Preventing Prostitution post Covid

Five girls supported by Apne Aap graduated this year. Each graduation represents years of persistence in communities where poverty, hunger, discrimination and family debt frequently interrupt a girl’s education. For these students, completing their studies means more than receiving a certificate. It means gaining the confidence and qualifications to imagine an independent future. Their progress also encourages younger girls at our Forbesganj centre, who can now see graduates from backgrounds like their own moving towards higher education and dignified employment.

Over the last five months, this progress has extended from education into the workplace. Twenty participants from Apne Aap’s digital-literacy classes have secured jobs with Tata Consultancy Services (TCS). Many began these classes with little experience of computers or structured digital-learning platforms. Through regular sessions, they developed practical computer skills, learned to navigate online resources and became more confident using technology. Employment with TCS gives these young people professional experience and a steady income, while helping their families become more financially secure. It is an important demonstration of how access to digital education can lead directly to dignified livelihood opportunities.

Since the previous report, Apne Aap has continued supervised digital-literacy sessions, structured study hours, school follow-ups, examination preparation and career guidance at the Forbesganj centre. More than 140 children have accessed the Digital Learning Library since its launch, including 96 girls who participated regularly in digital-literacy sessions. Students have used interactive resources for mathematics, science and English, while older students have practised with online mock tests and previous examination papers. Cyber-safety sessions have helped girls understand privacy, online boundaries and the risks of deceptive recruitment. Alongside education, the centre has continued to provide a safe place where children can study, build friendships and participate in creative and confidence-building activities. Regular contact with mothers and families helps staff identify problems that might otherwise force a child to leave school.

This work builds upon a major project achievement: all 800 children originally identified through the project have been reintegrated into formal education, with some progressing to vocational training, college, graduation and employment. The five girls graduating this year and the 20 digital-literacy participants beginning jobs at TCS show what sustained support can accomplish. A girl who remains in school is less vulnerable to trafficking; a graduate has more control over her future; and a young person with a dignified job can help strengthen an entire family. We are deeply grateful to our donors for helping children and young people move from exclusion to education, from education to opportunity and from opportunity to lasting independence.

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