Protect girls from violence in school

Thank you for your continued support, especially during these uncertain and ever-changing times. I'm writing with an update from our project partners on the ground, delivering relief resources to communities in slums who are affected by the lockdown and the harsh environment they are in. 

The work undertaken so far includes conducting phone surveys of people's needs, visiting government offices for information and police departments/stations to get permission for the relief work to continue to go ahead. Groceries are being purchased to alleviate immediate hunger and we are reaching out to tribal communities in the vacinity who are also in need.  

Last week we gave funds directly for food supplies, hygiene kits and to promote effective health awareness with approximately 2500 hostel student families, migrant workers and tribal communities in the area around Amaravati.

While we remain commited to our focus on education, gender equality and dignified livelihoods, in this time of urgent need we are providing crisis relief. If you'd like to support our urgent appeal, please visit www.globalgiving.org/projects/karuna-coronavirus-appeal/

Wishing you and those close to you well.

Warm wishes and gratitude,

Erika Narkiewicz

karuna.org

Anisha lives in a slum in Amravati with her family. She had been married by her parents when she was just 16 years old. Up to then her education had been somewhat patchy; after getting married there was no way she could continue schooling.

Anisha is now 35 years old and has one daughter and two sons. Her husband works as a pan seller and earns barely enough to feed the family. Anisha has always been keen to do more than looking after the household and the family. So, she was very happy when this livelihood project started in her area. First, she joined the women's empowerment sessions where her confidence got a boost. She then participated in the entrepreneurship training and received a small seed grant to set up her business. She started producing and selling Bhakri, a traditional kind of bread. This went well, yet Anisha felt she could do more.

Eventually Anisha came in contact with a company in the garment sector and applied for a job in garment production. Thanks to the confidence she had gained from the training and with her own small business she was able to apply and start working in this new field. Like this, Anisha now has a stable income which is not massive but is regular and of her own making.

Anisha says how happy she is that she can provide for her children's education. With the two incomes she and her husband are now able to support the family well. Anisha also mentions that she has shared everything she's learnt about gender equality with her husband. This has apparently convinced him to not object when she started to go out of the house for her work. For many women it's a huge obstacle to convince their husbands to simply let them leave the house. Luckily for Anisha, her husband has been understanding and sympathetic; the benefits for Anisha are shared by the whole family!

Thank you for supporting this project which helps women such as Anisha find their confidence, break gender limitations in work and become financially independent for their own contribution to their families and communities.