*|MC:SUBJECT|*

Updates of all activities of Saheli Trust, Dehra Dun, India

View this email in your browser

Dear Everyone,

Education was in focus during March with 5 batches of classes under Education@YourDoorStep Campaign in full swing. Add to this School & College terminal exams and it is Academics all the way.

Our Education@YourDoorstep Campaign

Exams, starting of new classes and "Certificate giving ceremonies" marked March. As of March this year, a total of 313 girls have attended our classes in 14 different villages. Hopefully this will indirectly benefit a much larger population (their families and friends) in the form of changed attitudes towards gender issues and 313 more confident mature female, who later on in life, will head a family of their own.

Top left is a picture from the Certificate Giving Ceremony at Mehuwala village where 8 girls finished the course. Top Right is the Inauguration Ceremony at Pithuwala Village where 36 girls have enrolled for the classes. Bottom left is a computer class in progress in the National Muslim School, Chakkuwala area of Dehardun and at bottom right is the final Computer test in the same location.

Above is such a telling picture, which is hard not to share. It speaks of child brides, the right foot is that of the school girl while the left foot has religious designs typically made on the foot of a newly wed lady; the left foot also being in chains. It is a painful reality in the world we live in.

A street play on Eve Teasing was staged by our Outreach team at a slum known as Kathbanglow. It urges viewers not to be passive bystanders in such situations and speak up. The loud round of applause after the play showed that it did strike an emotional cord with the audience

Outreach Program

Two outreach meetings were held in the month of March in different slum clusters of Dehradun. As is the practice visiting sized cards with contact information were distributed, giving details of our Women's Helpline and how to contact us if someone requires help. Roughly 40% of women who come to us for help from domestic violence come through these community meetings, while 55% reach us through our door to door contact program. Less than 5% find us through internet.

The month that was....

Dear Everyone,

April was a hectic month for us. Academics apart, the training of women drivers for our SheCab Service has started in all earnest. The 4 women are being giving training in Google Map Navigation, Billing, Self Defense and the art of talking to customers. Coming as they do from rural background, believe me, it is not an easy task to do.

A big thank you to those who responded to my appeal in the last newsletter for help in financing the project. We have bought one car to be used as a taxi, we need one more. Of the Rs 7,50,000/- required, we are still Rs 1,00,000/- short, due to which our second car is still a distant dream. If you can, please do help out. Any small amount will do, just message/ mail me or Shruti that the fund is for SheCab.

Last month, we had three visitors from among the scores who help us out. I'm sure they were happy to see what they did. I would also urge everyone, to please visit us anytime, any day of your choice. It's only after you personally see what we do and meet our children, that your confidence in us will become stronger. I can assure you, in the last 5 years of Saheli, not a single person has gone back disappointed and our friendship and bond of helping those who no one helps, has grown stronger.

Looking forwards to meeting you soon some day,,

Regards,

Dr Nitin Pandey
Trustee,
Saheli Trust
9997400303

...and in the end...

If you missed the back issues of our newsletter, please follow this link to see our past issues:

http://www.sahelitrust.com/newsletters.asp