"When Juhi was growing up..."
A problem-solving book about sexual harassment written for adolescents with intellectual difficulties
in India
Book Review by Barbara Kolucki (bakoluck@aol.com)
Young women with low-literacy skills have very few written resources on the topic of sexual harassment. Likewise, young women who have intellectual difficulties often are not prepared adequately to have the confidence and skill to take the right decision when it comes to being persuaded to do something that can harm them physically and emotionally. "When Juhi grows up..." is a gift to all of these young women and those working with them.
Be careful around strangers
The book uses birds and other animals to present the story. It is about two birds, Juhi and Rahul, who live with their mom and dad in a jungle. As they are growing up, they notice things like "dance parties" in the nearby mango tree. They go to one such party and see their other animal friends. One new animal they meet, however, is a nasty parrot who tries to come close to Juhi. She tells him to leave her alone and hops to another branch. Juhi remembers her mother's lessons about not being too close to or alone with strangers.
Juhi is home again one evening and her uncle fox invites her to his house to see a favourite actor who is filming nearby. She tells this to her friend, Radha, the squirrel who seemed worried that she was going alone. Juhi replies "Why not, Mom says I am growing up!" Her brother was also worried, as was Raju, their friend, the monkey. They told her to shout for them if she needs their help.
Something is not right
As her uncle is taking her through the forest, he stops at a cottage to rest. Juhi starts to feel as if something is not right. She begins to shout for help. All of her friends come to her rescue and she tells them what has happened. They all decide to now see what "Uncle Fox" is up to. Juhi goes inside the cottage with her uncle as the others watch close by. She asks him where the movie star is who they were supposed to see. The uncle starts dancing and says that he can dance even better than the star as he tries to kiss Juhi. Juhi bites his nose and shouts for help. All her friends come and catch "Uncle Fox" and he is scolded by everyone in the jungle. Juhi's parents inform the police who put the fox in jail.
The book ends with Juhi telling everyone the difference between a good friend and a bad friend. "A good friend helps when you are in trouble. A bad friend gets you in trouble"... She now knows who her true friends are.
As Juhi and her brother get older and learn to fly - they continue to learn that not everyone is a friend and can be trusted. They learn though, that a true friend is someone who helps you and would never hurt you.
Suggestions & games to prompt disccussion
After reading the book, there are several "post-reading suggestions" for adolescents and those working with them. There is a "snakes and ladders" type game that leads to the winner, who makes the "right" decisions" - saying "I am really intelligent". And then there are several questions for discussion called "What would you do in these situations?" All of them are based on making the right decision, keeping family informed about what you do and who you are with, etc.
Assisting young women on the threshold of adulthood
"When Juhi was growing up..." was published by Jan Madhyam, an Indian NGO working with children and adults with disability and those who have economic disadvantages. One of their missions is to assist young women who are on threshold of adulthood to have the personal and economic skills to live to their fullest potential. Community education is part of their work, as is using media and materials to educate and entertain.
This book is an excellent model for use with these audiences and as part of a training programme with adolescent girls and boys anywhere.
For further information, contact:
Jan Madhyam
Email: jmadhyam@ndf.vsnl.net.in
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