Fareen is smiling again and in good spirits – the life of a child survivor of rape

Fareen* was just five years old when her favourite tailor Uncle raped her.

It was a chilly evening in Delhi. In the common area of the closed building, her mother was cutting vegetables and Fareen was sitting beside her, playing with the green peas. That was when her Uncle (neighbour – who she called tailor Uncle) came to play with her. After talking for a few minutes, she asked Fareen to come to his room to taste sweet oranges.

 

It wasn’t the first time she went to his room and played with him. Since the Uncle has been living in the same building and has grown fond of Fareen, her mother smiled. Fareen happily went with him.

 

A few minutes later, Fareen came running to her mother. Her whole body was shaking. She could barely say anything but felt that something bad had happened to her. She felt threatened. She was crying with sharpening pain. Hearing Fareen’s words filled with fear, her mother was equally furious and shocked. She felt the weight of what had happened to Fareen.

 

Most often, sexual abuse or rape occurs at the hands of someone a child knows and trusts; an adult or older child who is a family member, another relative or a family friend. The experience of child sexual abuse can change the way a child understands their world, the people in it and where they belong. Their understanding of themselves and the world around them can become distorted, and create feelings of mistrust, fear, and betrayal. It is vital how the adults around the child respond to the abuse.

 

Fareen’s parents acted fast. They filed a police complaint and the Child Welfare Committee (CWC), the institution which aims to shield children from any threats and ensure protection was brought on board. And, the CWC approached VIHAAN to help Fareen with counselling and legal support.

 

The first conversation with Fareen was difficult. She couldn’t trust the social worker. She was tightly holding her mother. We began, “Whatever happened, it was not your fault. You are not to blame for anything that happened to you.”

 

VIHAAN’s Care and Support team visited Fareen’s house frequently and created a confidential, non-judgemental space for her to open up. The process of self-disclosure began, which is an essential part of healing. She began to talk and the counsellor helped her to make sense of the experiences and emotions through paintings, play and conversations.

 

Her legal case is being fought in court by our Legal intervention team, whose primary objective is to provide legal assistance to survivors of child sexual abuse protect their rights and uphold justice.

 

With constant encouragement from VIHAAN’s team along with her parents, Fareen recorded her evidence at the court against the abuser; she spoke about all the horrible things that had happened to her.  

 

Fareen recently celebrated her 7th birthday and attends class 2 now.

 

At the Seasons of Change – Euphoria 2025 event in Delhi, Fareen’s laughter, spirit and enthusiasm touched everyone and was a true testament to her resilience. Her mother stood strong beside her and supported her, and learnt about positive parenting and government support schemes that could help shape a better future for Fareen. With unwavering strength, she shared their journey at the event - a story of endurance and hope, offering her voice to inspire others and remind them that brighter days are always possible.

 

The journey is not yet over. Our lawyers are relentlessly fighting in court for Fareen to get justice while our counsellors continue to make home visits to check on her.

 

*Name has been changed to protect survivor's identity.