"Fighting Adversities…."

I want to make it big”, I want to restore Kabul to its past beauty, words of a confident, independent forward-looking 13 year old Omar from Kabul, Afghanistan.

Born and brought up in Kabul, city of half constructed dilapidated bullet ridden buildings. A city comprising of poverty-stricken population with hardly any basic amenities for itself. In this city, Omar lives with his family comprising of six sisters and four brothers. His father owns a grocery store while his mother is a housewife.

Five years back, Omar and his family members were going through a very rough and turbulent phase. Living a fearful life defined by extreme poverty, Omar had no option but to work on the streets at an early age. He was hardly 8 years old when he with his siblings started selling plastic bags and made an earning of 50 Afghanis on a daily basis while his father used to work in a grocery store. Giving all his earnings to his parents and keeping a minimal amount (5 afghani) to himself, Omar was living a life characterized by absence of school, surrender of his desires, hopes and wishes for the financial and emotional welfare of his family.

In 2003, Omar joined Aschiana, which is an Afghan non-government organization that provides services, support and has different programs for street and working children and for their families in Kabul. He initially became part of the education and painting program but with the opening of Butterflies initiated Children’s Development Bank (CDB) in Aschiana in 2004, Omar actively involved himself in running and campaigning for the bank. He opened his account in June 2004 with a minimal amount of 5 afghani and within a year i.e. by June 2005, Omar had 1800 afghani in his account. Extremely proud of himself, it is with his money saved in the CDB, Omar’s father opened his own grocery store in Kabul city and the family was also able to pay the monthly house rent (1000 Afghanis), which saved them from being removed from their premises.

At present, Omar is the Bank manager and earns 1000 Afghanis on a monthly basis. He and his siblings no longer work on the streets and all of them go to a reputed school in Kabul. Out of the 1000 afghani that Omar earns as the Bank manager, he gives 800 afghani to his parents and the remaining 200 he keeps to himself that he uses to buy materials for school like books, notebooks, pens etc clothes for self as well as for his parents and siblings. No longer does he submit his wishes and desires and aims to fulfill the needs of his family members to its fullest. By contributing to the household expenses, Omar feels very happy and content and thus feels worthwhile.

Extremely pleased, Omar considers the Children’s Development Bank a lifeline for children like him who with the help of the Bank can live a life of respect and dignity. He believes that the Bank has made him independent, self-reliant and has also been a means for him to learn banking skills. Aiming to be a banker, Omar is working hard and with his conviction and sincerity, sky is the limit.

Source: Butterflies’ E-newsletter of the Children’s Development Bank, June 2006

NOTE:
Butterflies is a non-profit organization working with disadvantaged and underprivileged children. The training of children to become bank managers is supported by SARI/Equity under its Regional Grants Program in six countries of South Asia - among them in Afghanistan

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“Learning to Earn With Dignity”

Seventeen year old Punita was living with her father, sister, brother, uncles, and 2 nephews in a slum of Mumbai. Though she had never been to school she learnt to read and write from friends. Always bubbling around in the area and ready to help people in their need Punita met Suhani, a woman in the area who started talking to her of starting her own “BEAUTY PARLOR”. Soon Punita started dreaming of having a beauty parlor of her own. Though not educated, she could see the prospect of the business in her area.

Suhani helped her to get the training and sent her to work at a parlor. The first two days no special work was assigned to her; on the third day the Police raided the place. Thereafter she came to the Deonar special home.

In the beginning she could not understand what really happened. The Prerana psycho-social counselor explained the whole “racket” and reassured her of her safety at the special home. Noting Punita’s interest to learn, the counselor briefed her about the livelihood training offered by CAP. Punita was very willing to join the course and started coming for the classes after a few orientation sessions with the CAP team. Her questions were very simple like for how many days the course will go on; how much money do I have to pay; etc. but a lot of thought went into it because when her father came to take her home she told him that she wanted to complete the course; get a job and then come home. This demonstrated her confidence and motivation.

