guria news update january 2014

8/13/2019 Guria News Update January 2014

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place at night. Most children who attend are the children of the boatmenwho are from extremely disadvantagedbackgrounds. The boat school is equipped with computers, whiteboards, a TV, books, games, and its trademarksolar panel.

'Maths, science, reading , wri t ing, these things are important. But i f th is is al l there is, we create ugl iness aroun d

us. Art con nects us to the journ ey, the inner journey. And that is real ly imp ortant. ' Ajeet Singh (Guria director)

There were a number of celebrations and special events held over the year at the Shivadspur NFE centre, including:

Women's Day: The United Nations theme for Womens day in 2013 was A Promise is a Promise: Time for Action to

End Violence Against Women.Guria celebrated with music, dancing and sweets; it was attended by 112 childrenand their mothers, many who are from the red light area.

Holi, the Festival of Colours: 95 children spent the day excitedly throwing bags of gulal (coloured powder) overeach other. When they were all fully exhausted special Indian sweets, langleta and soan papdi, were served.

Diwali: This festival which celebrates Rams triumph over Ravan, and the return of truth and wealth, and of lightinghundreds of diyas was technically on November 3rd whilst Diwali festivities at the Guria center were in full swing byOctober 31st. Children enjoyed decorating the centre prior to the festival where they enjoyed a meal followed by afireworks display. On this day for coming together, Guria hosted over 45 interns from Princeton University and othernon Government Organisations (NGOs) including Where There Be Dragons and Carpe Diem.

Water Park: Over the scorching summer months, Guria took children at the NFE centre on several trips to a nearbywater park. The children played and enjoyed themselves so much that they were inspired to build a scale model ofthe water park at the NFE centre on their return.

Vocational Training

In order to prevent second generation prostitution or trafficking to other red light areas, Guria runs vocational trainingprograms including fashion designing, beautician courses and computer courses for adolescent girls fromcommunities in and around the red light area and nearby villages. The girls are empowered from learning theseskills which they otherwise would have no opportunity to learn. Over the year 25 girls completed their training andreceived certificates from the Girls Government Polytechnic College at the behest of the District Magistrate,Varanasi. In addition we supported other children to engage in vocational training courses such as nursing andcomputer engineering.

Day out at the Water Park with children from the NFE centre


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Womens meetings and campaigns

Over the year Guria united women from almost 250 villages from vulnerable districts of Ghazipur, Mau, Azamgarhand Varanasi in Eastern Uttar Pradesh. One landmark event attracted an estimated 11,000 to 15,000 women whogathered for a meeting against the rising crime of rape and sex trafficking in the vulnerable districts of Eastern UttarPradesh. In addition Guria organised two meetings in Ghazipur District of Eastern Uttar Pradesh to unite women insupport of a gang rape victims attempt to file a report with the police. The case was successfully filed, the accusedwere arrested, and Guria strategically got the bail rejected in the district court. Guria continues to fight this case inthe higher court.

Livelihood Support

Guria purchased 70 goats and distributedthem to women in four rural villages in Maudistrict where many women live below thepoverty line and are vulnerable targets for sextrafficking. The goats which are cheap to keep,yield practical products and regularly produceoffspring which can be sold, provide analternate livelihood to support families. This ispart of Gurias scheme to create a Goat Bankwhich provides families living on or below thepoverty line with a pregnant goat, which theycan easily pay back through returning one ofthe goats 4 or 5 off-spring.

In addition over the year Guria provided livelihood support to 33 rescued victims of trafficking in order to help themovercome the trauma as well as the huge social stigma and empowering them with alternative livelihood options.

" Inspired. Humbled. Awed. Incred ibly lucky . This is what I fel t in the presence of Manju, the wife of Ajeet, foun der

of Guria; the mo st dedicated, bri l l iant woman I have ever met. Jakee Cohen (Northw estern Law Schoo l, USA)

Legal work

As part of Gurias holistic approach legal cases against the perpetrators of trafficking and child prostitution werepursued. This strand of work puts Guria directly in conflict with powerful gangs and traffickers in a state wherecorruption is endemic and where it often transpirs that police and officials are involved in the lucrative business ohuman trafficking. Guria workers have suffered numerous threats to their lives and physical attacks. Their battle fo

justice continues. Over last year:

Women unite in support of a gang rape victim, Manju Singh, Guria Co-director pictured

Rescued victim making ear rings one of various forms of livelihood suppo
http://guriafreedomnow.blogspot.com/2013/04/livelihood-support-projects.htmlhttp://guriafreedomnow.blogspot.com/2013/04/livelihood-support-projects.html


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80 new Legal cases and 62new paralegal cases related to trafficking and rape were filed against humantraffickers/brothel keepers/pimps bringing the total til December 2013 to 302 and 164 cases respectively.

7 convictionswere successfully achieved bringing the total to 19. The bail of 36 human traffickers/brothel keepers/pimps was rejected bringing the total to 276; this is vital as

legal cases typically continue for years, so with bail a perpetrator could be free to continue abusing andintimidating victims.

12 trafficked children were rescued bringing the total to 156 Post rescue support was given to 35 victims, making a total of 101 to date.

Witness Protection

Guria provided witness protection to 37 victims or victim families. There is no witness protection provided by thestate so without Gurias intervention the victims and their family members are at high risk of being intimidated orattacked by the perpetrators throughout their trial. Gurias witness protection programme meant that victims wereable to testify safely and accurately in court leading to a successful conviction in many cases.

