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Month: October 2020

Shobha’s Decision For A Better Future

Posted on by My Choices Foundation mychoices
  • CATEGORY: MY CHOICES FOUNDATION

Shobha’s Decision For A Better Future

15-year old Shobha* loves to study and says, “It makes me so happy and is a way for a better life”. She works hard to ace her board exams now. Without your help, she would have resorted to prostitution out of desperation to support her family. Born in a poor background, Shobha’s parents struggled hard […]

15-year old Shobha* loves to study and says, “It makes me so happy and is a way for a better life”. She works hard to ace her board exams now. Without your help, she would have resorted to prostitution out of desperation to support her family.

Born in a poor background, Shobha’s parents struggled hard to put food on the table. They made INR 100 per day as daily labourers, taking up random jobs that come their way. It didn’t deter Shobha. She was determined to go to school, study hard and become a respected professional in the future.

SILENCED AND SHATTERED

Unexpectedly, one day her father fell ill and couldn’t go to work any longer. Her mother’s earnings were barely enough to get through a day and her father’s medical expenses began to mount up. Village leaders and religious practitioners advised Shobha to be dedicated to temple – the prevalence of the ancient Devadasi system still exists in some parts of India. It is an oppressive practice of young girls and women being regarded as temple property and sexually exploited. With no knowledge about the consequences, Shobha agreed.

HOPE ARRIVED

During 2019, we have organized the Safe Village Program, a two-day program for educating and empowering communities about sex trafficking. Our Implementing Partner on the ground heard about Shobha’s situation from one of the villagers. He reported this to Operation Red Alert (the Anti-trafficking arm of My Choices Foundation) and immediately intervened.

We partner with grassroot-level NGOs and community-based organizations to empower the vulnerable population through various awareness programs on sex trafficking, child abuse, child marriage, child sexual slavery and gender-based violence.

We met with Shobha’s family and explained the brutal effects of prostitution and the age-old harmful practices of the temple prostitution. Though they were reluctant initially, our persistent efforts made them realize their mistakes.

BE PART OF THE JOURNEY

Thanks to our partners and supporters, Shobha has been saved from one of the acute degenerative practices for suppressing young girls and women. She is happy and confident, and equipped to lead her life on her own choice.

On this World Day Against Trafficking in Persons, would you like to support girls like Shobha, please click here.

*Name changed for protecting the identity of a young girl

My Choices Foundation

This post was authored by the My Choices Foundation communications team. Our mission is to keep you informed on the cause, and hopeful that transformation is possible one story at a time.

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Celebrating International Day Of The Girl: Make The Unheard Heard

Posted on by My Choices Foundation mychoices
  • CATEGORY: MY CHOICES FOUNDATION

Celebrating International Day Of The Girl: Make The Unheard Heard

On International Day of the Girl, we celebrate the strength and potential of girls across the world. This day is an opportunity to reinforce the needs and challenges girls face while promoting girls’ empowerment and the fulfilment of their human rights. My Choices Foundation stands with girls everywhere as they break stereotypes, push boundaries, lead […]

On International Day of the Girl, we celebrate the strength and potential of girls across the world. This day is an opportunity to reinforce the needs and challenges girls face while promoting girls’ empowerment and the fulfilment of their human rights. My Choices Foundation stands with girls everywhere as they break stereotypes, push boundaries, lead global movements, and take charge of their future.

In the latest edition of Sanctuary magazine, our founder Elca Grobler has shared the story behind My Choices Foundation and how we make an impact among girls and women in India. You can check out here.

Girls are bold and their actions are transformative. As this year’s theme ‘My voice, our equal future’ highlights, they are increasingly proving to be raising their voices and taking charge of their future – from addressing gender-based violence, to closing the education gap and eliminating child marriage.

“There are two powers in the world; one is the sword and the other is the pen. There is a third power stronger than both, that of women and girls”.

– Malala Yousafzai, Educational activist

CHALLENGES GIRLS’ FACE

Girls are an active part of society and have made tremendous progress in the last few years. Yet far too often, they are denied their rights and opportunities to realise the full potential. Most girls aren’t getting a fair start in life. The shutdown of schools and other effects of COVID-19 have put millions of girls at risk more than ever before. There is a huge spike in domestic violence cases and it is predicted that most girls would never return to school.

We are at the brink of losing years of progress. We cannot afford it and we need to act fast.

WHAT WE DO

My Choices Foundation creates awareness about child sexual abuse, child marriage, child sexual slavery, cyberbullying, and harassment through multiple awareness programs. We educate young girls and equip women to be agents of change. We fight to stop gender-based violence so that girls everywhere can live a life of dignity.

We strongly hold the value of educating and empowering girls as well as boys for an equal future and balanced world.

Girls’ eye view is important in solving their challenges and our powerful interventions and approaches are aimed at working alongside young people in the community – we listen to them, understand their needs and help put their ideas into action. We are inspired and amazed by the enthusiasm within each girl we encounter during our field-based programs and grass root-level activations. They are strong, determined and prepared to lead for a better future.

We encourage you to take a moment to voice your thoughts on the conditions girls face in your neighbourhood, community and society.

We invite you to share your voice below on this question: “How can we support girls to become future leaders of our world?”

Let’s keep the conversation going to make the unheard heard.

My Choices Foundation

This post was authored by the My Choices Foundation communications team. Our mission is to keep you informed on the cause, and hopeful that transformation is possible one story at a time.

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Your donations make it possible for us to give women and girls the choice to live a life free from violence and exploitation.