At the completion of the course due to a court order the girls at Deonar could not go out for work; so she opted for ON-JOB-TRAINING. Punita has now been transferred to another home, NAVJYOTI, from where she was sent for an interview at Tata Indicom – telemarketing. She was selected…..

Punita now has a job at Tata Indicom and she is “all charged up” to work here rather than at the Par-lurè “beauty parlor”.

NOTE:
Prerana and CAP (Child And Police) together with other partners provide integrated services to rescued trafficked victims in Mumbai shelter homes supported by SARI/Equity under a GTIP grant.

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“Training in Livelihood Skills Makes Me Feel Secure and Confident”

My name is Nazma Akhter. I am a separated woman of 25 years with a daughter aged 3. I live with my mother. My father was a landless marginal farmer. When I was 13, my father remarried. As a result, the responsibility of bringing up me and my five siblings fell upon my mother. It was hard for my mother alone to earn a livelihood to support us. I had to drop out of school to help her. My mother sent me to Kuwait to earn a living; she raised money for my trip by selling her paddy field and borrowing some money from the moneylender. Initially, I could not find a job in Kuwait. Later I managed to get employment as a housemaid. During my stay in Kuwait, I met a young Bangladeshi man and got married.

After some time when I got pregnant, my employer refused to retain me as housemaid and forced me to return to my home country. When I returned, my husband’s family refused to accept me as their son’s wife. Therefore, I am living with my mother. The money I earned abroad was spent in repaying some of the loan I had taken. My husband is not able to send money regularly. In this situation, I was forced to explore some suitable means of earning for our survival.

During this time an NGO worker from WARBE came to our house for the purpose of house registration for the SARI/Equity project. He informed us that WARBE was organizing a three-month training course on livelihood options for migrant workers and their family members. I discussed with my mother my intention to attend the training program. After getting detailed information and counseling from WARBE staff members my mother gave her consent for me to participate in the training course. I received training in tailoring, block printing, hand embroidery and doll making. After the three month training course I felt confident to start a small business on my own with a small capital.

My average monthly income now stands at Tk. 2000-2500. I feel secure working from home.

The Livelihood Training Program has helped me in gaining adequate practical skills and made me confident to do something on my own. I am very grateful to WARBE for this gesture of help. I admit that the WARBE-SARI/Equity Program has been a blessing for my life.

NOTE:
The Welfare Association of Repatriated Bangladeshi Employees (WARBE) receives assistance under SARI/Equity’s regional grants program for a project entitled “Support for Safe Migration, Reintegration, and Livelihood Options ”

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“A Meaningful Life with a Good Portion of Self-Respect”

Praveen Kumar is from Mangar Basti, a slum where the majority of settlers are from the neighboring state of Maharashtra. It is an authorized slum with about 700 “kuccha” houses. Water and electricity are available in the community.

A 21 year old Praveen Kumar describes his former self as a “rowdy” who used to roam the streets of Hyderabad with his friends, looking for a fight. A school drop-out who took to physical intimidation as a source of income, he had several cases registered against him in the local police station. He first heard about the CAP–SARI/Equity Skills Training Program from one of his friends. When the long-haired Praveen came to the center on the day of mobilization in the community, he was scornful of the whole thing “I didn’t pay attention to a single word the coordinators said”, he says ruefully. Then a smile lights up his face. “But I still somehow managed to join the course. And it has changed my life”, he says. He recalls the days when he used to get into fights with people merely because he didn’t like the way they looked at him, and compares it to his current self – He is clean shaven, well-dressed, and his hair cropped neatly.

“The CAP–SARI/Equity Skill Training has given me so much – skills, patience and a new shot at life and I am really grateful for it”, he says. He adds “I have a different identity in my family and community” Someday he hopes to be successful in his career and make his parents happy. “I want to make my parents proud of me”, he says, smiling confidently.

