"My son used to kick me when he was in my womb. Why make an issue when he kicked me in my old age?" reasons a very forgiving Shakti Dasi. The widow travelled 2300 kms from Tripura to Vrindavan after her only son violently beat her with a burning plank of wood and broke her knee one evening. She had to leave behind the business she had built with her husband who had died a few years back. Shakti ended up on the streets of Brindavan begging for food and shelter. But when Winnie Singh of Maitri saw Shakti in a frail state in tattered clothes, she brought her to the shelter home where Shakti gets food, care and medicines. What more, with Maitri’s intervention, Shakti reconciled with her son - and daughter-in-law, and now travels home to Tripura twice a year to spend time with her grandchildren. But she is not leaving Maitri, as this has become her family.Not every elderly widow who comes to Vrindavan after being abandoned by her family gets as lucky as Shakti. Many of them often end up living a lonely life and begging to survive on the streets. Maitri aspires to take care of every widow in need of help.<img src="https://cfstatic.give.do/ce101369-528c-4d37-bc1d-1118b9925af3.jpg" />Maitri’s Project Jeevan to the rescueAbandoned, elderly widows are the amongst the most vulnerable in India. After being thrown out of their often abandoned by their own children and are forced to beg for food and shelter. “Through Project Jeevan, Maitri houses aging widow mothers in two ashrams in Vrindavan and Radhakund (Mathura), providing them with wellness and well-being. The programme also reaches out to widow mothers beyond the ashrams with fruit, milk and healthcare services,” explains Winnie Singh, co-founder and executive director, Maitri India.Save homeless elderly widows from begging on the streetsMost widows who make their way to Vrindavan are abandoned by their families, often after years of abuse. They come here hoping they will spend the rest of their days in prayer and devotion. But most live in impoverished conditions on the streets and in dingy rooms. Since poor living conditions often cause a wide range of health ailments, including respiratory infections and chronic conditions, Maitri comes to their rescue through its Project Jeevan.The project aims to:<ul><li>Provide meals leading to improved health and wellbeing</li><li>Make physical and mental health services accessible</li><li>Offer necessary quality aged care and assisted living support</li><li>Increase awareness on and engagement around the struggles of abandoned widow mothers</li></ul><img src="https://cfstatic.give.do/1abfb906-563b-4747-85b8-8af2071a2856.jpg" />Project Jeevan needs your support to help those in need of food, healthcare and well-being. Donate now.“Maitri urgently needs your support to provide food, clothing and healthcare to sustain these widow mothers who are prone to more illnesses as they age,” appeals Winnie.Maitri believes in a woman’s right to dignity in life and death, more so a mother. Our help will enable Maitri to save hundreds of abandoned widows from a life of begging, and restore the respect, dignity, and identity they deserve.

Save abandoned, elderly widow mothers of Vrindavan from begging on streets

For a mother who has spent her entire life loving and raising her child, being beaten and mercilessly thrown out onto the streets by her own son is too heartbreaking to overcome. But this is a common story among the elderly residents of the Guru Vishram Vridh Ashram. “I’ve seen mothers in old and torn clothes, their bodies smelling and their hands and feet rotting and covered in maggots,” shares Dr. G.P. Bhagat, founder of the ashram. These abandoned elderly men and women lay starving on the streets hoping for someone to rescue them from their suffering. But most people walk past them without a second glance. “Like this”, Dr. Bhagat explains, “many elders die on the roads.”Since 2003, SHEOWS (Saint Hardyal Educational and Orphans Welfare Society) has rescued over 10,000 elderly people from the streets and given them a home with care and support. The elderly staying at the ashram have all been abandoned by their families and have nowhere else to live. Your support can give them comfort after their abandonment. Donate now.Donate easily through UPI, all debit/credit cards and net banking. Charitable donations to this fundraising campaign are tax exempted under 80G of the Income Tax Act (India). Safe and loving homeFor 20 years, SHEOWS has been providing free shelter, nutritious food three times a day, clothing, medical care, recreation activities and emotional support to abused and disabled elderly people rescued from the streets of Delhi. The Guru Vishram Vridh Ashram has a dedicated rescue team that saves the elderly from the streets and gives them immediate medical care upon their arrival at the home. To tend to the multiple health complications of the seniors, the home has a medical facility with doctors and nurses, a physiotherapy unit, a pathology lab, a digital X-ray monitoring machine and a pharmacy to provide 24-hour care to older adults anytime they require assistance, even during emergencies. Dr. Bhagat prioritizes the health of the seniors and ensures that they receive three balanced meals a day based on their precise health requirements. Need for the fundraiserThe humanitarian mission of SHEOWS is making an impact in the area, as more and more people are being rescued and brought to Guru Vishram Vridh Ashram. To meet the financial costs of running the home, SHEOWS needs support to continue providing the residents with all the facilities that they need. This includes constant care and round-the-clock medical attention, nutritious food and maintaining a hygienic environment to keep the seniors in comfort and good health. Dr. Bhagat explains that as the number of residents is increasing, SHEOWS needs support for food and medicines. “I request you to help these elderly parents lead a peaceful life.”Donate now to help Dr. Bhagat continue caring for the 500 destitute elderly and giving them shelter, food, medical care and the will to carry on living despite their tragic abandonment by their families. Your support will enable SHEOWS to keep serving abandoned senior citizens and help them recover from the trauma of abandonment and life on the streets. “I have been serving these elderly as if they were my own parents”, shares Dr. Bhagat. “I want only one thing - their tears should vanish and they should have a smile on their faces.” To help Dr. Bhagat achieve this dream, your support is critical. Donate now to help SHEOWS care for more abandoned elderly. Donate to this fundraiser by Give, India’s largest online donation platform, to support SHEOWS in their mission to rescue the abandoned elderly from the streets and give them shelter, food, medical care, recreational activities and emotional support.

