PROJECT UDAAN: Prevent Children From Becoming Sex Workers

PROJECT UDAAN: Prevent Children From Becoming Sex Workers
Phase 1/Pilot Intervention in West Bengal (Sonagachi, Kolkata)
Overseas Volunteer For A Better India
(501c3 organization)
1
November 2014
An OVBI Initiative
Overview
1. Introduction
– Vision Statement
– Background
– Target Intervention & Objectives
2. The Team
– Ground Zero Team (Operating from Sonagachi, Kolkata)
– Communication /Outreach Initiatives
3. Call to Action
– Current State & Next Steps
4. Appendix
2
Vision Statement
Vision:
To eradicate child sex slavery from India
Mission:
• To rescue girl children of the Indian sex workers from inhumane environments of
brothels by creating residential safe havens for them
• To help them get back to mainstream of society by providing loving and
compassionate care with access to free healthcare, education, skills training and a
path for self growth and an opportunity to contribute to the economy in a
respectable fashion
The first phase of the project has a mission to rescue 50 such girls from the brothels of
Sonagachi, Kolkata . The 5 year plan envisions saving and empowering 700 such kids
3
Background
 There are an estimated 1.2 M children of prostitutes in India
 Kolkata is the major hub of trafficking activities and for forcing women and children
into Commercial Sexual Exploitation (CSE)
The Problem: Not many NGOs have taken up this cause of rescuing these
innocent girls because of the inherent problems that come from working in
these areas. They have all the resources but lack the will to venture into this
territory. They are looking for someone to show them the way.
The Solution: Start a pilot project for the Sonagachi red light area in Kolkata, for
creating a “Safe Haven” for 50 girls, where they can lead a normal childhood,
safe from the real dangers of the flesh trade.
By setting up this “Safe Haven” we will demonstrate that such efforts can be
very successful. This will encourage other NGOs to take up this cause and they
will be able to reach out to the remaining 1.2 million such needy children
across India
The plan involves building a secure house away from the red light area. Our
target age group is 5 – 18 yrs. We will provide them a safe home, food,
clothing, education, health care, vocational training & most importantly HOPE
4
Target Intervention & Objectives
The objectives of the intervention are to:
1. Provide the target group with education facilities
2. Provide the older girls with skills training which will enable them to choose the
means of earning their livelihood.
3. Create an enabling environment for children for all-round development of their
personality and inculcate the passion for self- growth in their lives.
4. De-traumatize the children through the stress relief & self esteem building
programs and equip them mentally, physically and emotionally for sustainable
behavior transformation.
5. Create social leadership among the children for becoming leaders of social change
in their community.
5
Our “Ground Zero” Team In Sonagachi, Kolkata
Brij Chawla
Ms. Subhra Ray
Director, Project Udaan
Has dedicated last 25 years
for uplifting the tribes of
India.
Dir, Projects, Art of Living
A professional with over
twenty years of experience
in the Corporate Sector.
• Worked with Mother Teresa for 10 yrs.
• Started 20 schools in Jharkhand tribal
area. 3,500 students are getting free
education. 1st generation of learners
• Started teacher training centers,
vocational training centers and mobile
medical clinics in the tribal areas of
Jharkhand
Arnab Acharjee
Team Member
Has dedicated his life for
women and children
causes
• A technocrat with 6 years of experience
in Information Systems Management &
Networking
• Presently associated with International
BPO - Ansh Info Solutions Pvt Ltd. as a
IT Manager
• Effective communicator with great
relationship & management skills
6
• Implemented "Light A Home" Projectprovided 1600 households with Solar
Lamps in rural West Bengal
• Implemented “Solar Power Project “ to
install Solar water heater & street lamps
in West Bengal
• Implemented Project ‘Boond’ to provide
purified drinking water to 8,000 villagers
Aloke Banerjee
Team Member
A very passionate volunteer
who wants to dedicate his
life to uplift others
• Deeply moved and inspired by the life
and philosophy of Sri Sri Ravi Shankar,
joined art of Living in 2008 and since
then has been associated with their
various service projects.
