Child Protection India Project #9798

Special Initiative for Girls No Abuse for Life

by People First Educational Charitable Trust

Project Report | Dec 5, 2013
I had often wondered where love was

By Sunita Sharma | Project Director

Abandoned girl child at Rescue Junction

"Hello everybody,

My name is Shanti.

It means peace.

I spent some time wondering if my life was worth living.

I was not wanted at home, number four of four girls in my household and my father used to say that's four girls to many. He wasn't particularly violent, just indifferent. I did not really know a mother's love either she died when I was very young. We learnt to fend for ourselves. There was no school only chores, endless chores.

Then one day when we awoke and our father was no longer there, as if he was ever really there in the first place. I was only 10 years of age. My sisters were 12, 13 and 15 years old

We lived in what is called a Jopri in India, basically plastic wrapped around a wooden frame, I had never known anything different. We often moved as the police would sometimes come and smash it down . There was no community to care for us. My eldest sister got an infected sore and died, with my other sisters we did our best to bury her near the railway line. We begged at the station, we were so hungry .

And then everything changed. A women with kindly eyes spoke to us and later came to us with a women police officer, we fell at the officers feet begging her not to arrest us, but the woman said we are here to help and held out her hand. That was one year ago.

I had often wondered where love was, but I found it for the first time here - at Rescue Junction. I am going to school my sisters are also going but getting some vocational training also. I had never really known how to smile, how to laugh , how different things are now".

shanti

Note from Sunita- these girls stories are not untypical, sadly but thanks to your kindness we can make all the difference in the world. Please look out for further updates on our centre Rescue Runction in a separate project update very soon. We did not think it right thst we put shantis photograph on this report but I have posted a picture of an abandoned girl child admitted to our centre recently. Shanti was interviewed for her story and not only did she give her permission for us to use her story, she demanded that it be told.

"I want people to know" she said,- "how we were saved"

Sunita

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Sep 5, 2013
Giving Girls Confidence

By Sunita Sharma | Project Director

Girl Student at the Centre

Hi Everybody!

This is Sunita with the usual update. Sorry that this time it is a little bit late, but we have been so busy here at Rescue Junction. as you know the SIGNAL project is based here at the centre.

In the past month we have received many children including two abandoned infants, one placed in a packed bag and thrown near a river. Both are now doing well and will be placed for adoption shortly. The girls at the centre help our staff with such children and we hope this will help towards their parenting skills in the future.

Here at Rescue Junction, our 24 hour centre for homeless missing and runaway children in Gaya in Bihar we work with three different groups of children and I thought it would help to explain this to you all.

Firstly we have the long term street children, children who have been living on the streets , and have no family. 30% of these children are girls. Do you remember from a previous report it was mentioned that older girls living on the street often disappear once they reach the age of 12 or 13? . This is because they often become prostitutes. The programme you have supported is aimed at preventing this by providing skills and support to enable the girls to live an honest and decent life. We also conduct raids with the police on local brothels to make sure no underage girls are there.

Secondly we work with missing and abandoned children who are often brought to us by the Police, especially the government railway police found running away or lost on trains. 40% of these children are girls. Almost all can be rehabilitated with family members but those that can't stay with us and learn a skill under this programme .

And thirdly we work with the local slum area children who have a home and family but live in rough shelters near the railway line. We have a special education programme for them. 50% are girls and they can join the classes under this special project that you have supported.

Here is what one of the girls says about the project,

"I want to send my heartfelt thanks to all of you who have sent money to help us continue our skills training here at Rescue Junction. It is not just the training which one day may lead to a vitally important source of income, it is the care and concern we receive from the staff that helps us so much adjust to a more normal life.

I send my thanks to you all "

And so do I,

Sunita

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Jun 3, 2013
THANK YOU

By Sunita Sharma | Programme Director

More Training for the Girls

Hello Everybody!

Greetings to you all from a very very Hot Bihar, it was recently 46C ( thats 115F) . we are praying for the rains to come soon!

Firstly in this report I feel I must mention a micro project which was very much attached to this appeal and has due to the kindness and generosity of so many been successfully funded. This meant we are immediately able to start tailoring and sewing training in addition to craft skills which is a huge boost for the girls. ( see the photo above)

How things have changed here in our area of Bihar. One of the main aims of the centre was to increase community awareness of child trafficking as we cannot have our eyes and ears everywhere. We recently had a further meeting with the Railway Protection Force, (these are the armed guards that travel on many running trains) and it is becoming increasingly difficult for the traffickers to move children. Several agents involved in this "trade" have been arrested as a result of our cooperation with a number of law enforcement agencies. But of course Rescue is not enough, and we need to offer the opportunity to children to learn real skills in a supportive environment which can help change their lives around. This of course is the very nature of this appeal and we appreciate your support very much.

The Trust has a policy on all its appeals on Global Giving, that every single penny we receive from all appeals is directed immediately to the place of need, with no deductions in India for administration or any other purpose. That is our promise to you,

I hope you are feeling the warmth of summer, and with thanks again and good wishes to you all, i will ask one of the girls to write you all a personal note in our next update.

Sunita

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