Life skills training of 300 girls in Mumbai slums

Dear Friends greetings from Vacha.

Indian Independence Day, which falls on August 15, was brought in with a bang by students of Vacha. Like every year, once again, they released their community newsletters, named Hamari Baatein (Our Voice). This is a newsletter that girls and boys of Vacha come out with on every Independence Day and Republic Day. It is their newsletter in every sense – girls and boys gather news ideas, take interviews, write articles on their community issues, their rights and any other aspect that they want to document, edit them, type them out and also raise nominal funds.

This 15^th August, 11 newsletters were released simultaneously across 11 bastis of Mumbai, out of this 7 were by girls’ groups and 4 by mixed groups of Vacha. For many groups, this was their tenth edition! To mark the occasion, editorial team from each group had decided that every newsletter would focus on one particular topic. All the articles would delve into different aspects of that topic. Thus, while one newsletter focused on the importance of ‘right to education’, another explored the debates surrounding the issue of ‘right to food’, and yet another took up the prevalence of superstitious beliefs and their harmful effects. Many newsletters featured articles on the threat to girls’ safety in public places. Keeping this common concern in mind, one piece carried in all the newsletters was a list of helplines and contact numbers for women in distress or facing violence. Other than these, the last page of every newsletter was dedicated to fun and games. Girls and boys came up with puzzles, jokes, poems, songs, photographs and drawings to fill this space.

The newsletters were released in each basti along with the flag hoisting ceremony of that area. The release was accompanied by public performances that had been prepared by each group with much anticipation. They performed street plays and took out rallies on issues such as girls’ education, girls’ right to safety, against sexual harassment in public places, against the problem of garbage and about right to food.  Other than these, there were also patriotic songs, dances, speeches, power point presentations, film screenings and even one human pyramid hoisting the national flag! In short, the day was a power packed one, with performances across bastis in Juhu, Santacruz, Vile Parle, Andheri, Jogeshwari, Malad and Kalyan.

The release was followed by students in each basti selling their newsletters to community members, and discussing issues covered by their articles and in their performances with those interested. Many community members and local leaders appreciated their efforts. Seeing the quality of the street play performance that one all girls’ group had put up, the local leader of their area promised to give them some prizes during the next release to boost their confidence. Mothers shared that their daughters had become more expressive and vocal because of their participation in the newsletter making process. Others said that their children hardly got the chance to participate in their school functions, Vacha’s newsletter release program was the only place where each student got some part to play. One mother said that her son had left his school program midway to be a part of the release function! 

Let me also share with you that this October global giving is trying something new and hosting three regional Bonus Days based on project region. They are offering a 30% match for all three Bonus Days. For our project the bonus day is October 16 and, to congratulate top fundraisers, they will offer two $1,000 bonus awards for each Bonus Day: one for the project with most funds raised and one for the project with the most individual donors.

You have been generously supportive of our project throughout this year and this last special occasion of the year is a good opportunity to further our cause. We are sure you will continue your support so that our girls can have many of such exciting and enriching experiences even in future.

Links:

• Glimpses of Newsletters by Vacha Girls