NOTE:
SARI/Equity supports CAP (Child and Police) in providing sustainable livelihoods to slum dwellers and “nomad” communities throughout India by way of a scale up grant that allows the organization to carry out “LABs-based trainings” in slums around Hyderabad. LABs stands for “Livelihood Advancement Business School”. In a simple but systematic manner (three months of class room training and three months of on-the-job apprenticeships) it matches the requirements of the market with the potential of the “beneficiary”. Back to top

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“I have got a job!”

In April 2005, CAP (Child and Police) started livelihood trainings in Mumbai shelter homes, for girls rescued from exploitative sexual situations on, “Customer Relations and Sales” and “White Goods Servicing”. When Rita (name changed) completed the three-month “crash-course” in August 2005, she was thrilled to receive an appointment letter from Domino’s Pizza India Limited, inviting her to join the company as a trainee with immediate effect. Rita learnt to take calls and place orders. She presently earns Rs 1,500 per month and is expected to double those earnings after two months of training.

For SARI/Equity’s Mumbai Program, this terrific achievement is not a “loner”, three more girls are with Domino’s Pizza at a salary that is at par with other hires by the company. Domino’s Pizza is so satisfied with its “new recruits” that it has proposed to tie up with CAP nationwide for such job placements. Five other girls are with a Tata Indicom call center as telemarketing executives, two with Airtel and one each with Race and Rehmani Foundation.

This is only a “starter” but it has great motivational value for the batch of girls currently under training; for others in similar situations it provides hope.

NOTE:
Child and Police (CAP) is a SARI/Equity partner in its Mumbai Victim Witness Protection Program. In the holistic process from a trafficking victim’s rescue to rehabilitation/reintegration into the social fabric, CAP plays a crucial role insofar as it provides the young women with vocational skills based on a thorough market scan and with subsequent job placements “without stigma attached and outside knowledge of the victim’s past life experience”. Below is an account of first “successes” in getting back “dignity and self-respect” combined with gainful employment.

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“Gaining Livelihood Skills and Confidence in Planning for a Sustainable Future……”

“My name is K Suguna, I am a young widow of 24 years with a daughter aged 4 years. I live with my mother. I lost my father at a very young age. I am the eldest daughter in my family; studied up to 8th grade and helped my mother in drying fish to support my family. With the prevailing dowry system in our village, I got married at an early age. I lost my husband due to health reasons.

After this major setback in my life, I came back to my mother’s house and was engaged in the same activities along with my mother; my daughter’s future always worried me. After the Tsunami all of us lost our livelihoods.

I had no exposure to the outside world, my life was confined to the island. The fishermen were not going out to sea and I was seriously thinking about alternate livelihoods.

In July, one of my neighbors informed me about the CAP-SARI/Equity Livelihood Training Program. Initially, I was reluctant to attend the road show - being a widow my community members and my mother would not have approved of it.

I discussed with my mother my intention of attending the program, and as expected my mother refused and asked me to concentrate on household activities and look after my daughter.

Despite her refusal one day I decided to attend the road show; the team members asked me to write an exam and to attend an individual counseling session. They admitted me into the Customer Relations Sales (CRS) course; my mother didn’t attend the parents’ counseling as she was against my admission into the course. The CAP-SARI/Equity team came to my house to do the parent counseling and my mother told them that she couldn’t take care of my child and wanted me to make my own arrangements before I joined the program. One of my neighbors’s agreed to take care of my child and I started attending classes regularly.

The Induction and Life Skills Program has helped me in gaining confidence. I am unable to express in words how despite being a widow from a conservative fishing community, now I am able to decide about my goals for life as well as for my daughter‘s future. Now I have the confidence to come up in life.

Though we had many unfortunate experiences because of the Tsunami, one good thing has happened - we have received help from unknown quarters. I am confident that the CAP-SARI/Equity Program has resulted in a new beginning to my life.”

