Indonesia
Fight Sexual Abuse with TANGKIS Move
“AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA..!!” Hundreds of students from Dewi Sartika Elementary School and Kindergarten, Surabaya screamed to the limit, Tuesday morning, May 13, 2014. It was Kartikanita Widyasari, known as Kak Nit Nit, doing. What’s going on, Superkids? Did Kak Nit Nit hurt them? Or, disturb their class? Not even close.
Kak Nit Nit was telling a story about Cici, Coco and Uncle Bara. She welcomed every student to join the scream, the way Coco did when Uncle Bara forced him. The story goes, Coco was playing in the park when uncle Bara came along. He offered Coco delicious candies and some money to follow him. “N… No, Uncle! No! Mom told me to don’t take anything from strangers. I’m not going with you!” Being forced, Coco screamed loudly. Young audiences then practice to imitate Coco’s scream as loud as possible.
Kak Nit Nit and her three cute dolls (ermm.. was Uncle Bara cute or creepy?) came to Dewi Sartika Elementary School and Kindergarten with Jawa Pos For Her (JPFH) team. They were having a roadshow of “TANGKIS Against Child Sexual Abuse”. This is a campaign to prepare Superkids, boys or girls alike to be bold and stand against people who force their will. For example, taking kids to somewhere quiet. Why not? We don’t want anything happens to Superkids and no one is there to help. That’s scary!
Next to Kak Nit Nit’s story for Superkids, it’s Dra Astrid Wiratna’s turn to share something with Supermoms. She strongly impressed the importance of parents to teach children to look after their own body. “Those who can bath them and take of their clothes are the mother, nanny, grandma or the doctor when they are sick. No one else!” she said. Astrid, who was also a lecture in Ciputra University reminded that sexual abusers were mostly those who are close. It could be uncle, cousins, pick-up driver, brother or even biological father. Allowing kids to wander around the house with only undershirt-wear, is a big no. Kids must learn to appreciate their body. “Don’t make excuse with hot temperature,” Astrid went on.
Istianah, a student’s mother, claimed that she was most impressed with Astrid’s presentation. She shared about her youngest son, Rizal Mutaqin, a student of Kindergarten B, who got caught cheek kissing with girl in his class. “It turned out, he took it after me at home. Well, just make him understand, it’s all right if it’s with mom. Not anyone else,” said Istianah, who was also the mother of recited Sinta Fitri Oktavia (grade1), Rosa Putri Ananda (grade 2) and Manzilatul Zulfa (grade 5).
The Headmaster of Dewi Sartika Kindergarten, Dra Rr Taviyah Sri Rejeki MSi shared the excitement. She was quite surprised with the enthusiasm of people in the vicinity toward the event TANGKIS. “All the way to nearby sub districts also came to hear the speech,” she said.
TANGKIS has seven moves to prevent from sexual abuse. T for “The body is your own”, A for “A secret lies underneath your clothes”, N for “No means no”, G for “Good thing to always stay on guard, be alert!”, K for “Keep on guard, fight back when necessary!”, I for “It’s not always necessary to keep secret if you feel bad” and S for “Share to parents, always!”
“TANGKIS Against Child Sexual Abuse” road show was held in five schools. It opened by the Mayor of Surabaya Tri Rismaharini at Hang Tuah 3 Kindergarten, North Surabaya (May 6), on to Mawar Sharon Kindergarten, Central Surabaya (May 7), Islamic Kindergarten Al Fajar, East Surabaya (May 8), Dewi Sartika Elementary School-Kindergarten, South Surabaya (May 13) and Al Hidayah Kindergarten, West Surabaya (May 14).
“The reason we have this event in kindergarden is because victims of sexual abuse and harassment are mostly its students. Parents also need to know how to protect the kids from earlier. No more sexual and violence cases like what happened at Jakarta International School (JIS), and with our kids as the victims,” Ariyanti Kurnia, the Head of JPFH Kompartment, wishes.
HAFIDA INDRAWATI
PHOTOS: DITE SURENDRA
