teach girls and women of all ages and abilities how to use their own power to stay safe, act with awareness of choices and believe in themselves. Personal Safety skills of Talash prepare individuals to stay emotionally and physically safe. 

With as much joy and empowerment as possible we:

• Lead age-appropriate role-plays with skill, empathy, and humour
• Create opportunities to “learn by doing” while having fun and lightness
• Teach people how to be both respectful and powerful in asking for what they want
• Focus on positive, practical solutions that people can use to stop or get away from trouble as quickly as possible
• Use positive language that is skill based, not fear-based. To give example, we teach “stranger safety,” not “stranger danger”

Methodology

Talash’s training methodology is based on two principles – participatory and learning by doing. Our focus is on raising the concerns of participants. We use various tools, like role plays, ‘Eleven-step Safer Decision Making’ and ‘Seven-step preparing for Negotiation’ tools developed by Talash, to address issues of concern. Teaching technique of Talash creates an opportunity for participants to discover their own strategies and rehearse safety skills in situations relevant to their lives. Whether it is a child throwing negative comments into an imaginary trash can or practicing physical self-defense skills, Talash offers a wide range of internal, verbal and physical tools to deal with all levels of challenges. The process helps them to observe a ‘way out’ in situations where they may have felt powerless and failed to recognize any choice. 

Talash adapts methodologies to cater to the special needs of persons with different abilities. The methodology is activity-based, with cognitive inputs being provided in bits and pieces, depending on receptive capacity of participants. 

GOLLACHUT

Games for Change

This is a series of games designed for exploring and bringing into surface one’s perceptions, beliefs and understanding; through the process, facilitating shifts in mindsets. The series includes games on gender, masculinities and child protection related laws. 

Social conditioning shapes our perception, thoughts and beliefs. Through Talash’s intervention experience, it was realised that messages often do not penetrate into the mindscapes and bring shifts in perceptions and behaviour automatically. We use our own internal filtering systems to block or receive messages. But, when we come across, discover or learn any new way of looking on our own, the internal belief system is more open to acceptance. Keeping this principle in mind, the games are being designed in a way that enables conversations and dialogue, leading to self-realizations.