"Nayantara" a Girl Child Sponsorship Programme

With our dedicated robust team members through relentless efforts we remained able to carry on our activities of ‘Nayantara’ - the adolescent girls’ empowerment programme in remote Sundarbans villages even amidst the still continuing Covid -19 Pandemic.

We are now planning to penetrate with our initiatives for the cause in deeper hard to reach villages of Sundarbans, where malice of Social Evils like Dropping out from Studies, Early Marriage, Early Motherhood, Trafficking are in rampant more specifically among the adolescent girls and young women.

We, though could re-initiate studies, art & craft classes, regular health check up interventions, distribution of Hygiene & Sanitation Kits (e.g. Soaps, Shampoos, Sanitary Napkins etc.), Study Materials (Books, Exercise Books, Pens, Pencils etc.) etc. are yet to start many other activities like Dance Classes, Sports etc.

As per State Government Circular after a long gap of nearly two years time formal schools are now partially opened here in West Bengal. Formal Classes started from 9^th - 12^th standards. To avoid any fast spread of Covid-19 further, all standards and sections are divided in groups and classes of different groups are being taken in alterations. Thus majority of ‘Nayantara’ Girls have started visiting their formal schools.

Also the Covid -19 Pandemic and consecutive Cyclones ‘Amphan’ and ‘Yaas’ left an enduring impact with severe consequences among the daily earning families. Most of the Nayantara Girls belong to such families.

Today we’ll see again how Bhabani* - a girl from such a family of daily earners is doing?

Remember Bhabani*- The determined but shy girl from remote Kailashpur village in deep Sunderbans of South 24 Parganas? We introduced her with you all last year in 2020 when she was studying in 11^th Standard in the closely located Govt. Higher Secondary School. She continued dare to challenge all her odds that came on way to her pursuit for education and standing on her own.

Bhabani* is now studying at 12^th standard and continues to go along her pursuit for studies. Even being the daughter of a marginalised villager who sustain on the little fish trade with a meager earning of around INR 3500-4000 per month. Bhabani* continued her journey for completing the Formal Education at least till graduation.     

She is a member of Sabuj Sangha’s empowerment & grooming initiative programme ‘Nayantara’ since around last 5 years. With the training under caring mentoring she has developed the skill of Dancing and now an ardent & passionate dancer.

Earlier she was thinking to be a Professional Dancer.

But now with growing age and having built an understanding for the earning avenues and the practicability she now aspires to be a Nurse to afford sustained earning for herself and her family.

Appeal

Weneed to reach many other such vulnerable adolescent girls falling prey of gender discrimination and subsequent consequences. Support is also required highly for their families too. They need the support to restore their livelihood options and get back to normalcy.

Help the vulnerable adolescent girls from poor marginalised families, of coastal and riverine Sunderbans impacted deeply by continuing Covid-19 pandemic situation and Cyclone Amphan, Yaas etc., build their own future…. 

Your small help may help the vulnerable adolescent girls from deep remote Sunderbans live a life of dignity and self-reliance. Please come forward... for these girls…who longing to see a see a better tomorrow….

* Name of all individuals altered for maintaining privacy & safety