Tales from the Island of Serendip 4 4

[Flex Mentallo]

Given what Purnabha describes, it will not surprise you, gentle reader, to learn that women and girls there have little in the way of recreation. I sent a little extra money over so that Purnabha, Lucina, Shahina, Sharma, Farheen, Thasina and others could have a night on the town. They went to see a movie called 'Akira', which Sharma reported was 'supper-duper hit movie'. Read on for more of Purnabha's report...

 

 

 

[Flex Mentallo]

Primarily Roshni had chosen adolescent girls and boys as the targeted group but later incorporated all the age groups below twenty. This makeshift is an alternative strategy to catch them young to fight against domestic violence and gender discrimination in the slum as Rajabazar is famous for its notorious criminal activities, human trafficking and drug peddling.

 

 

 

 

 

[Flex Mentallo]

Roshni is the only ray of hope and support to the distressed and tortured youths residing in the area. However, in the midst of current scenario where women are facing all sorts of hindrances to live a peaceful life a NGO like Roshni is the need of the society. That is the main basis of Roshni when it first take birth with the help of seven most courageous girls of the area.

 

 

 

 

 

[Flex Mentallo]

However, the good belief and intention of this organization created the much needed trust among the slum dwellers. It is like a revolution that girls themselves are doing something and that is for the society where even participating in outside events are strictly prohibited by the community itself.

 

 

 

 

 

[Flex Mentallo]

Though it is a small non profit organization with no money and resources in their hand but good their fighting spirit and good intention which grew in a two by two lane of Rajabazar slum nurturing a big dream like this to change the life of underprivileged youth (mainly girl child, adolescent girls and women) living in the area. Their approach is simple thus effective and already has moved more than 50 deserted and distressed women living in the slum with their untiring efforts. The core team has now grew to eleven from seven as new girls with the same vision joined their team.

 

 

 

 

 

[Flex Mentallo]

Mission and Vision

 

Vision

To enable people to take responsibility of their own multifaceted vulnerable situations and thereby enabling them to realise their full potential.

 

Mission

To make people discover their potential for action and change.

 

To enable peoples' collectives and movements encompassing diverse segments, to pledge their particular strengths, working in partnership to secure, protect and honour the Constitution of India.

 

Values- What we believe in

 

Human rights and justice – All of our work is based on respect for the inherent worth and dignity of all people, and the rights that follow from this understanding.

 

Transparency and accountability – Roshni provides and expects to access clear, accurate and up-to-date information. We are willing to hold ourselves to high standards and seek to hold others to similar standards as the ones we set for ourselves.

 

Sustainability – Roshni is committed to youth development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their multidimensional needs. By empowering members, developing networks and the communities we serve, we believe that the benefits of our work will be enduring.

 

Cooperation and partnership – We respect the wishes and requirements of our members and networks – and the communities we serve – and we endeavour to create a shared voice, working together in a manner that enables us to achieve our shared goals and live our shared values

 

Peace – Roshni recognises that peace is about more than the absence of conflict. Roshni strives for concord, harmony and tranquillity – a balance of power.

 

Equity – Roshni shares it own resources fairly and wants to see that the natural and intellectual wealth of the whole world is also distributed fairly, so that everyone is able to gain their share. We know that the success of development can be measured by how the least powerful people and the smallest minority groups are faring.

 

 

 

 

[Flex Mentallo]

...and yesterday was Teacher's Day!

 

 

 

 

 

[Flex Mentallo]

Such well-behaved children!

 

 

 

[Flex Mentallo]

Or maybe not!

 

 

 

[Flex Mentallo]

I blame the teachers!

 

 

[Flex Mentallo]

Roshni's web site is now in operation:

 

http://www.roshniumeedki.org/index.php

[sacentaur]

Thanks for the link, Michael.

[Flex Mentallo]

You're most welcome Steve.

 

I'm very proud of what these 'Roshnians' (as they are nicknaming themselves now) have achieved in such a short time.

 

I'm busy planning a three week trip to Kolkata in November, and look forward to seeing first hand what they are doing.

 

Such courageous and inspiring young women!

 

 

[Flex Mentallo]

Shahina via Whatsapp - 'After one year of hard work finally my dream came true yesterday when my women's football team win the trophy.'

 

 

 

[Flex Mentallo]

'After lots of struggling against my community at last I managed women's football team.'

 

 

 

 

[Flex Mentallo]

'Who are ready to play against boys'

 

 

 

 

[Flex Mentallo]

'At any situations'.

 

 

 

 

[Flex Mentallo]

'They are all Muslim girls from Rajabazaar, aged 12 to 16 years'

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Flex Mentallo]

By now I'm sure readers appreciate the significance of Muslim girls who let their light shine...

 

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[Flex Mentallo]

In a recent thank you note to a key donor Shahina had this to say:

 

“R****, first of all thanks a lot for your kind support to the very poor, disgraced and needy community who have hardly has any respect for themselves as women (all of them are Muslim by faith). You probably don’t know that many of them die in their 10ft by 8 ft room before creating their own identity as a family member, mother, sister, wife, a Muslim, an Indian or anything. You also have any idea that that they live their whole life without getting proper food, nutrition, legal aid, education, or health services. They die asking for help when they are bitten by their family members (husband, son or father) but no one comes forward from the very next room to help them. They even die or become physically challenged as a consequence of the domestic violence but they have no aid to even support their right.

 

"In Rajabazar or alike Muslim communities here in West Bengal they are not only considered as a commodity but a free public good for the male members of those communities. In this connection with the support from persons like you now they’ve start believing that they feel there are good people also on earth for the good cause. Lastly, I’d like to thanks a ton for your contribution to build the website for Roshni which has shaken the community.

 

"This is probably first time an all Muslim girl led organization has built a website like this and is possible for your kind and immediate reaction. Through this site we will connect, conserve and share vibrant incidence of our community, build positive moves to develop a socially just, Rights’ aware community and courage to face any socio-politico-economic odds in their own life.”