Working with the Indian Government

Guria participated in a meeting organised by Central Bureau of Investigation (C.B.I.) India's national lawenforcement agency for the investigation of corruption cases. The event was held at Vigyan Bhawan, NewDelhi and focused on Developing protocols on investigation and prosecution of transnational humantrafficking offences in the SAARC region.

Guria were nominated to become a member of the Central Advisory Committee on combating trafficking ofwomen and children. Guria were invited as a consultant to advise and take part in a two day sensitisation meeting for police

officials held in response to theStatus Report on Human Trafficking with reference to UN PROTOCOLheld in March at Police Lines, Varanasi.

It brought me back to my childhood. You taught me about being happy in the face of difficulties. (HiraDahal, Centre for Awareness Promotion, Nepal)

Kids at the NFE centre


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For more info see: Guira India Website Guria UK Website

GuriaFacebookpage GuriaBlogspot

Contact UK:[email protected] Contact India:[email protected]

Online donations:http://www.guria-uk

Volunteering with Guria

An event titled Festival of Colours will be held forGuria in Cambridge on March 15th, to co-incide withHoli. The event will be held in collaboration with aCambrigde based Indian charity called Sakhya, andwill involve showcasing classical dance, vocal andinstrumental renditions from the different regions ofIndia. It will raise awareness about Gurias work,through a presentation, along with a photo exhibition,materials and information.

We are looking for keen cyclists! On 27thApril, thusfar two volunteers, Helen Taylor and Brian Millington,

will make a brave cycle journey all the way fromLondon to Cambridge to raise funds for Guria! If youknow any cyclists interested in supporting Guriaplease get in touch asap.

Previous interns at Guria recently raised US $10,000through crowdfunding towards establishing a GoatBank. This innovative idea consists of a bank ofgoats distributed to families living on or below thepoverty line whose children are vulnerable toexploitation and trafficking. The loan of one pregnantgoat to a family means they can easily repay once thegoat gives birth. Goats are cheap to keep, producemilk and 35 offspring every year. This is a

sustainable source of micro-lending, see:http://www.indiegogo.com/projects/passion-project-2014

Check out the documentary currently being madeabout Guria titled Specks of Dust, and LiketheFacebook page:www.facebook.com/specksofdust

Anoushkas story

Anoushka, a 14 year old girl from Jaitpura, Varanasi, was tricked into believing that she had an offer of marriage.Being a girl from a poor family, and having few other options for a safe future than securing a husband, the girlagreed to marry. However having gained her trust, the man proposing marriage, raped Anoushka, filming theincident with the help of his friend. He then threatened the girl that should she tell anyone of the rape that hewould make the film public. The man and his friend then sold Anoushka for around 480 to another trafficker inMumbai. Anoushka was confined to a hotel room and raped by this man continuously for two days; in response toher protests he threatened to kill her and her family. One day, somehow Anoushka managed to escape from the

hotel room and was later found by police and sent to a children s home in Mumbai.

In the meantime, Guria who had been investigating the case, arrived at the Mumbai children s home. They wereable to find Anoushka and finally bring her home to Varanasi. Back at the Jaitpura police station, the officersrefused to register the crime, even after repeated pleas of the girl and her parents. Guria applied pressure on theauthorities to act upon which they did register the incident. Following this Gurias legal action against thetraffickers led to the arrest and imprisonment of those involved. In addition they ensured that bail was rejected forthe accused - this is important as it has previously happened that traffickers could walk free on bail for years aslegal cases dragged on.

Guria are now working with the girl and her family supporting her long road to recovery.
http://www.guriaindia.org/WebPage/index.htmlhttp://www.guriaindia.org/WebPage/index.htmlhttp://www.guria-uk.org/http://www.guria-uk.org/https://www.facebook.com/guriafreedomnowhttps://www.facebook.com/guriafreedomnowhttps://www.facebook.com/guriafreedomnowhttp://guriafreedomnow.blogspot.in/http://guriafreedomnow.blogspot.in/http://guriafreedomnow.blogspot.in/mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]://www.guria-uk/http://www.guria-uk/http://www.guria-uk/http://www.indiegogo.com/projects/passion-project-2014http://www.indiegogo.com/projects/passion-project-2014http://www.indiegogo.com/projects/passion-project-2014http://www.facebook.com/specksofdusthttp://www.facebook.com/specksofdusthttp://www.indiegogo.com/projects/passion-project-2014http://www.indiegogo.com/projects/passion-project-2014http://www.guria-uk/mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]://guriafreedomnow.blogspot.in/https://www.facebook.com/guriafreedomnowhttp://www.guria-uk.org/http://www.guriaindia.org/WebPage/index.html


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Your support

Guria are a frontline charity dedicated to protecting vulnerable women and children, which leaves little time to raiseattention for their work. Not only funding, but international friendships and recognition are important to Guria. Yoursupport in being aware, spreading the word or raising funds is important. If you have ideas for awareness raising orfundraising, such as sponsored events, please contact Sarah Wraight (Guria UK).

Alternatively you may make a donation online through the Guria UK website or through contacting Sarah Wraight aGuria UK. Donations of any size are welcome. Uttar Pradesh is one of the poorest parts of the world where even asmall amount of money can make a difference. As little as 5 will support one child to attend Guria's Non Forma

Education (NFE) centre for one month and 10 will pay for all the school books needed by a child to attend amainstream school. 35 will pay for one community worker to support all the children with play and learning or 60will pay for one local teacher to enable children to gain an education at the NFE centre for one month.

The Guria team would like to say a huge thank you for your support!

guria news update january 2014

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