Girl Power, helping girls recover from abuse

Namaste,

I hope this report finds you and your family well.

Here in India, we are entering the festive season and all the children here at Rescue Junction are getting excited for Diwali already.

In this report I wanted to talk about how we work closely with a network of ChildLine and other child protection organizations sometimes nationwide to rescue children.  Here is an just one example …

On the Calcutta to Mumbai Mail train in sleeper class an alert ticket examiner was concerned to see three girls travelling with a single male aged about 13 to 14 years of age and seemed very worried and unhappy. On the pretext of checking the ticket he took one of the girls to one side and she reported to him that they were being taken to Mumbai for “work” and that they were worried. The driver of the train after being informed radioed control who knew that the next approved ChildLine Rescue Centre was at Gaya Junction, our facility. Our staff were informed and the police contacted and the three girls were intercepted by our girls at risk team which you have helped support and the male arrested and charged with child trafficking. In this way we network and work with their organisations and the railways to make it as difficult as possible for those who would traffic children and bring them to justice.

Your support is so important in helping us to continue our work and we send our heartfelt gratitude to you all

In the next report you will hear from these three girls and learn what happened next .

With Thanks 

Priya

Links:

• Our Website

Namaste

A warm welcome to our summer update. Here is hoping this letter finds you and your family well.

We have asked one of the girls at the centre to write the report for us ( we have changed her name for privacy and child protection  reasons but not the report and it is unedited)

“My name is Sonia (name changed) I have been living at Rescue Junction for three months. I am 15 years of age.  My step father was raping me and in desperation I ran away but whilst on the station a kind lady from Rescue Junction stopped me from boarding a train to Kolkata and brought me to Rescue Junction. Rescue Junction has a special unit for girls particularly those like me who have suffered trauma and abuse and they have been helping me so much. I spent a lot of the first two weeks crying and was given so much love from the staff who told me that I was safe now and nobody would ever send me back anywhere where I might be harmed.  

As I became to feel more confident the staff have gently supported me through formally reporting the abuse, counselling with my family, education and training. And I have enrolled in a college to study to be a veterinary assistant so I can care for animals which is my dream job. I have also met my foster parents and I am slowly going forward. I hope to start my course in September.  Rescue Junction will continue to support for a minimum of the next two years and even after 18 years of age if needed.

I want to thank you so much for your kindness and compassion in helping girls like me.

May you all be blessed.

Sonia

Thank you all once again. If you would like to help Sonia please add a note for Sonia College expenses and we will guarantee your donation will go towards supporting her college placement.

With thanks and warm best wishes.

Priya

Links:

• Our Website