PROJECT UDAAN: Stop Children From Becoming Sex Workers

PROJECT UDAAN: Stop Children From Becoming Sex Workers Proposed Intervention in West Bengal (Sonagachi, Kolkata) Overseas Volunteer For A Better India September 2014 An OVBI Initiative

Table of Content • Vision Statement • Introduction • Target Intervention & Objectives • Proposed Activities for the Intervention • Expected Impact • Project Budget • Project Plan

Vision Statement Project Udaan is a path breaking effort to create Safe Havens for children of Indian sex workers and helping them to get back to mainstream of society by providing loving and compassionate care with access to healthcare, education, skills training and self growth • Current Project will support 50 children as a Pilot project in Sonagachi, Kolkata. Plan is to implement this repeatable model and inspire other NGO's to also take up this cause across India. Initial Estimated cost is USD $200K. • We also plan to lobby the Indian Government to work towards the eradication of child prostitution.

Introduction • There are an estimated 1.2 M children of prostitutes in India • Kolkata is the major hub of trafficking activities and for forcing women and children into Commercial Sexual Exploitation (CSE) The Problem: Barely any NGO has taken up this cause of rescuing these innocent girls because of the inherent problems that come from working in these areas. They have all the resources but don’t have the will to venture into this territory. They are looking for someone to show them the way. The Solution: Project Udaan is a pilot project for the Sonagachi red light area in Kolkata, for creating a “Safe Haven” for 50 girls, where they can lead a normal childhood, safe from the real dangers of the flesh trade. By setting up this “Safe Haven” we will demonstrate that such efforts can be very successful. This will encourage other NGOs to take up this cause and they will be able to reach out to theremaining 1.2 million such needy children across India The plan involves building a secure house away from the red light area. Our target age group is 5 – 18. We will provide them a safehome, food, clothing, modern education, health care, vocational training & most importantly HOPE

Target Intervention & Objectives The objectives of the intervention are to: Provide the target group with modern education facilities Provide the older girls with skills training which will enable them to choose a means of earning their livelihood. Create an enabling environment for children for all-round development of their personality and inculcate the passion for self- growth in their lives. Inculcate good health and hygiene practices De-traumatize the children through the Art of Living programs and equip them mentally, physically and emotionally for sustainable behavior transformation. Create social leadership among the children for becoming leaders of social change in their community. Provide counseling to children.

Proposed Activities for the Intervention • Set up a residential school for 50 girls , at a location at a distance from the Red Light areas • Set up Skills & Vocational Training center • Include service based activities in the curriculum, increase the leadership skills & self worth of the children • Include the spirituality courses in the curriculum : • Organize Bal ChetanaShibirs: Bal ChetanaShibirs have been customized especially for the all-round personality development. These Shibirs help to restore the joys of childhood, innocence, and confidence among the children. • Organize ART Excel Courses:The ART Excel course is for children aged between 8 and 13 years, it helps them gain good personal skills and nurtures their best natural potential. ART Excel students learn life skills, yoga and breathing processes which help eliminate fear and anxiety, techniques that enhance focus and concentration, simple meditation and relaxation techniques, skills in friendship, leadership and teamwork. Activities such as making a new friend each day and random acts of kindness help students to become aware of the needs of others and encourage the integration of human values into their daily lives.

Proposed Activities for the Intervention (cont.) • Empowerment programs for the Older Girl Child : Create a workforce that would undertake initiatives at the community level to identify and resolve issues, leading to improving their overall living conditions. The programs will also nurture and groom social leadership amongst them. The participants will be provided with a wide spectrum of in-depth training with regard to their physical, mental and emotional development for dealing with any challenging situation effortlessly and to undertake their role in the society more effectively & efficiently.

