WAY FORWARD AFTER THE RESCUE

Introduction

Way Forward After the Recue is a project to track, support, encourage, follow up with our Major Released Girls from Rescue Foundation

Over the years we have seen many of our Girls at the Mumbai Shelter Home take up training, continue with their edcucation, brush up on their skills to be job ready in the City of Opportunities. 

They come from varied backgrownds, cultures, levels of literacy and they have been equipped during thier Rehabilitation time at Rescue Foundation with skills, education training to be eligible for such job opportunities.

Once they are adults we at Rescue Foundation have enabled them to live their lives on their own terms making good choices which do not exploit them.  Many of of them choose to stay back in Mumbai and visit families during festivals or once annually.  Few families do not want them back due to discrimination and stigma they face back in their villages

Several girls have found their calling as they have completed their education and been placed in jobs such in Hotels, Resturants, Beauty Palors or Corporate Houses.

Few of the girls live for a brief period in our own campus with a little support from the Organization.  Few others have decided to live in rented rooms together, yet few have also gone ahead and got married in the past one year.

Some even have been absorbed by the Organization as Interns, Trainers. 

Trainer of Trainees

We are proud of our Major Girls, who post release or after completing their Rehabilitation have shown to be Role Models, Peer Educators for our other Women & Girls

2 of our girls have been working as Trainers for the past 2 Years, conducting trainings such as Tailoring, Art & Craft, Beautician, Hair Stylist, Computers, Non Formal Educators, Zumba.

They have shown excellent skills at maintaining records, discipline and mentoring

One of them also continues her studies in Bachelor of Commerce and is doing very well.

Mentoring & Accompanyinlg the Minor Survivors to Schools, Colleges, Training Centers, or preparing for any Cultural Sports Activity also is a big part of contritbution of our Major Released Girls from the Group Home

Profile of Girls at the Group Home Post Release

Total No of Girls 15

No of School Going Girls 13

No of College Going Girls 3

No of Girls who attended Vocational Training 10

No of Girls Counseled 15

No of Girls who were supported with Health Care Services 2

No Girls who are working 2

No of Girls who visited families 1

Training Sessions Attended

Most of the girls attended the following Training Sessions

• Legal Aid & Counelling conducted by the District Legal Aid Serivices Mumbai
• Sessions on Menstrual Health
• Session on Life Skills

Participation in Cultural Activities & Competions

Christmas Day Celebrations were organized for some of the staff and our Major Girls joined in.  We had a time of appreciating each other and sharing gifts on the occasion

Republic Day the girls joined the staff and the other survivors observing the Republic Day.  They shared the importance of the Day with the other survivors

Bal Mahautsav this is a Sports cum Cultural Event held each year by the District Women & Child Dept. in Mumbai.  Our Major Girls were insruental in preparing a group of survivors with games, speeches and presentations for the Event.  We were appreciated by the District Authorities

Conclusion

We are grateful for the contribution of our Girls at the Group Home.  Its true that they are finding their place in the sun, studyinlg, working, mentoring, supporting the Home in whatever way they can along with building themselves for the future that awaits them.  Our best wishes and prayers are always with them

Introduction

Way Forward After the Rescue is a project designed to facilitate, track the progress of women and girls who have completed their rehabilitation period at Rescue Foundation Kandivali Home and have been legally released to lead their lives once they have completed 18 years.  These are girls who do not wish to go back to their families either the families do not want them, or they cannot be traced after all these years or the girls prefer to stay back in Mumbai the city of opportunities for several reasons

Rescue Foundation works with survivors who have been victims of Human Trafficking, Child Sexual Abuse, and Commercial Sexual Exploitation, forced marriage or simple children who are need of Care & Protection

Rescue Foundation has been instrumental in thier Rescue, Rehabilitation and Restoring thier lives to them once released from the Shelter Home. 

Post Rescue the women and girls undergo a period of Rehabilitation as per the Govt of India guidelines at our Shelter Homes.  During the Rehabilitation they are provided Shelter, Food, Education & Medical,Legal Support, Counselling, encouraged to speak up at their Court Trials, and VocationalTtraining to enable them to live productive lives free of exploitation in the future.

Many of them are handed back or restored to their Homes if the Homes or Families are conducive and supportive for their stay.  Few of these girls prefer to stay back after the Rehabilitation to seek better opportunities.  They then become a part of our After Care Serivices and live at the Group Home in Kandivali, Mumbai

These girls prefer to complete their education, training or search for job opportunities with the support of Rescue Foundation.  At this juncture they need a lot of support, encouragement, counselling.

Rescue Foundation offers them support for 6 months or more with a shelter at the Group Home, or link them to job opportunities.  They are also part of the Vocational Training at the Shelter Home.  Some of them continue to study and complete these trainings.

We are glad that these girls do not completely break ties with their families but occassionaly visit them during festivals, or special occassions or simply if someone is sick back home.

It is also commendable that these girls after release are willing to hand hold the other new entrants, they act as facilitators and trainers at Rescue Foundation

Quarterly Data 

No of Girls 14

No of Girls in Training 14

No of Girls completing thier college / school studies 5

No of Girls working and staying at Rescue Foundation Group Home 7

No of Girls working and staying together in the City 2

Health Training Conducted 

Mentrual Hygiene & Gyaenoligical Problems 

TB Awareness & Testing 

Success Stories

• We are glad to share that 2 of our girls are doing good job at their Internship at JW Marriot in Housekeeping & at their Coffee Shop
• One of our girl from Boisar has successfully got admission to Bachelor of Social Work at the Prestigious Nirmala Niketan College of Social Work.  She has joined the Group Home this quarter and travels to her college daily
• Another of our girl has completed her Bachelor of Commerce and has started working with our Finance Dept.
• Yet another one who was transferred from our Boisar Home has got Internship at Lakme's Beauty Saloon and learning from the experts.  She is also taking care of her two siblings as both her parents have passed away.

 Conclusion

Kandivali Home acts as a First Home for girls at our other Shelter Homes in Maharashtra namely Pune and Boisar, who are looking out for jobs in Mumbai.  Thus many girls from our Pune & Boisar Home are transferred to the Mumbai Home, where the Shelter Team facilitates and links them to job or internship opportunities

Mumbai Home also has Survivors who have gone through thier own experiences of preparing for job opportunities.  These in turn are Mentors and Guides to the new entrants at our the Group Home.  They are the ones who show the Way Forward and their experiences in Mumbai

We hope to continue to support our girls in their future efforts of completing studies, training, internships, seeking jobs and having a second opportunity at Life and breaking free of the exploitation.

Your efforts of supporting them will go a long way in enabling them to become the person they always dreamed to be.