As experts working in the field of prevention of sexual harassment, our jobs often take us to diverse landscapes across India. Our experiences have illuminated the primary importance of language in fostering genuine understanding and engagement. From corporate boardrooms to remote farms, our mission at Serein is clear: to empower individuals through tailored training programs that transcend linguistic barriers.
We’ve witnessed firsthand the transformative impact of delivering training sessions in participants’ native tongues. It’s more than just communication. It’s about breaking down barriers to knowledge and creating wider access to essential tools for redressal.
Our commitment to belonging has led us to prioritise language inclusion in all of our service offerings. Research from the University of California, Berkeley, reaffirms what we’ve long believed: individuals are 1.5 times more likely to retain information when it’s presented in their native language. Deriving from studies such as these, we design every training session by keeping in mind considerations of linguistic accessibility.
Yet, our journey isn’t just about language; it’s about empowerment. Statistics paint a grim picture of the realities that individuals in rural areas are forced to confront every day. According to the International Labour Organization, nearly 70% of sexual harassment cases go unreported in rural neighbourhoods due to a lack of awareness about legal rights and procedures. This problem isn’t confined to rural settings alone; individuals in urban environments often refrain from reporting incidents of harassment due to a limited understanding of the law.
Our mission to bridge this gap led us to pioneer language-centric training initiatives. By delivering sessions in local languages, we have witnessed the deep impact of empowerment firsthand. Participants no longer feel alienated by legal jargon; instead, they feel empowered and equipped to navigate workplace challenges with confidence.
The impact of language-centric training extends far beyond mere comprehension by ensuring cultural resonance and building individual agency. By training employees in the language that they commonly speak we not only help organizations with legal compliance but also assist them in cultivating a culture of inclusion. This allows them to disseminate crucial information alongside initiating change and addressing core cultural issues.
Our journey is a testament to the significance of language in training and empowerment initiatives. By entrenching linguistic accessibility in our campaign against sexual harassment, we have tried to uphold workplace safety and respect as the right of every worker across India. As we continue to champion the language of inclusion, our goals remain clear: to drive meaningful change and enable communities to thrive.