Expected Impact • The initiative plans at uplifting the girl child from the nightmarish, ghetto like life of the Red Light Areas into the world which offers them opportunities equal to children from the mainstream of Society to which they are also entitled :- • Basic rights such as the right to live and right to protection • Education and opportunities to grow and develop • Livelihood options • Right against exploitation • Right to legal redress of grievances • The initiative also plans at developing the “Spiritual Quotient “ : • Developing a sense of self worth and self esteem • Development of a positive attitude and capacity to deal with challenging situations • Enthusiasm to engage with life, with friends and family in a positive sharing and caring manner • Improved interest in studies and play • Developing an attitude to live life meaningfully • The Project envisages the liberation from bondage of successive batches of Girl Children from the Red Light area

Estimate for the Residential cum Vocational Training Center for 50 Girls (A) Capital Expenditure Land and Associated Expenses • * Local unit for one ‘Cottaha’ • Boundary wall will be 108 running feet long and 8 feet high Assumption: 1USD = 60 INR (Indian Rupees) (B)Construction Cost (C)Working Capital Yearly recurring expenses = $23,000 • Total Funds Needed For The Project (A+B+C) $200,020

Project Plan

BRICKS OF HOPE DONATE A BRICK OF HOPE TO BUILD A HOME STOP children from becoming sex workers One brick is for $20 donation Visit us on Facebook: facebook.com/projectudan

APPENDIX

Annexure 1: About Overseas Volunteer For A Better India Overseas Volunteer for a Better India (OVBI) launched in May 2013, is a 501(c)(3) organization managed by a group of inspired NRIs ready to support initiatives in India and tackle issues the Indian community faces in the U.S. Our movement’s roots are grounded in the Volunteer for a Better India (VBI) movement. On February 3rd, 2013 more than 100,000 concerned citizens united at Ram Lila Maidan in New Delhi in response to rampant corruption, violence towards women, suicides and water shortages. On that day, in unison the group pledged to give 1 hour a day for the nation and to inspire millions of others to do so. And Volunteer for a Better India was born.OVBI is the overseas arm of Volunteer for Better India. We believe that every individual can make a meaningful impact and play a role in the betterment of the global Indian community. Together we can transform the world in a way that would make great leaders like Mahatma Gandhi proud. We welcome participation from all global volunteers.

Some Facts Based on the study on ‘Children of Prostitutes’ conducted by Prof. K.K. Mukherjee, Delhi School of Social Work (1991) in six major metropolitans cities including Kolkata the following can be estimated Sonagachi has an estimated 11,000 prostitutes. • The child population in Sonagachi is estimated at 14,300 • 4,700 children are estimated to be illiterate. • 3,400 are estimated to be in the age group 1-10 years

Situational Analysis • The CSWB (1990) observed that these children were vulnerable to the ways of the trade right from their childhood. • Often, they remain on the streets at night, when their mothers are engaged with their clients. • Infants, who cannot be kept out at night, sleep below the bed on which the mother has to undergo her profession. • Toilet and sanitary facilities are inadequate and many of the young people bathe in open places (50% of the females of 14-18 years). • Children feel lonely, neglected, deprived and rejected

Situational Analysis • Children are highly exposed to liquor and drug peddling, enticing clients for sex workers and eventually get involved in addiction and gang wars. • The girls are at high risk of getting absorbed in the flesh trade. • The boys end up becoming male prostitutes or pimps. • Sick children are mostly left unattended due to parents being busy entertaining clients. • The parents themselves abet trafficking, mostly for commercial gain

Situational Analysis • Shocking as it may seem, children in brothels are extremely vulnerable to trafficking and sexual exploitation. • A large number of children of sex workers’ are in fact trafficked into sexual exploitation (Nair, 2005). • Dr. P. M. Nair of UNODC (2005) considers that this group of children are mostly vulnerable because: • Most of these children are born out of ‘illegitimate’ relationship • The parents themselves abet trafficking, mostly for commercial gain • They lack care and protection • They lack education and opportunities to grow and develop • They are deprived of livelihood options • They are deprived their basic rights such as the right to live & right to protection • Right against exploitation and right to legal redressal of grievances.

Situational Analysis • The children of prostitutes faced a number of problems arising out of their life situation : • Social stigma, non-acceptance & social abuse • Lack of identity of fathers • Separation from the mothers indulgence/apathetic attitude of the mother • Loneliness, neglect, feeling of deprivation and rejection • Affliction with some diseases of the mother • Exposure to the world of prostitution • Lack of a father figure to provide security, care and guidance • Increased responsibility of the mother for maintenance of the children • Economic hardship • Lack of facilities to meet basic minimum needs, including health care • Unhealthy social environment • Malnutrition and ill health

PROJECT UDAAN: Stop Children From Becoming Sex Workers