Empower 100 Girls in Asia's Largest Red Light Area

A bright student Arohi* was passionate about learning English and with AAWC’s help, she got enrolled in an English learning course, King’s Learning. Within a month, she has developed a keen interest in the language and also made a short presentation on career opportunities in front of her class. Yet scared of using big words, she attempts to use them in her daily conversation. However, she says chirpily, that the course has helped immensely in increasing her confidence.

With your kind donation and support, Arohi* now learns a new language. She loves to read horror and mystery novels and is always found with a book in hand during her spare time.

AAWC had a bright first quarter to the New Year!

Organizational updates

• Accolades: Apne Aap Women’s Collective (AAWC) was shortlisted as the top 5 finalists at the Dasra Girl Power Award. The award recognizes innovative and impactful programs that work with adolescent girls and our Udaan program was shortlisted under it!
• AAWC is has received a Gold status as a certified NGO under GuideStar!

• Mumbai Marathon: AAWC was privileged to be represented by Aria Parikh, Amruda Nair, Shalab Misra and Avanish Kumar at the 2015 Standard Chartered Mumbai Marathon in January.

• Festival celebrations: This season AAWC celebrated Makarsankrati where the children flew kites. On Republic Day, the girls made presentations on the famous freedom fighters of India and during Holi the beneficiaries celebrated with colors, dance, food and merriment!

• Capacity Building: Our Outreach Workers attended the MAF Meeting regarding the stock out for HIV medicines in the hospitals. They also attended a session with MDACS (Mumbai Districts Aid Control Society) and learned about the counseling hours with doctors, behavior of the departments towards a positive person and the problems faced by NGO’s in government hospitals.
• AAWC hosted students from Entrepreneurship Development Institute of India where a presentation on sustainable livelihood based on our Umeed vocational training program was conducted.

• Monthly Check-ups: Monthly medical check-up and dental camp was conducted for the beneficiaries.

Udaan updates

• Career guidance: Computer classes organized by Vedanta Foundation have been a success and the girls are enjoying practicing MS-Office on computer.

• Mentoring: The mentors from Project Lighthouse have been conducting one on one guidance and activity with the girls every Saturday.

• Edutainment Workshops: Guitar classes in association with Mewsic Foundation are conducted thrice a week for the Udaan girls and they are enjoying the sessions and showing keen interest in it.
• The bead jewellery making sessions with the girls have taught them to make beautiful earrings and necklaces using magazine paper. It helps improve their sense of colour co-ordination, concentration and nurtures their creative side.
• The girls are enjoying art classes by Kavita Nanavati where they have been learning about famous painters such as Picasso and Modigliani and incorporating the artist’s work in their own art.

• Recreational excursion: The girls visited Radio One Studio and RJ Rishi K taught them how to record and talk with listeners. It was a new experience for them and they were delighted.
• Sports Day was celebrated where the girls participated in huge numbers and while a few were winners the others had a good time cheering for their friends. A healthy sportsman spirit was displayed by all our young budding stars.
• The girls enjoyed a live comedy show by the artists of “Clowns without Borders”.
• Girls had a fun excursion and exposure to organic gardening organized by Project Lighthouse where they learnt how to sow seeds and grow plants in an innovative way.