By Amrita De | Project coordinator
The last quarter has been a time filled with learning experiences for girls at Vacha. These were summer months when they had their school holidays and they used this time well. In all the three centres, we asked the girls what they felt they needed to learn, and arranged workshops for them accordingly.
In Juhu Koliwada, the corporator (local elected leader) had been getting the drains cleaned before the rains arrived to avoid blockages and overflowing later. But Vacha students noticed that even though people could see these efforts at clearing up the drains, some would continue to drop waste, especially plastic waste, into the drains. They decided to do something about this. They decided they would prove that many things we think are waste can actually be re-used, thus reducing the amount of waste we create. So they asked to learn how to make re-usable things from everyday waste, and Vacha arranged a workshop on making ‘best out of waste’. Students learnt to make pencil holders, flower vases, letter holders, etc. from plastic bottles, packets, plates, etc. which would usually otherwise go into the dustbin once used. They will now exhibit these at the public event they organise every year during the Indian Independance Day in August. Let us hope that people will also get ideas for how to re-use and thus reduce their waste production!
In Bandra Plot, girls have been trying to get people to ensure that public toilets in their community are safer, cleaner and more accessible for girls. These are the only toilets that people can use, since most people don’t have any toilets at home – and they are in very bad shape due to lack of doors, dustbins, water in the toilets. Boys and men, and even some using drugs frequent women’s and girls’ toilets, causing safety and dignity hazards for many women and girls visiting the toilets. Vacha girls felt that they need to gain some critical skills of working with people so that they can gain their support in their fight to make the toilets safe and accessible for girls. A workshop on leadership was therefore arranged for them, in which girls learnt to use communication & negotiation skills well, and work in a group towards their goals. Other than this, girls also focused on reducing sexual harassment in general, including the harassment they face while visiting toilets. Towards this goal, they have started mapping their basti to plot which areas see the most harassment.
In Indira Nagar, there are some girls who have been coming to Vacha class since almost 8 years. They had started with the English and Computer learning, and today have graduated to special leadership programs that Vacha runs. They wanted to show this journey to their families and friends in the area, and so they decided to put up an exhibition showing the same. They created posters and leaflets tracing their journey at Vacha which they put up and also distributed to people.
Girls in all the three centres are gearing up to follow through with their goals to reduce waste, sexual harassment and ensure better community toilets in their bastis. Not only this, but they have also managed to continue in education with Vacha’s constant counselling with families to not let girls drop out of school. 6 students had appeared for class 10 exams and 8 students had appeared for class 12 exams this year in March. These are two classes which are extremely important for students to get into good colleges and courses of their choice. We are very happy to share with you that all of them have passed and gained admission into college! They need your best wishes and support to fulfil these important endeavours.
By Sonal Shukla | Trustee
By Nischint Hora and Yagna Parmar | Administrator and Sr.Project Coordinator
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