• His Mission is to bring Sri Sri Ravi
Shankar’s vision of Vasudeva
Kutmbakam successful in near future.
Anup Agarwal
Suranjana Sanyal
Team Member
Has dedicated his life for
women and children
causes
Team Member & Teacher
• Managing Director at Woodrock
Healthcare Pvt.Ltd
• Woodrock Healthcare Pvt. Ltd. is
spread throughout India by combining
strategic ethics and manufacturing
Quality
Has dedicated her life for
women and children
causes
• Has been associated with project
Udaan since its inception in 2012 as a
teacher. She teaches childrens of sex
workers of Sonagachi
• Previously she had been teaching the
slum children in Sri Sri Vidya Mandir for
four years.
Current Outreach : Content driven Social Media Channels
YouTube
IntroVideo
@ProjectUdaan
7
Linkedi www.linkedin.com/in/projectudaan/
Facebook
www.facebook.com/projectudan
Current State & Next Steps
 Current State:
Operational Activities:
1. Free temporary school started for target children in Sonagachi
2. Free medical clinics & yoga center started for target community
3. Fundraising & outreach efforts launched
4. Land site exploration initiated
 Next Steps:
1. Need corporate evangelists & financial supporters
2. Need influential entrepreneurs as brand ambassadors for Project Udaan
3. Need YOU to be personally involved in making the program a success
8
9
Thank
You
Appendix




10
About OVBI
Proposed Activities for the Intervention
Expected Impact
Project Timeline
About Overseas Volunteer for a Better India (OVBI)
We are Indians abroad who care for a better India. We are doctors, students,
engineers, volunteers, business owners and everyday citizens coming together for
the betterment of India. We believe that indifference of the masses is responsible
for India’s current problems and we are committed to changing it. OVBI is a 501c3
organization
http://www.overseasvbi.org/
• Current Board Members Include
–
–
–
–
–
Suresh Vasu ( President)
Vinish Virani ( Secretary)
Rajneesh Sharma
Anil Sharma
Amitabh Sinha ( Treasurer)
• Our Board Members are professionals and Entrepreneurs drawn from
different US locations to build up momentum for OVBI mission.
11
Proposed Activities for the Intervention
1. Set up a residential school for 50 girls , at a location at a distance from the Red Light
areas
2. Set up Skills & Vocational Training center
3. Include service based activities in the curriculum, increase the leadership skills & self
worth of the children
 Include the spirituality courses in the curriculum :
12

Organize Bal Chetana Shibirs: Bal Chetana Shibirs have been customized especially
for the all-round personality development. These Shibirs help to restore the joys
of childhood, innocence, and confidence among the children.

Organize ART Excel Courses: The ART Excel course is for children aged between 8
and 13 years, it helps them gain good personal skills and nurtures their best
natural potential. ART Excel students learn life skills, yoga and breathing
processes which help eliminate fear and anxiety, techniques that enhance focus
and concentration, simple meditation and relaxation techniques, skills in
friendship, leadership and teamwork. Activities such as making a new friend each
day and random acts of kindness help students to become aware of the needs of
others and encourage the integration of human values into their daily lives.
Proposed Activities for the Intervention (cont.)
• Empowerment programs for the Older Girl Child : Create a workforce that would
undertake initiatives at the community level to identify and resolve issues,
leading to improving their overall living conditions. The programs will also
nurture and groom social leadership amongst them. The participants will be
provided with a wide spectrum of in-depth training with regard to their physical,
mental and emotional development for dealing with any challenging situation
effortlessly and to undertake their role in the society more effectively &
efficiently.