This Diwali, help Dr. Bhagat care for 500+ elderly parents rescued from abuse and homelessness

In the dark and dingy alleys of red light areas, injustice, pain and suffering run rampant. And the worst affected are the children who grow up in red-light areas and are subjected to constant abuse and violence. “The sight of a 12-year-old girl being gang-raped by a group of men near a house l haunts me to this date. I was filled with anguish and resolved to do something,” says Girish Kulkarni who has made it his life’s mission to rescue children from red light areas and give them a safe and secure childhood. In the last 3 decades Girish has saved over 1100 girls from a life of abuse in red-light areas, giving them a loving home, education and medical care. He has further supported over 20,000 children with a better life.Sadly, 250 of the children rescued from abuse and exploitation are HIV positive. The high cost of medication has left Girish struggling for funds. Your support can help him provide these children with the care and upbringing they need. Donate now.Donate easily through UPI, all debit/credit cards and net banking. Charitable donations to this fundraising campaign are tax exempted under 80G of the Income Tax Act (India), &amp; 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code (USA). A movement to protect vulnerable children“Growing up in Ahmednagar, the experiences I had as a child witnessing the horrors of sex trade defined the path of my life. I had even seen my friend’s 15-year-old sister and 70-year-old grandmother being forced to do sex work for the price of a cup of tea”, recalls Girish. “I started by merely feeding and teaching children of sex workers initially with the intention of giving them some respite from the horrors of life of abuse in red-light areas. Gradually more and more mothers started coming to me and asked me to take their children away, even if it was just for a couple of hours,” he further adds.The work that Girish started in his youth gradually grew to become a movement, with many more joining his cause. His NGO Snehalaya to date has transformed the lives of millions. Girish’s work is crucial for the survival and safety of vulnerable children of sex workers. Snehalaya is almost entirely dependent on donations from the public and your support can strengthen his mission to save children most in need. Donate generously.The horrors of life in red light areas“The cruelty and abuse that children as young as 6 or 7 years of age face is something that I can’t explain in words. Young daughters of sex workers are made to watch their mothers being raped, are brutally assaulted and forced into sex work. No child deserves to grow like this, Girish says in anguish.Sad reality of life for children growing up in red light areas is that they are deprived of even the most basic needs like proper food, safety and education. Moreover, a majority of children rescued by Girish are diagnosed HIV positive. The task of securing medication, providing them quality education and much needed nutrition is one that requires constant support from donors. Moreover, the increase in healthcare cost has left Girish struggling to keep his home for children going. But your support can enable him to give his children a loving environment and save many more who still remain trapped behind closed doors.Donate to this fundraiser by Give, India’s largest and most trusted online donation platform, to help Snehalaya give hundreds of children rescued from red-light areas a life away from violence and abuse.

Help Girish give 250 HIV+ children, rescued from abuse in red-light areas a new life

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Vanchit Vikas is a social organization registered under charitable trust working since 1985 for the upliftment of the deprived communities with the focus on socio-economic development of individuals, families and communities in select districts of Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh. Major programmes are designed around education, health, gender equality, women empowerment and livelihood. The mission of the organization is to continuously strive for reaching the deprived and support them for being able to support themselves through various interventions. An organization with its integrated approach has reached children, women and adolescents through its projects and programmes such as residential and daycare facilities for children of commercial sex workers, health clinics near the red light areas, recreational and remedial classes for slum children for enhancing their learning and development, a residential facility for tribal girl students, skill-building training for destitute women and adolescents, support to street vendors and senior citizens, awareness on organ donation, critical illnesses like cancer, HIV/AIDS, Covid19 etc.

