Plan

Five years down the lane ….

SAHELI CELL
( Saheli means friend, guide, Philosopher)

The candle of enlightenment, by Tomokosan Education & Empowerment program (TEEP) of Deep Child and women welfare centre spread the light of education to the lives of many girls in the remote villages of India. This is  small attempt of protecting and promoting the aspirations  of the girl child by supporting their for education .  TEEP since its inception was concerned about adolescent girls and women. It started the education Campaign, and will make this experimental endeavor a success by sensitising the masses and established the foundation for a Girl child friendly society.  

The girls cell name will be  ‘Saheli’, symbolising friendship as an integral part in the lives of million of girls who may not be able to open themselves to anyone other than their friends. The reality has to change and this can only be possible through the girls .  These  girls are discriminated all aspects of their lives , less food than their brothers, does not go to school, taught to be silent . This is   the reflection of girlhood who is born to sacrifice all her dreams, aspirations without questioning the authority of the man as a father, brother and in her later life as a husband or son. As the girls easily identify themselves with ‘Saheli’, Saheli cell will provide  them an identity and the much-needed platform to express themselves.  

In the beginning the girls will meet informally in small groups of five or six at leisure time. Deep Child welfare centre will provide educative materials and sports materials. Later this will be be formalized in providing guidance, building capacity and supporting girls to continue their education. These girls will be the change agent in their villages . There will be written constitution, no formal registration.  

Community mobilization was a continuous process through which they will be  able to change the attitude of the people. Through street plays, puppet shows, dramas they spread the messages to neighboring villages. 

LIFE OF A GIRL IN AN INDIAN VILLAGE  

® Unprotected even when with the family and relatives.

® A fearful psyche., Insecurity

® Discriminated in the family and society from birth .

® Feeling of dependency

® Question of existence / no dignity as a human being.

® Seen as liability by family

® Never sure about her capabilities.

® Never given any social responsibility.

® Feeling of incompleteness , issues of Identity

® Low self-esteem. 

Saheli cell is a new perceptive to challenge societal misconceptions, a positive energy to influence community and building models.

Preamble: -

Village level girls groups (irrespective of age), proved to be the best change makers, are informal children groups (different from others of their kind) initiated by TEEP. One thing with the Saheli Cell is unique; they don’t ask for any formal membership. They believe all the girls in the village are natural members of the Saheli cell. There is no written constitution, no formal registration..

Goal: Girl Child friendly society

Mission: Empowerment through participation and unity.

Principle: Strengthening the existing systems for better result and effective implementation. Enhancing the community participation and accountability.

Programs:

Education: School enrolment and retention, interfaces with teachers, child participation extracurricular activities, Support to dropped out/deprived  girls for higher education.

Gender: Enhancing self-esteem through women participation, equity ,building models in the community . Adolescent girls capacity building

Health: advocates for better reproductive and Child health (antenatal Care, Advocating exclusive Breast Feeding practices and institutional delivery, Immunization, AIDS awareness and counselling, Nutrition, Health campaigns, Diarrhea control management, Adolescent health, sexual health etc.).

Water and environmental sanitation: Safe drinking water campaign, village sanitation activities, school sanitation, Hygiene monitoring, Motivation.

Good parenting: Awareness generation, counseling, monitoring. Counseling

Ecology and environment: Household, roadside plantation, conservation of energy,

Expected Outcome:

• Unity

• Progressive social order

• Children no more invisible

• Girl Child and women friendly system

• Protection is no more a question

• No more fears – a friendly society

• Empowered – Enhancement of  self-confidence.

• Responsibility is larger than life.

• Asserts her rights in the family and society.

• Independent in thought and expression.

• Community recognizes and respects her.

• Treated equally with the male child.

Plan of action

We may need Rs.6,00,00 ( $22500) in the first year 2008-09.

Donate here and change lives permanently:

Support a child's education for a year
Here's how you can support a child's education and health care for a year. All it takes is Rs. 2000 to support a child's education for a year and an additional Rs.1000 will also provide for their health care.

Sponsor a Day care centre (Pre –primary centre) for a year
Pre-primary centres are for children under 6 years. They help ensure that young children get prepared for school. Here they are mainly taught by play, introduced to basic hygiene and provided with some supplementary nutrition. A typical centre has around 35 children. You can sponsor a pre-primary centre for a year. Rs.25000.

Sponsor a health worker
Health workers act as a link between the government health department and the community by helping the latter, especially the children, avail of health facilities provided by the government. Their main role is to raise awareness about basic health care and health-related issues. They help organise immunisation, other medical camps and follow-ups for them, infant mortality surveys and with teachers, monitor growth of children. To help them with their work, they are provided with regular training and support in terms of medical supplies and equipment. you can sponsor a health worker for a year. Rs.12000 per year.

Sponsor a teacher for a year
Teachers are a vital component of the Pre primary schools. They interact not only with the children but also with the communities around them. Teachers are given regular training on teaching methodology and education content, in order to make learning fun, involving and relevant process for the children. They are also trained to act as links between projects and the communities, by educating parents about children's rights and ensuring that they enroll their children into schools. You can sponsor a teacher's education and training for a year by contributing Rs. 12,000.

Sponsor an adolescent girls training program
This an exclusive program of the girls where they would learn about their body, developments, discriminations, society, family, their rights & duties. Approximately there will be 25 to 30 participants and week long activity . You can sponsor a training program by contributing Rs. 20000

You can send your contribution in the form of Demand draft in favor of   “Deep Bal Sewa abam Mahila Kalyan Kendra”.

“Nothing you do for children is ever wasted. They seem not to notice us, hovering, averting our eyes, and they seldom offer thanks, but what we do for them is never wasted.”