To help eradicate female foeticide (the abortion of a female foetus purely on the basis of gender) in Haryana, India
Our vision is a world where girls and boys are valued equally.
Research shows that between 2001 and 2011, the potential lives of 3 million girls were lost. This wasn’t a result of disease or conflict, but purely because of their gender. Despite strict bans on the determination of a child’s gender during pregnancy, the rates of female foeticide and infanticide across India remain high, and nowhere more so than in Haryana, India.
Childreach India’s Endangered Gender project (known within India as Save The Girl Child) began in 2012 to try and combat sex-selective abortions in this region. The project employs six Social Activators currently with a reach of 962 households, supporting wives, new mothers and pregnant women. These Social Activators, including Poli in the video featured, are women drawn from and living in the slum community they work with. They are passionate advocates who play a critical role, educating the community on health issues, family planning and the rights and value of girls. As part of the project, classes are offered that help local women to build skills in computer and textile manufacturing.
This model has been independently evaluated and proven to work. It is low cost, reduces female infanticide and maternal mortality, and empowers and skills women.
Poli and her colleagues in the project have identified urgently required resources. They need more sewing machines, so they can make clothing and items to sell, leading to income generation. They need to rent another room in the office building they operate their classes from, meaning more lessons can happen simultaneously. They need a better internet service and more computers, as increased digital accessibility will mean they can apply for jobs, undertake online courses and communicate with wider networks.
The £5000 we can raise together will enable us to purchase these resources, making a massive difference to these women. Your support will literally change lives.
We have lined up three special rewards as a thank you for your pledge.
Childreach India, and all the women in the Endangered Gender project, thank you for your support!
This project closed unsuccessfully on 7th February 2018