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Auto driver’s kindness at Mahatma Gandhi Bus Station goes a long way to prevent child trafficking and My Choices Foundation efforts made it possible

Auto driver’s kindness at Mahatma Gandhi Bus Station goes a long way to prevent child trafficking and My Choices Foundation efforts made it possible

50-year-old, Narayana drives an Auto at the Mahatma Gandhi Bus Station, Hyderabad. He is known for his kind nature amongst his fellow-men; he offers free rides for hospital visits and is always on the watch-out to help innocent children wandering alone in the bus stations – runaway children from homes, children separated from families and […]

50-year-old, Narayana drives an Auto at the Mahatma Gandhi Bus Station, Hyderabad. He is known for his kind nature amongst his fellow-men; he offers free rides for hospital visits and is always on the watch-out to help innocent children wandering alone in the bus stations – runaway children from homes, children separated from families and children who came to the city in search for a better life, but found none.

It was chilly December night and the clock hit 9:00 pm. Narayana has noticed a young girl, sitting on a stone bench. He started wondering about her and thought – maybe she would be waiting for her family to be picked up. His trail of thought was broken by a man in his late 30s. He has just arrived from the village in the remotest part of Telangana along with his parents, for medical treatment for his 65-year-old father. The man wanted to hire the auto to get dropped at the hospital. After a few seconds, the three-wheeled motorcycle sputtered tuk…tuk…tuk…

It was around 10:30 pm when he got back to his auto stand at the MGBS. He noticed the stone bench again and the girl was still there. He realised something was wrong and rushed to enquire about her situation. When he spoke to her, the girl burst into tears. She mentioned that she had run away from her native place in the rural parts of Telangana to make a living in Hyderabad. She had no idea what to do or where to go. She felt lonely and scared and had been sitting on the stone bench for the last three hours.

Having helped many children in the past, he knew exactly what to do. He spoke to her calmly and escorted her to the 24-hour CHILDLINE Helpdesk, run by My Choices Foundation. Our counsellors calmed her and assured her with hope. Looking at her fragile nature and tiredness, our counsellors offered her water, tea and biscuits. After she finished eating, she identified herself as Revathi and 17-years old.

Narayana said ‘Goodbye’ to Revathi and left with confidence that Revathi is in a safe place and counsellors would figure out a way to provide her with a good life and keep her away from the prying eyes of a trafficker. Our counsellors got into work. As per the procedure, the Child Welfare Committee was contacted and on their guidance, Revathi’s parents were telephoned. They got into the earliest train from their home town and reached Hyderabad the next day early morning – while Revathi was peacefully sleeping. She was happy to see her parents and her parents face expressed huge gratefulness and relief to have found her little girl.

We need people like Narayana – Rakshak – to save the little children from being trafficked. Thanks to the selfless efforts of Narayana and the CHILDLINE Help Desk team, Revathi is safely reunited with her family.

We met Narayana to understand his thoughts about trafficking. He shared, “She is a little girl and what would I have done if she is my daughter. There might be difficulties in our lives, but when we see the smiles on the children – even if they aren’t our own – our hearts are filled with happiness. We share that moment with them. That’s the life to live for.”

Narayana leads the Auto Drivers Unions and guides many auto drivers to help the children in need. Along with his friends, he has helped many children and is always available to help My Choices Foundation’s efforts. Our conversation ended with a mutual gratitude note, but a beginning of a beautiful partnership with Auto Drivers who are on the frontlines to help children like Revathi at Bus or Railway stations.

“My Choices Foundation, along with CHILDLINE is doing an amazing job. A 24-hour Help desk is not an easy thing and your counsellors knew exactly what to say to provide hope for children. All auto drivers at MGBS are always ready to lend a hand in any way possible,” Narayana said with a smiling face.

We cannot find perfect words to write how we felt about the conversation with Narayana. It was a feeling of intense joy, deep gratitude and showers of blessings.

My Choices Foundation

This post was authored by the My Choices Foundation communications team. Our mission is to keep you informed on the cause, and hopeful that transformation is possible one story at a time.

