"Nayantara" a Girl Child Sponsorship Programme

The children of poverty stricken families, especially girls of our societies are neglected, disregarded by all means and deprived of their basic rights, and the girl children of rural areas are the most suffers. While working in rural Sundarbans Sabuj Sangha experienced that; majority of the parents are illiterate or poorly literate and education for girls is not so important to them. Most of the cases the girls are seen dropped out from the school after class VI, VII or VIII. Usually they stay at home to manage household chores, take care of younger siblings and aged family members in absence of their parents. Some of the parents of too poor families send their girl children to work as a domestic helper due to absolute poverty. Early marriage is an obvious event in the communities, resulting early pregnancy, poor health, malnutrition etc. In many cases the girls are exploited, trafficked and abused through several ways.

Sabuj Sangha felt the need of addressing such issues of girl children and adolescents and initiated the sponsorship programme “Nayantara” to provide backup support for education of those poor girls, who want to study, but cannot continue due to poverty and other factor. The organization envisages that; the adolescent girls must complete their education at least up to Class XII standard. In addition to backup support the girls are provided life skill education for personality & self development also made them involved in extra-curricular activities like; bratachary (dance for physical exercise), song, art & craft etc. also vocational education on specific trade based on their areas of interest. Besides; they are also supported with learning materials, nourishing food and hygiene kits. Sabuj Sangha believes; the efforts that have been taken through the Nayantara project will empower adolescent girls psychologically, socially also economically in future and a child of alliterate mother never be illiterate.

During the last few months most of the girls have developed their educational and psychological statuses and were observed happy joining the programme. They are regular attending coaching classes, life skill education sessions and extra-curricular activities. The girl Namita Mondal likes the subject mathematics and wants to continue her study with mathematics. She obtained 76% marks in her last school examination.

In general, most of the girls are very much interested to learn computer; they attend computer classes regularly and significant improvements have been noticed among Moumita, Namita, Banashree, Angana, Shrabani, Suchitra, Debi and Suparna. Previously Mondal was too poor in Geography but after joining the programme she performed good and secured 72% mark. There are 5/6 girls who have interest in handicraft and needle work. Birth day of Suchitra Jana has been celebrated together with all the adolescent girls.