Nalgonda

THE FEMALE CHILD ...EXCESS BAGGAGE??!!

Livestock farming in Nalgonda, India

34 families were support to genrate income through livestoack farming

Our project in the remote tribal area of Nalgonda, Andhra Pradesh, India in collaboration with the newly formed then Nalgonda YMCA. The project was designed to deter the sale of approx: 20 (or more) female babies. The basis for this heart-breaking practice is grinding poverty. The project aims at eliminating or minimising the effects of poverty by providing the target households each with a “kick-start” entrepreneurial capital of Rs 15,000 (approx: £230) per family. So far five income generating activities were identified. They are:-

...Livestock Farming

...Provision of and training in the use of agricultural kits

...Training in garment making and provision of sewing machines

...Setting up of a Bakery Unit

...Setting up of a Brick-making unit

The project included a preliminary phase to carry out a survey for the region, importantly in the area of poverty, which is the basic reason for the sale of female babies.  This is an area where information is not always readily forthcoming, due to the secret nature of the trade. The justification for this project is that the original habitat of the project beneficiaries were the huts along the fertile Krishna river. They are tribals. They were re-located to the top of a remote bug hillock, since Government acquired the land for the construction of a huge irrigation dam. The re-located site had neither medical facilities nor drinking water for humans and cattle. Against the above background, and in the face of grinding poverty, the arrival of a female baby in a household is viewed with utmost concern. The “non-use” of a female child as a contributing farmhand, the social stigma attached to centuries old superstition, the existence of the illegal dowry system which invariably involves the giving away of cultivable land...all these conditions make the female child an easily saleable commodity to brokers and childless couples.

The second phase of the programme involved the provision of developmental assistance including finance and technical know-how to at least 20 families to generate household income that will deter the sale of female babies. Phase II of the programme, used the base line data obtained from the survey undertaken during Phase I and crafted the modality of implementing the five employment generating activities.

Shimoga

EMPOWERMENT OF WOMEN THROUGH THEIR CHILDREN

The age-old practice of reaching out to the parents through offspring is successfully applied in our emerging project in Shimoga, Karnataka State, India. This project, is in collaboration with the YMCA-Shimoga, and initiated by its General Secretary – Rev S Dhanaraj.

The project has a Children’s Welfare Programme (Balavikasa Yojane). There are 3 centres that provide milk, food and free education for abandoned street children. The centres also provide free health care and importantly, preventive health care in its Pulse Polio programme.

Children at thier day centre

Some of the mothers who are seeing their once abandoned children now in good care, have come within the influence of the total programme, which includes education in family planning and clinical support. The awareness  development programme also includes the problems connected with child labour.

A Tailoring Unit is also operational. Many women receive training in this unit and are encouraged to earn their livelihood in the production and sale of garments. With this livelihood approach, they also participate in the Savings and Loan programme which really is the  foundation for the formation of Womens Self-Help Groups (SHG’s)

So, here we have the unique example of women progressing into the micro credit economy through the entry point of their once abandoned and unwanted street children.

Tailoring centre for women

.  

       Bombay

ADDING VALUE TO LIFE

Empowerment Programme for Women is the total umbrella activity, under which specialised activities as the rescue and rehabilitation of women in slave sex trade and the education of children are conducted.

Our project (phases I & II) is in partnership with the Bombay YMCA and our intervention consists of two components: -

Component (1): The rescue and rehabilitation of 50 prostitutes (“phasing-out” programme) in the “red light” district of Kamathipura in Central Bombay. Phase I of the project achieved the following results: -

·      30 prostitutes were “phased out” into normal life and all of them are sending their children to the YMCA – Ashram run “balwadis” (Pre-schools)

·    3 former prostitutes are employed as helpers and teachers in the project.

·    2 former prostitutes are undergoing training at the Vocational training Centre (VTC)

·    4 former prostitutes are registered and awaiting to be trained at the Vocational Training Centre.

·    7 women are awaiting to come out of their existing system as soon as the threat to their lives recedes.

Component (2): The rescue and enabling the education of 770, abandoned and unwanted street children 3-6 year old in our network of “Balwadis” (Pre-schools). In these “Balwadis” the children are also being prepared for absorption into mainstream society with children coming from more stable backgrounds. All these “Balwadis” (pre-schools) are equipped with play materials, creative teaching aids etc.; They are also provided with free uniforms and mid-day meals. ASHRAM’s financial intervention has also meant that Teachers are paid more, and this has been a factor in increasing their morale.

year 2000-2003

Afghanistan in 2002 - 2004

Kabul

THE FORGOTTEN VICTIMS OF LANDMINES

We were participating in a project in Kabul with The Sandy Gall Afghanistan Appeal (SGAA). This involved (a) the provision of artificial limbs and orthotic appliances and wheelchairs, walking aids and (b) the provision of physiotherapy services. Originally, Sandy Gall Afghanistan Appeal set up this centre and ran it between 1996 and 1998. After that the building ran into disuse and most of it destroyed during the bombing of Kabul. In an effort to revive this unit, ASHRAM International agrnd also in the provision of physiotherapy services.  During our project cycle of one year eed to provide financial support for some of the staff salaries and part of running costs of the Centre. Considerable repair were undertaken and staff recruited from October’02. The centre is now operational and patients who require physiotherapy services and orthothic devices are being treated. Simultaneously local technicians are being trained to manufacture orthotic devices.

Patients requiring surgery are referred to Orthopaedic surgeons in the Kabul Military Hospital, and will then be followed up for further physiotherapy and provision of orthotic devices at our project centre.

Enabling Self-Help Housing for Victims of landmine in Kabul

Here, again we partnered Sandy Gall  Afghansitan Appeal to support 22 households to repair / upgrade damaged houses and to add a toilet to each house.

            One of the houses of the victimes of landmine being upgraded through                our self help  housing programme