13
Expected Impact
The initiative plans at uplifting the girl child from the nightmarish, ghetto like life of the Red
Light Areas into the world which offers them opportunities equal to children from the
mainstream of Society to which they are also entitled :-
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Basic rights such as the right to live and right to protection
Education and opportunities to grow and develop
Livelihood options
Right against exploitation
Right to legal redress of grievances
The initiative also plans at developing the “Spiritual Quotient “ :
1. Developing a sense of self worth and self esteem
2. Development of a positive attitude and capacity to deal with challenging
situations
3. Enthusiasm to engage with life, with friends and family in a positive sharing
and caring manner
4. Improved interest in studies and play
5. Developing an attitude to live life meaningfully
14
The Project envisages the liberation from bondage of successive batches of Girl
Children from the Red Light area
Project Timeline
# Activity
Q1
Months
1
2
4
5
6
7
8
9
1
Project team
formation in the In Progress
community
Rapport building
with the
community gate
keepers and the
In Progress
stake holders and
the service
providers
Identifying &
In Progress
purchase of Land
Obtaining All
Government
Approvals
Construction
Identifying the
children for the
school
Inauguration &
start of School
Inauguration of
Skills Training
Center
2
3
*
*
4
Q2
5
6
7
Q3
8
9
10
Q4
11
12
13
Q5
14
15
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
10 Bal Chetna Shibirs
Art Excel and
YES! Courses
Periodical
12 monitoring and
reporting
Post intervention
survey and the
13
impact study of
the project
11
15
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
16
Q6
17
18
19
Q7
10
21
22
Q8
23
24
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
Brij Chawla
1. General Manager Marketing at Eaton Corporation till 1987
2. After his volunteer retirement he dedicated his entire time for the cause of Indian Tribal
people who are on the verge of destitution.
3. Worked with Mother Teresa for about decade in Home of the Dying Destitute projects
4. He is working full time as coordinator on Tribal Project (Director Tribal Welfare) ever since its
inception about 15 year back.
5. During this period, 20 schools (two high Schools and one middle school) have been
established in remote tribal areas of Jharkhand state in India providing free education to
about 3,500 children of first generation learner.
6. Also established a Teacher Training Center in Ghatsila to impart teaching skills to local
teachers so that they may teach first generation learners.
7. Besides education the other initiatives of the project are:
a) Vocational training centers for women and the unemployed youth.
b) Mobile dispensaries.
c) Zero Budget Natural Farming
8. He held senior volunteer positions in governing bodies of few NGOs like FTS (Friends of Tribal
Society), Bharat Seva Ashram Sangh.
16
Back to India Team
Ms. Subhra Ray
1. A professional with over twenty years of experience in the Corporate Sector – Area of
expertise - Project Management & Implementation
2. Started "Udaan" with a group of volunteers in 2012
3. Managed "Light A Home" Project. 1600 households were provided with Solar Lamps in rural
West Bengal, India
4. Managed Solar Micro Grids project - Micro Grids have been installed in the tribal villages in
over 100 households.
5. Managed Integrated Village Development programs - watershed management with associated
water conservation techniques, smokeless chullahs to protect the environment, natural
farming for increasing yields and to do away with harmful pesticides and chemical fertilisers,
mobile health clinics, installation of water purification plants
6. Managed Solar Power Project - Solar water heater & street lamps have been installed
7. Managed establishment of Vocational Training Centre for socially disadvantaged youth in
Salanpur, Asansol, West Bengal. The centre provides electrical training & placement
opportunities to 100 youth every year
8. Managed ‘Boond’ project - Four water purification plants have been installed in villages of
West Bengal. These provide purified drinking water to an estimated 8000 villagers
17
Back to India Team
Free School Started By Project Udaan
18
Back To Current State
School Children Celebrating ‘Children’s Day’
19
Back To Current State
Free Medical Clinic & Yoga Center
Back To Current State
20
Bricks of Hope
DONATE A BRICK OF HOPE
TO BUILD A HOME
STOP children from becoming
sex workers
One brick is for $20 donation
Project Website: www.overseasvbi.org/OVBI/public/udaan
Visit us on Facebook: facebook.com/projectudan
21