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Vanchit Vikas

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<ul><li>Every child is precious and must get the opportunity to grow and develop his / her potentials to the fullest. Children from the upper &amp; middle classes may get ample opportunities to grow and develop. But children from poor socio-economic conditions are deprived of such opportunities.</li><li>Child’s survival, development, participation and protection are the main concerns. A child’s overall physical, mental, emotional, social development and overall well-being requires equal attention. Living conditions in urban slums and ignorance at the parents’ level may not provide a conducive environment for children to develop his / her potentials. Similarly in rural areas, apart from the school, there are hardly any facilities where children can express themselves freely without any judgement and domination.</li><li>Hence Vanchit Vikas initiated recreation centres known as ‘Abhiruchi varga’ in select urban slums in 1982 which provides an opportunity for experiential learning in informal settings while giving children the freedom of expression and exposure to varied subjects.</li><li>Presently recreational centres are being run at 10 locations in Pune city which are being continued in the present year i.e. Apr. 21 to Mar.2022 based on the fund availability. Observing the need organization proposes to initiate a couple of new centres in rural areas. </li></ul> 
 As mentioned above, 10 centers are already established in Pune slum areas. But with the Covid 19 effect, we plan to review and revive the centers. Following are the details on actions.<ul><li>Review status of centers owing to the number of children, availability of space, refreshing the skills and knowledge of the worker at center, community mobilization on parents’ participation etc.</li><li>Conducting a 2-3 days refresher’s training for workers of recreational centre</li><li>Feasibility study to initiate a couple of centres at rural areas especially at Pune and Yavatmal district. On positive response, establishing the centres there.</li><li>Planning and conducting of activities which will provide physical, mental and emotional stimulation for development, the opportunity for teamwork and socialization through fun learning. Activities like games (indoor and outdoor), sports, songs, dance, puzzle making and solving, storytelling, picture reading, reading books, science education. drawing, colouring, art and craft, various competitions, annual social gatherings, excursions, visit to museums, aquarium auditorium, bank, post offices, libraries, exhibitions, demonstrations, Zoo Park, picnics etc. will be considered.</li><li>Monthly review meetings will be conducted with the recreational centre’s facilitators to address their concerns and enhance their skills and knowledge. These meetings will provide an opportunity for cross-learning and to act cohesively.</li></ul> 
 <ul><li>Children will enjoy their childhood.</li><li>Children will get their basic rights.</li><li>Children show enthusiasm in learning, working together towards problem-solving and enjoy participating in various activities.</li><li>Parents are happy to observe the development of their children and their healthy habits.</li><li>Community members come forward and cooperate in conducting the centre’s activities.</li></ul>

Abhiruchi Varga ( Recreational Center)

·        The working and residing conditions of commercial sex workers in red light area of Pune are challenging posing risk to their younger children including infants and toddlers.·        The children are unattended, not fed properly and are deprived of healthy living and playing facilities. Children are vulnerable owing to child protection – safety and security in the area. They are exposed to violent fights, alcohol, abusive language, exploitation etc.·        Mothers are either worried or irritated about the demands and responsibility of children leading to their aggressive or depressive behaviours towards the children.·        Elder children are vulnerable too owing to possible exploitation by adults in the community and are deprived of learning opportunities. Due to lack of guidance, they wander around and may get abused or may abuse others.·        Infants and younger ones are ignored while the elder children are deprived from primary education leading to non – schooling.·        The unhealthy surroundings and poor attention towards children may lead to unhealthy growth of children leading to unhealthy adults.·        Hence there is a need to pay attention towards children by providing healthy opportunities for growth and development through well-established day care centre at community level. VanchitVikas has developed a centre known as ‘Fulwa’ in the red light area of Pune City. 
 The above purpose is being attended by running ‘Fulwa’ centre through trained staff that provides guidance, counselling and caring services to children and to their mothers. Following are the major activities carried out through ‘Fulwa’ centre.<ol><li>Day care centre: Infants from 6 months – 3 years old babies are attended from 10am to 5pm here. During the day, they are provided with good food and appropriate stimulation for healthy growth and development. The developmental milestones are monitored and addressed as per the requirement.</li><li>Nursery / kindergarten: 3 to 6 years children are catered. Preschool activities and school readiness activities are attended. Food is provided during the day.</li><li>Remedial education – 7 to 13 school going children take benefit of these classes which enhance their overall learning. The workers ensure children’s regular and timely attendance at school and provide required educational material, guidance and counselling as per the need. Extra-curricular activities are conducted to enhance learning. Food is provided to children.</li><li>Non –formal education – Children between 7-18 years who are non-school– child labour, school drop outs, children arriving from other cities / villages are engaged through non-formal educational activities to help them to learn reading, writing and basic mathematics. They are encouraged to attend night school.</li><li>Literacy classes for mothers of children are conducted including computer training, health education, vocational training &amp; counselling.</li><li>Medical services – On weekly basis a medical doctor visits and attends to children’s health issues. Children with emotional and behavioural problems are provided with guidance and medication if need be. The critical cases are referred to government hospital.</li></ol>Above mentioned actions will be continued based on the fund availability.  
 <ul><li>Children enjoy a safe and secure place with fresh food and lot of opportunity to play and learn.</li><li>Due to good nourishment, vaccination and caring, children’s growth and development is healthy.</li><li>Elderly children are less abused as they are at the centre and learn reading, writing and maths.</li></ul>

Abhiruchi Varga ( Recreational Center)

Fulwa

Save abandoned, elderly widow mothers of Vrindavan from begging on streets

This Diwali, help Dr. Bhagat care for 500+ elderly parents rescued from abuse and homelessness

Help Girish give 250 HIV+ children, rescued from abuse in red-light areas a new life

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