Sambhali Trust consists presently of 12 projects, focused on empowering women and girls in Rajasthan and is helping over 450 women and girls at any one time, giving them the opportunity to develop a better life through providing them with access to education, vocational skills and workshops to increase their income-potential as well as developing a skill-set which helps them to express themselves and their opinions in a patriarchal society.
Dalit women are amongst the lowest caste of women. Unfortunately, even today, there is still a lot of caste prejudice in India. Particularly relevant in the villages of Rajasthan where the traditional culture is accepted, the problem is trying to shake off the shackles of a deep-rooted oppression where a girl child is still seen as a burden. It is important to help gradually change the views of society to accept women and girls as valuable in their own right and to realise gender equality.
The Sambhali Sheerni Educational Project comprises of 15 girls from the village area of Setrawa who now live in a family-run boarding home in Jodhpur and attend a good school. By providing them with the opportunity to receive a good education they will have the building blocks to have a good future. The Self-Help Group Project is helping 96 women who by regularly saving money have access to loans to purchase a goat, cow, start a small shop or purchase equipment such as a flour-grinding machine.
We hope that the 15 children will receive continued funding for at least 5 years so that they can benefit from education in a good school in Jodhpur. The results in the first year (66%-82%) have already proved that the girls are learning in a conducive atmosphere. We need help with providing items such as new sets of clothing for growing girls as well as regular medicines and toiletries. The Self Help Group Project needs help to purchase cows and goats to start dairy businesses for the women.