NOTE:
CAP (Child and Police) receives support from SARI/Equity. In order to respond quickly to urgent needs following the Tsunami disaster – and to prevent vulnerable young women and girls from falling prey to traffickers and “unsafe” migration - SARI/Equity immediately agreed with its partner to extend the implementation of the project for migrant/displaced communities in Tamil Nadu, India, to come to the support of Tsunami affected women and girls.

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“Children's Development Bank – A Savings Scheme for Street and Working Children”

Sunil KC (15 years old), was a rag picker before and lived on the streets. He is now the Children's Development Bank (CDB) manager at the Jyoti Contact Centre where CDB is located. Not only Sunil but most of his friends from the street have become members of the CDB. The CDB concept was initiated in India by Butterflies, which in turn identified Child Welfare Scheme (CWS) – Nepal, as a partner agency to establish the scheme in Nepal. This was subsequent to the training provided by Butterflies as part of the SARI/Equity program in April 2005. It has now been nearly a month since the bank came into existence. It provides a safe saving place for street children to save their daily earnings, and children can open an account with a minimum of one rupee. More than 60 children have become the CDB members and already have their saving accounts.

A seven member committee, consisting of the street children themselves has been set up. Children are slowly developing confidence and motivation to work. After Sunil became the bank manager, he left his rag picking work and has now started going to a formal school. He is studying in grade six in Janapriya Secondary High School in Pokhara. Along with his classes, he is also undertaking his managerial responsibilities in the CDB and says he is studying to become a competitive bank manager in the future. Jyoti Contact Centre provides capacity build up trainings to the bank managers and members frequently. Bank managers are trained in maintaining accounts, keeping the accounts updated and opening new accounts, etc.

The bank is not even a month old and the savings made by the street children have already been more than NRs 15,000 and the saving and withdrawal process is being practiced smoothly. Street children visit the bank everyday and save whatever they earn. They earlier faced problems of safe keeping of their earnings but not anymore. Moreover, they used to spend their earnings on drugs, glue sniffing, smoking, drinking, etc. CDB has provided a platform to the street children to develop saving habits. Thirteen-year-old Milan Nepali from the street has already saved NRs. 4000 in his account opened in the bank. He saved this amount by collecting and selling rags. He used to smoke before but has now stopped. Arun BK, 10 years old, hopes to open a small hotel some day by saving money in the bank. The Bank has future plans to provide loans to street children who wish to start small businesses.

NOTE:
Butterflies is a non-profit organization working with disadvantaged and underprivileged children. Its Project on training children to become bank managers in six countries – Afghanistan, Bangladesh, India, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka - is supported by SARI/Equity under its Regional Grants Program.

www.childrensdevelopmentbank.org

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“Extending Help to Trafficking Victims Quickly and Efficiently”

“At 2.00 am, Fatima was detained by railway police officers at Katihar station. Since Bhoomika Vihar - because of its cross border vigilance centers - is well known for extending help to trafficking victims and has good relations with the police, the organization was informed and quickly mobilized a team to help the frightened girl – who neither was ready to believe that people could help her nor was ready to talk to any one whom she would trust. Their trained counselors provided the much needed psychological support, care and sympathy. Slowly Fatima relaxed and spoke about the events that led to her being picked up by the police in the middle of the night close to the Indo/Nepali border. Cheated by a friend who had intoxicated her with a pill, she had been taken from her home in Nepal and sold off to the “red light district” in Agra, India. “I was brutally beaten and abused repeatedly by wicked people” sobbed Fatima showing the black marks on her hand and legs to the volunteers of Bhoomika Vihar. She escaped and tried to get back home. That’s when she was found – exhausted and frightened - by the police. Fatima is now back with her family in Nepal – thanks to the efforts of Bhoomika Vihar.”

NOTE:
Bhoomika Vihar, with INL funds received from and supported by SARI/Equity, had established much needed vigilance centers at the border, had hired and trained counselors, and established excellent contacts of trust with the border police.

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