India
Education, Empowering Women, Human Trafficking, Job Training
$23,867 Goal
Prevent human trafficking in a rural area by investing in a residential school, coaching center, and Women’s Association
The Situation
Rural women in Assam suffer from being both economically and socially invisible. For them there is continued vulnerability and inequality in all sectors — economic, social, political, education, health care and legal.
Also, female drop-out students may be the most vulnerable population for sex trafficking or child labor in this part of India. Recent studies show that 29.28% of girls in this region drop out.
There is a need to empower women to counter this menace while strengthening women’s economic security.
Sisters’ Response
The Sisters of St. Joseph of Lyons were invited to join a long-standing successful community-based nonprofit to provide programs for the empowerment of young girls through education and vocational training. They developed a three-pronged project that enhances the socio-economic condition of the most marginalized tribal girls and women in the Barrack Valley.
“Basic education can transform the lives of girls and women, providing them with a greater appreciation of their own potential and rights as well as expanded employment opportunities. Our experience is an educated woman is capable of making decisions, voicing opinions, and holding good posts in governments.” —Dr. Sherly Thoma
“Empowerment of women is a process of awareness of capacity building, leading to a greater participation, to greater decision making power and control to transformative action.”
Sr. Sherly Thomas
Funds Needed: $23,867 (per year)
How funds will be used:
- Residential educational services to 25 drop-out girls per year.
- Coaching centers for vocational studies
- Women’s Associations to provide support, training and managerial/technical capacity-building
- Salary for a coach for a center
- Vocational training materials for each center
- One time purchase of sewing machines and computers for each center
Systemic Impact
At the end of a year of preparations, 80% of participants have passed the 10th class metric exams and then either attend college or have developed the capacity to run a small business.
Systemic Goal
Eradicate child labor and human trafficking in Barrack Valley Region, Assam, India.