Steering 500 Women Away from Prostitution, Mumbai

Success Story

“Being a Devdasi,  a girl "dedicated" to stay and service a deity or a temple for the rest of her life or prostitute for livelihood .., Lakshmi* was forced into prostitution by her relative at the age of 15. Since then she has been working in this flesh trade. When she delivered her second child, she got to know about her medical status, as she was diagnosed with HIV positive. At such crucial time her live in partner left her with two little children. Knowing her deteriorating health our outreach worker immediately enrolled her in the Nutritiom Supplement Program and her ART (Anti Retroviral therapy) treatment has started at Nair government  hospital. Counselling was provided to her which encouraged her to take extra care of her health. With regular ART treatment and nutrition supplement for more than 3 years, her health is improving. Her latest CD4 count is more than the previous one. She trusts AAWC and has kept both of her daughters in Day & Night care shelter of AAWC so that her daughters can stay safe and secure away from the menace of Red light area”

“I am living so that I could see my daughters getting success and leading a happy life. And I know they will be successful and happy as they have support of AAWC”.- Lakshmi*

*Name Changed to Protect her identity.

Organization Update

• The Jury and Council of Board Members of “World CSR The Congress & Awards” summit with the theme of “You We Can The Future of Profit is ‘Purpose’” has conferred Apne Aap Women’s Collective (AAWC) the “CERTIFICATE OF MERIT” at the World CSR Congress & Awards for its exemplary work with their beneficiaries in Mumbai’s red light area.
• The federation of Obstetric and Gynaecological Societies of India and the organizing committee of West Zone Yuva FOGSI has conferred the Woman Achievers Award to Ms. Manju Vyas, The Chief Executive Officer of Apne Aap Women’s Collective.
• Apne Aap women’s collective was  conferred with Goldstar India Platinum certification for its level of transparency & public accountability.
• Apne Aap women’s collective was selected by the Radio Station RED FM for their annual campaign, ‘BAJAO FOR A CAUSE 2017’,  an initiative of social significance taken up to raise awareness and funds to help the cause.

Umeed Program Update

AWARENESS MEETING: In May, an awareness meeting about women’s Personal health and Hygiene was conducted at our centre. Resource persons from Kutumb Sudhar Kendra, regional clinic of Family Planning Association of India, addressed our beneficiaries to sensitize and promote access to Sexual and Reproductive health information and services, means and methods for family planning, safe abortions, HIV/AIDS and sexuality. The resource persons also spoke about the importance of using condoms and how it protects one from unwanted pregnancies as well as sexually transmitted diseases and infections. On the occasion of World Environment day, we arranged Monthly meeting in June to discuss the environment, unclean neighbourhood and its effects on our health. Beneficiaries actively gave their input on the topic and  shared ideas of how they can keep their houses and neighbourhood clean.

HEALTH: Health services were provided to our Umeed beneficiaries via regular health checkups, medical referrals, follow up, nutrition supplement etc. Nutrition supplements including Bananas, Puffed rice, Moringa (Drumsticks) seeds and Soya milk were given to beneficiaries affected with HIV and Tuberculosis. Outreach workers assisted our beneficiaries to get proper ART treatment from government hospitals such as Nair and JJ Hospital. During this quarter, session on how to take care of  health with home remedies was conducted with the women who are suffering from high or low pressure or diabetes. The response of the women was positive, as all the examples given were cost effective. The outreach workers also assisted beneficiaries to make their Maharashtra government Health cards and Lions Club Health cards, which will provide them with free health services.

In June, we collaborated with the Jai Hind College, Mumbai and Ecofeme organization to have Sanitary Pad drive under their Initiative Called NAARI. In this session, Representatives of Ecofeme introduced their sanitary cloth Napkins that are reusable for 3-4 years eco-friendly as well as good for their sexual hygiene. We also distributed those cloth napkins sponsored by Jai Hind College among our beneficiaries. They also asked their doubts about the pads and interacted with the representatives from Ecofeme.

CHILD’S FUTURE PLANNING SESSION: Every month we take sessions with women to discuss the future planning of their children. Throughout this quarter, the outreach workers took sessions on topics related to the various aspects of children’s development. Session for monthly savings for the betterment of their child was conducted aiming to inculcate the saving habits in beneficiaries. The Kindergarten teachers addressed the developments of the children during the meeting. With the arrival of the New Academic year,  School admissions of a few Umang children were discussed during the meeting with their mothers. Furthermore, one session was conducted with objective to inform beneficiaries the need to give full attention to their child, especially during the age of 2.5 years to 5 yearsas it’s an important development stage for them.

ADULT LITERACY PROGRAM:  Outreach workers visited the beneficiaries on the field regularly and tought them alphabets in English and Hindi. All these three months outreach workers could teach most beneficiaries how to write their names and read numbers. Monthly assessment was done to check what the beneficiaries have learned so far using parameters selected by AAWC. In these three months new beneficiaries are being enrolled, in Adult Literacy Classes. Outreach workers gave attention to each and every beneficiary and gave special attention if needed. During this quarter many of the beneficiaries went to their villages so they missed many literacy classes and this has affected their learning; although outreach worker had helped them to get back on their literacy training.

AREA ACTIVITIES: Various area activities were organized by outreach workers for Umeed beneficiaries throughout this quarter such as session on Alcoholism and Substance Addiction, Information about the zero balance bank account, Birth certificates and affidavits. As we have started to give Moringa seeds from April, area activity on the benefits of Moringa Seeds was carried out to make them understand its benefits. Also, sessions on Personal Hygiene, safe sex, sexual hygiene, immunization and Breast cancer were conducted. In order to prevent water borne diseases, outreach workers conducted area activities during monsoon on hygiene care and precautionary measures such as consumpion of boiled drinking water, not to store water in the water drums for more than two days etc. It was oberved by the outreach workers that beneficiaries often get misguided by fake doctors/ Quacks, thus outreach worker took a session to aware them about such fraudulent medical practitioners.

CELEBRATIONS: During this quarter, we celebrated Eid with our beneficiaires. We danced, sang songs, and prayed together for wellbeing of everyone. Around 61 women came for the celebration and had great fun.