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2021, a year of persistent strength

2021, a year of persistent strength

It has been a journey of persistent strength as we look back at 2021 – we continued to adapt, embraced learnings and marched on to empower women and girls and help them make choices to live a life free of violence, abuse and exploitation. I would say that learnings are mutual – at every Safe […]

It has been a journey of persistent strength as we look back at 2021 – we continued to adapt, embraced learnings and marched on to empower women and girls and help them make choices to live a life free of violence, abuse and exploitation.

I would say that learnings are mutual – at every Safe Village Program, at every counselling session, every phone call we received on our anti-trafficking helpline and domestic violence helplines or through the messages on our digital platforms, we have learnt how determined and resilient women and girls are. They inspire us to do more.

“Never doubt that a small group of passionate, committed people can change the world; indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.”

– Margaret Mead

As the saying goes, what we do, we cannot do it alone. It gives me so much joy that you are with us, encouraging us and championing for My Choices Foundation all along.

Thank you very much for all your generous support as we steer forward with hope, courage and a deep determination into 2022 to make India safe for all women and girls.

Join us in celebrating our highlights of 2021!

Elca Grobler

Founder, My Choices Foundation

January

In partnership with Global Fund to End Modern Slavery and Seefar, we launched Surokhito Gram Karyakrom – Safe Village Program – to end child trafficking and commercial sexual exploitation of children in West Bengal.

February

12 Youth Hosts took part in The BoyTalk Project’s vision day, an initiative partnered with Aangan Trust to guide India’s boys through conversations on gender and masculinity.

March

We organised 10 capacity building sessions for our counsellors focused on how to understand trauma and help people develop emotional regulation skills.

April

A huge milestone was achieved with our 5,000th Safe Village Program. A proud moment on how far we have come since 2012 and impacted 2.5 million people.

May

We were brought on board by Rachakonda Police Commissionerate, Telangana to support the emotional well-being of police personnel with counselling sessions.

June

We won the Xel-Research award for the most trusted NGO for Women Rights and Education.

July

Our 3rd Asian Anti-Trafficking Forum focused on community stakeholders brought together more than 150 Implementing and Strategic Partners and other experts and served as a platform to network, collaborate and share best practices.

August

Our Founder and Director, Elca Grobler was awarded the International Achievers Award and recognized as Change Maker, Champion for Justice and fighter for the rights of every woman and girl in India. Watch Elca’s Interview.

September

We developed online training protocols for survivors of domestic violence on Dial 100, an initiative in partnership with the Telangana State Women Safety Wing.

October

We marked Domestic Violence Awareness Month with a digital campaign – Recognise, Report and Prevent Domestic Violence.

November

In partnership with the Women Safety Wing of Telangana State Police, we launched Empowerment Programs for Anti-Human Trafficking Units.

December

We made inroads into Chhattisgarh and Odisha with our Safe Village Programs and now, My Choices Foundation is active in 10 states of India.

My Choices Foundation

This post was authored by the My Choices Foundation communications team. Our mission is to keep you informed on the cause, and hopeful that transformation is possible one story at a time.

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Our first Safe Village Program in Odisha – we are now active in 10 states

Our first Safe Village Program in Odisha – we are now active in 10 states

Located at a height of 3500 feet above sea level and nestled in the lap of the Eastern Ghats of India, Koraput district in the state of Odisha is a spectacular place with lush greenery, majestic mountains, fast-flowing rivers and all the more lovely, hospitable and down-to-earth people – the Bondas, a vulnerable tribal group […]

Located at a height of 3500 feet above sea level and nestled in the lap of the Eastern Ghats of India, Koraput district in the state of Odisha is a spectacular place with lush greenery, majestic mountains, fast-flowing rivers and all the more lovely, hospitable and down-to-earth people – the Bondas, a vulnerable tribal group known for their secluded lives away from the mainstream. But the lack of access has not prevented young Bondas from leaving their homes in search of a better life, even low-paid jobs in the states of Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and other states. The COVID-19 pandemic further threw their lives out of gear and forced them to cross borders to put food on the table. Mounting economic pressures have triggered the disturbing trend of young Bondas leaving their education and entering into a very high-risk labour market.

