By Tasneem Sara | Project Leader
Hello friends,
AWAG is pleased to share the first Progress Report with regard to our new project BUILD CAPACITIES OF 400 DEPRIVED GIRLS IN GUJARAT.
We solicit contributions from all our compassionate donors to enable AWAG to pursue the much needed support to meet the pressing demand of the said project. YOUR DONATION CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE!
PROJECT BACKGROUND
AWAG provides counselling and accommodation facilities to young migratory working rural girls that are trained and provided employment by Aga Khan Rural Support Programme (India) – AKRSP (I), through a Migration Support Centre.
It is observed that this is the first generation of girls that are stepping out and moving towards higher education and career building. The growing generation gap between these youth and their parents, restrains the former from paying any heed to their parents.
However, given their profile, migration causes intense trauma and poses day-to-day challenges at their workplaces that are predominantly at Call Centres/BPO Companies and Shopping Malls. Given their vulnerable age and profile, factors such as lack of adequate awareness about their bodies, accompanied with loneliness, infatuation, materialistic attractions, fears about performance and financial compensation, often lead them to fall prey to sexual exploitation by their male counterparts/employers. To avert social stigmas related to such acts, these young girls suffer in silence and this takes its toll on their physical and mental wellbeing.
A concept based on that of a 'home away from home' in the form of counselling services, accommodation assistance, periodic get-togethers, ensures a supportive environment for a progressive career growth for these youth.
Currently, there are a total of 23 girls that are residing at AWAG's Migration Support Centre. Most of them belong to the rural areas of Panchmahal and Saurashtra region of Gujarat.
PROGRESS OF ACTIVITIES
Counselling:
Individual and group counselling support was provided periodically to all the 23 girls by AWAG's counsellor. Most of them are supporting their family financially and want to pursue higher studies alongside. It has been observed that they are very hard working and motivated to achieve their goals in life. Majority of them work in Call Centres and Shopping Malls. Nowadays many call centres are granting jobs to female candidates only; this in turn helps these rural girls in seeking a safe work environment.
Counselling sessions have helped these girls to vent their feelings and increase confidence and bring about personal growth.
Some common problems as observed by AWAG's counsellor during counselling sessions with these youth are:
Cultural Celebrations and Get-togethers:
In view of the festive season, the young working girls at AWAG's Migration Support Centre celebrated New Year with a dance and dinner programme at AWAG Kunj. The group enjoyed themselves and were thoroughly refreshed from their hectic working schedule.
In the coming months, we will build on the above efforts and orient these youth on legal knowledge that will further strengthen them in raising a voice against violence inflicted on them.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT!
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Last but not the least, in celebration of our hard work, AWAG has been vetted by GlobalGiving for being actively engaged in their community and as a top-ranked organization in 2017! AWAG takes this opportunity to express gratitude to all our donors and well wishers for helping us realize our vision, and look forward to your continued support as a trusted partner and change-maker. What's more, we’ve also received the Site Visit Verified badge because we hosted a GlobalGiving representative.
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