Training Space for 600 Poor Girls in Mumbai

Dear friends,

As you know your contribution to our central space for girls’ training in Mumbai. Due to bureaucratic problems and delays we could not furnish and occupy it as we could neither receive funds donated thru GlobalGiving nor spend what had already come for 9 months this year. This was a very hard time for us as we had to vacate the Municipal school where we were occupying 3 rent controlled rooms. Space in Mumbai is in short supply and rents are high. We are now working on making the new space as per our needs. We need to buy office chairs and tables, computers and other things. We are soon sending appeals to corporate and other donors. In the meantime we seek your generous donations in this Giving Tuesday to send your donations to Vacha.

Donations to Vacha thru 2 sites has helped us reach tens thousands of poor adolescent girls living in slums of Mumbai and its outskirts. The girls suffer not only due to poverty but also because of the huge son preference and orthodox traditions controlling girls’ mobility, education, early marriage and lack of choice in decision making. All girls, except one, from Vacha’s programme of imparting soft and hard skills, leadership training and community work, have been able to complete at least 12 years of education and postpone marriage. Several are paying for their education with part time jobs and, from the old batches, some have emerged as doctor, lawyer, teacher and even fashion designer and air hostess.

On behalf of Vacha team, I sincerely thank you for the kind support you have extended to us and appeal to you for donating on this GivingTuesday.

With best wishes and regards,

Yagna Parmar

Co Director

Project Vacha