By Heather Ferreira | Evaluation Research & Grants Advisor
Introduction
Way Forward is a Project for the Girls of Rescue Foundation who have completed their Rehabiliation Period as per the Govt and Court orders and are released either to go back home or to stay in Mumbai and explore options for futher education, skill training or job oppoortunities.
Rescue Foundation intervenes in accordance to their 3 Objectives as below:
Objective 1 : Rescue of Women & Girls who are victims of Human Trafficking or Child Sexual Abuse.
Objective 2 : To Rehabilitate the rescued persons in our Shelter Homes
Objective 3 : To Restore, Repatriate the Women and Girls after their official custody either to their families or support them to reintegrate in mainstream community
Way Forward Project intervenes with over 20 such Major Girls who have been released and in transition to be reunited with families or into communities.
Aftercare Initiative
Besides Rescue and Rehabilitation we also are there for our survivors to encourage support them with their lives once they are released. They either wish to be united to their families or decide to make a life of their own with support from Rescue Foundation. For that purpose we have a small Aftercare Unit in Mumbai which caters to the specific needs for these girls. Mumbai being a city of opportunities we are glad that they find a very supportive enivironment which comes along for their future education, skill training or job placement
Partnership
For past one year we have parntered Yuva Prathistaan in Mumbai which has been conducting a 3 month training in Hotel Managment & Tailoring. Once ther training period is over they are placed at good hotels as trainees receiving some stipend. Later they are supported to be placed in the Hotels of their choice.
No of Beneficiaries 25
Education
We have 8 girls who are continuing their school and college studies. One of them is appearing for her MCom degreee course. During the Covid Lockdown most of these girls have been attendng their classes online. Just a week back the physical classes have started
There have been challenges for some of our girls who did not have proper documents to apply for their school of college admissions. We have been in the process to access these documents to facilitate their admissions
Health
Most of the girls are in good health. One of the girls developed some TB symptoms and was treated.
Vocational Training
Tailoring, Basic Computer Skills, Bag Making are some of the skills these Major Released Girls have been imparting to the other girls in the Mumbai Shelter Home
One of the girls takes up Computer Skills & Bagmaking which has been very successful. Nearly 15 of other girls are being trained under her.
Another Girl after being trained in Tailoring is teaching a group of 12 girls basic tailoring and embroidery skills
Another one takes up Beautician Course which included hairs styling and mehendi art work on the palms.
Zumba & Yoga is taken up by anther girl for around 25 of them
These Vocational Training are a big success and the younger girls look up to them as Role Models
Job Skill Training
Hotel Management Training has been done for 6 of the girls. Some have completed the training and have joined as Trainees at reputed Hotels
4 of our Released Girls are also interning with Rescue Foundation. 1 is in the Accounts Deptarment, 3 are working as Care Takers for the Shelter Home
Challenges
We had a few set backs. One of the girls lost her mother, and thus had to give up her studies and start looking out for a job
Few of our girls still continue to be indecisive of what they would like to do in the future. More so the girls who are being pressurized by families to get married at early age, when they have would like to seek other options for themselves
Follow Up
We continule to follow up with all the girls who have gone back to their families or have taken up rented homes for themselves and managing to merge in the mainstream society. They still need help at times in form of dry ration, some education or training support.
Nearly 6 of them still live on the premises of Rescue Foundation, though seperately in another room, but are dependant for food and shelter from the organization
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