Preventing Inter-Generational Prostitution

At Apne Aap we aim to empower women by finding it within themselves the innate strength to help themselves; hence our name.

Meet the two young women Reema Parveen (Name Changed) and Sitara Khatoon(Name Changed).  They are from the de-notified tribes Nat community who are trapped in inter-generational prostitution. They have been rescued by Apne Aap Women World Wide and have been enrolled in our skills training programme for tailoring and are now in the process of apprenticeship after which they will be able to open their own small businesses. They follow in the footsteps of Shushma Khatoon(Name Changed) a 32-year-old woman, from the same community. After undergoing intensive skills training, she is now the proud owner of a boutique and is successfully earning a livelihood capable of providing her 4-year-old daughter with an education at a school supported by Apne Aap and a way to break the cycle of vulnerability and trafficking.

Through our various community outreach programmes, we ensure that women vulnerable to trafficking are in the position to find safe havens by ensuring their physical and mental wellbeing. We provide nutritional meals, support children from ‘At risk’ and marginalized communities in furthering their education, interrupted by the Covid 19 pandemic by assisting them with tuition fees, boarding etc. We assist vulnerable women with practical skills training, in order for them to engage in long term stable employment opportunities. Between January and March 2024, we have a total of 4670 beneficiaries, this includes 1015 families who are provided with food rations, 1410 women, 2335 children and 934 men. We also ensured a dignified menstruation for 2050 adolescent girls with sanitary pads. 

We currently support 108 children with their primary, middle and high school education in New Delhi, Kolkata, and Forbesgunj Bihar. We are also funding the higher education of 11 young women. Our community of bright young women from various marginalized groups, who are at the moment pursuing education have made us proud of their academic achievements.  We assist them with educational funding, including food, boarding and school supplies. They are spread over the country studying diverse subjects such as Physiotherapy, Nursing, Liberal Arts, Engineering as well as Teacher’s training. We are proud of Akanksha(Name Changed), who has received commendation at successfully completing her first year of Physiotherapy training as one of the top students in her class and Fareeda(Name Changed) who, at her teacher’s training programme is also one of it’s brightest. Both are advancing steadily in their goal to give back to society through their respective chosen professions. 

*Please note: The names of every beneficiary mentioned above have been changed to respect their privacy. 

Corona Virus

Due to the ongoing crisis of Covid-19 pandemic and its repercussions, the community has been hit hard. The children are not being able to go to school as the primary schools are shut down, following government regulations. The women of the community have to keep earning their daily wage. Apne Aap team members have also not been able to work in the field and conduct more sessions and workshops. Many of them use public transportation and travel from afar and availing public transport is not safe currently as per government health regulations. 

In this crucial time, the team members have been able to put together a basic care package for every girl so that they can continue learning and also stay safe. A kit comprising of a few basic books on Math, English, Hindi and Social sciences, a hand sanitizer, a face respiratory mask, medicines for cold such as paracetamol,  dry food, rice and lentils have been organized. 

The basic care package for every girl is budgeted to be 25 US dollars on an average, taking into account the logistics of transporting them and other delivery costs. 

“We want the education by which character is formed, strength of mind is increased, the intellect is expanded, and by which one can stand on one’s own feet”- Swami Vivekananda.

Menstrual Health Workshop & Distributing Sanitary Napkins

Apne Aap members conducted the workshop on menstrual health of girls and women in Dharampura in Najafgarh. The unavailability of toilets in many households and lack of financial resources push these girls and women in the community to adopt the harmful practices leading to various infections. Apne Aap discussed how they can have safe periods and also distributed sanitary napkins to the participants. This workshop took place on the 71st Republic Day of India, 26th Jan 2020.

Art Workshop

At this workshop, Apne Aap members handed a sheet of paper and asked girls to draw and decorate using the food we eat and other kitchen items. The girls made a school, home, teacher, flower, tree etc. The drawing session was conducted with the purpose of creating art with available materials and the food we eat.