I WANT TO DONATE

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Aarohi Finds Herself And Her Future

Posted on by My Choices Foundation mychoices
  • CATEGORY: MY CHOICES FOUNDATION

Aarohi Finds Herself And Her Future

This drawing is an expression of a 17-year old girl, Aarohi at My Choices Foundation’s Safe Home. SCARED AND WITHDRAWN Aarohi* couldn’t bring herself to talk about what happened to her when our Safe home social worker met her. She was dressed as a boy and refused to identify herself as a girl due to […]

This drawing is an expression of a 17-year old girl, Aarohi at My Choices Foundation’s Safe Home.

SCARED AND WITHDRAWN

Aarohi* couldn’t bring herself to talk about what happened to her when our Safe home social worker met her. She was dressed as a boy and refused to identify herself as a girl due to the constant fear of abuse.

Her eyes were filled with fear and her scars ran deep – she was constantly sexually abused and molested by her family members. She was too young to understand the complexity of the kind of violence when she experienced it for the first time. She felt utterly powerless and the constant abuse forced her to run away from home. Police found her at Hyderabad (in South India) railway station one early morning and approached My Choices Foundation for help.

FEELS VALUED AND LIBERATED

Her journey of recovery at our Safe Home was long and challenging. After concerted efforts from our counsellors, she listened. Coping mechanisms taught during the counseling sessions helped her to come out of the garb as a boy – she felt liberated to be called herself as a young girl. We continued to work with her through intensive counseling sessions and one day, she opened up. She spoke. She cried relentlessly. She started to express herself through art.

But the deep-rooted cultural, societal and gender norms made her feel unclean. We adopted positive interventions to build her self-worth and self-esteem.

  • Guidance worksheets to understand self-worth
  • Healthy emotional expressions
  • Sessions on safe and unsafe touch
  • Laws against child abuse
  • Overcoming trauma and strengthening mental health
  • Currency notes activity (INR 100 note doesn’t lose its value though it is crushed and similarly, her value hasn’t changed or diminished because of the abuse)

    • Aarohi boldly testified against her family to get the justice she deserves.

    She continues to outpour her emotions through creative expression – but with bold and bright colours. She still receives counseling and finds our Safe Home as a safe space where she is heard and felt.

    Aarohi’s drawing on her experience living at our Safe Home.

    Aarohi’s drawing on her experience living at our Safe Home.

    BE PART OF THE JOURNEY

    Aarohi raised her voice for justice. She inspires us. She leads a new life because of your actions and donations.

    Aarohi was fearless and got justice against all her odds. We encourage you to be fearless and join the fight against sex trafficking in India. Your contribution can help thousands of children like Aarohi. Play your part and support our work by donating now.

    *Name changed for protecting the identity of a young girl

    My Choices Foundation

    This post was authored by the My Choices Foundation communications team. Our mission is to keep you informed on the cause, and hopeful that transformation is possible one story at a time.

    Share this story

    Support Our Work

    Your donations make it possible for us to give women and girls the choice to live a life free from violence and exploitation.

    I WANT TO DONATE

    or sign up to our newsletter

    Domestic Violence Awareness Month – October 2020

    Posted on by My Choices Foundation mychoices
    • CATEGORY: MY CHOICES FOUNDATION

    Each NetBall Goal is a heavy blow at the heart and the head of the traffickers

    October is recognized as Domestic Violence Awareness Month. It was initiated with the purpose of changing the attitudes of society to a zero-tolerance approach to domestic violence, to create policy changes, increase the understanding of the impact of domestic violence on the victims, and to provide programs and education that will facilitate this change. The […]

    October is recognized as Domestic Violence Awareness Month. It was initiated with the purpose of changing the attitudes of society to a zero-tolerance approach to domestic violence, to create policy changes, increase the understanding of the impact of domestic violence on the victims, and to provide programs and education that will facilitate this change.

    The Domestic Violence Awareness Month originated in the 1980s in the USA when a day in October was celebrated as the “Day of Unity” by the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence. The Day of Unity eventually became an entire week of awareness activities that were conducted at various levels of the state. In October 1987, the first Domestic Violence Awareness Month was observed. The focus of this month was to mourn those who had lost their lives due to domestic violence, celebrating those who survived, and connecting those who need help to organizations and individuals who can provide support.

    In India, we have witnessed a rise in Domestic Violence as a result of the COVID-19 lockdown restrictions. According to the National Commission for Women (NCW) India, there has been a 100% increase in domestic violence against women after the nationwide lockdown was imposed in March 2020. This twofold increase has pushed NCW to announce Mental Health Helplines for those witnessing any form of domestic violence. My Choices Foundation also introduced its toll-free helpline 1800-212-9131 to make help accessible to women in distress.

    Domestic Violence was a grave concern even before the onset of the nationwide lockdown. Isolating at home has resulted in an increase in abuse. Having nowhere to go and no one to ask for help can be debilitating. The impact of COVID-19 has made the need for support and services for those experiencing abuse more critical than ever. Join us throughout the month of October to raise awareness by sharing information that can help those who are experiencing violence in their home. Because for them, home isn’t the safe space it ought to be.

    If you are a victim of Domestic Violence, please know that you are NOT alone.

    If you are experiencing domestic violence or are in an abusive relationship please call- 1800 212 9131, if it is unsafe to call leave us a message on WhatsApp- 9333 40 4141

    My Choices Foundation

    This post was authored by the My Choices Foundation communications team. Our mission is to keep you informed on the cause, and hopeful that transformation is possible one story at a time.

    Share this story

    Support Our Work

    Your donations make it possible for us to give women and girls the choice to live a life free from violence and exploitation.

    I WANT TO DONATE

    or sign up to our newsletter