Providing Life Skills to 300 Girls living in Slums

Hello,

Some good news! We have been supporting empowerment programme for girls from deprived families who live in bastis (slums) of Mumbai. Later some other foundations also contributed to the programme, some in a major way. One of them started a scholarship programme for girls who showed promise academically together with their commitment to bring positive changes in their communities. This has inspired us to take initiative for providing scholarships where possible. The ‘scholarship girls’ are doing well. Among them two have achieved distinction. One of them is Savita.

Savita has been with our programme for several years. We had written about her in context of her community work. After completing a 3 year curriculum at Vacha, she continued through a youth group. She is cheerful and lively but had made it clear from the beginning that she was not going to work for top grades scholastically, that she would rather do street theatre and craft activities. On bagging a scholarship, she joined a 3 year course at the SNDT Women’s University in design. She continued working on design with other kids in her neighbourhood. This time, in her second year in the course, her designs were highly appreciated. She secured 69% in her course and won trophies in the categories of ‘Collection with the Best Melange of Fabrics’ and ‘The Outfit with Best Innovation in Style and Silhouette’ at the fashion exhibition cum sale held at Priya Chhabria Design Studio, Juhu, Mumbai. Savita has been offered an internship with the examining designer, Priyashri Patodia, which she may not take up if it conflicts with her class schedule during the academic term.

You have heard of Sabah from us before. Both these 19 year olds have shown a quiet leadership from the start. Sabah stood first in the college in her second year B.Com. exams this year. She had studied through Urdu at school level and had to switch over to English medium in college. She is the one who had persistently followed an international seminar in her college and was chosen to make a presentation in it. One of the Vacha teachers has been working on English with her. Her brilliance and hard work are innate and the outcome is rewarding for all of us now including all of the kind friends and supporters who contribute to the programme through GlobalGiving. There are many activities we could report but we thought first of the happy news.

With best wishes and regards,

Sonal Shukla.