It was a long journey and when we reached the place to conduct our first Safe Village Program in the Hanumal village, the hospitable villagers treated us with a warm cup of tea and their lovely smiles. In partnership with our Implementing Partner, we made efforts to gather people from the surrounding villages. It wasn’t an easy walking journey on the hilly terrain, but 60 people – fathers, mothers, boys, girls and even grandfathers and grandmothers showed up.

With the help of the translator from our Implementing Partner organisation, we introduced the My Choices Foundation and our vision to be there in the village. They listened attentively and asked questions. It showed the curiosity and interest of people who want to protect their children from any harm. Comic books were distributed and story narration took place with engaging flip charts in the local language.

Here’s a moment that welled up our eyes(in each Safe Village Program): 17-year Malati who trekked eight kilometres along the muddy roads and bumpy hills to attend our Safe Village Program said, “I will be forever grateful for you to visit this place. You have made an effort, acknowledge our existence and talk about safety, which is kind of rare these days. I am going to talk about all your messages to my Mother and Father as soon as I reach home. I will also share it with my neighbours. It is highly needed to keep ourselves and our children safe from traffickers. Thank you very much. Please visit us again.”

Safe Village Program

My Choices Foundation

This post was authored by the My Choices Foundation communications team. Our mission is to keep you informed on the cause, and hopeful that transformation is possible one story at a time.

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My Choices Foundation hosts multiple activities for #16DaysOfActivism

My Choices Foundation hosts multiple activities for #16DaysOfActivism

Every year, the annual campaign #16DaysOfActivism kicks off on 25 November, the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, and runs until 10 December, Human Rights Day. This year marks the 30th anniversary of the campaign as it was originated in 1991 by activists at the first Women’s Global Leadership Institute. The theme […]

Every year, the annual campaign #16DaysOfActivism kicks off on 25 November, the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, and runs until 10 December, Human Rights Day. This year marks the 30th anniversary of the campaign as it was originated in 1991 by activists at the first Women’s Global Leadership Institute.

The theme for 2021 is Orange the world: End violence against women now! As a part of the campaign, Operation PeaceMaker of My Choices Foundation organised and participated in multiple activities across the 16 days to engage the youth to create awareness about gender-based violence. We began the campaign by joining One Future Collective in an Instagram live session on Civil society response to domestic violence survivors during COVID-19. Here, Dr. Farzana Khan, Head of Programs, discussed how we supported survivors during the COVID-19 pandemic through our counselling and safe home and built a support system for survivors.

To initiate a discussion about gender stereotypes and gender-based violence we hosted a movie screening to sensitise the students at Government City College, Hyderabad about gender-based violence and its impact on women and girls. Various short movies like Black White, Impossible Dream and Babul were screened which was followed by a discussion on building perspectives about gender norms and their impact on the lives of women and girls.

“Inculcate gender equality in your life. If you want gender equality, remember to give a fair chance to women in your life, act on it. This world would be a better place”

– Student, Government City College, Hyderabad.

Focusing on creating awareness among the youth who we believe are the leaders of tomorrow, we collaborated with Youth Red Cross – VIT to conduct a YouTube Live session on Break the Silence on Violence. In this session, Dr. Farzana Khan shed light on the issues of violence against women and youth and how to address them.

To create awareness among the marginalised sections of the community, Save the Children, organised a session for women on dealing with gender-based violence in their communities. This interactive and informative session was conducted by Pearl Choragudi, Head of Interventions and Mumtaz Fatima, Counsellor from Operation PeaceMaker of My Choices Foundation. More than 30 women attended this session to discuss the various issues they face in their communities related to gender-based violence and our expert counsellors supported them to discuss the next steps to break the cycle of violence.

Our team of PeaceMakers and counsellors also conducted awareness programmes for women in the community in Hyderabad where they discussed the issues of domestic violence, child sexual abuse, child marriage and legal support available for survivors of domestic violence.

We focus on delivering awareness messages in creative ways that would inspire girls and boys to think about the issue we are discussing and also act on it. We organised a signature campaign where we encouraged the participants to discuss the myths that they would like to bust to achieve gender equality. A Street play was organised by our team in Howrah on “Hinsa Mukt Samaj ho, sabka Samaan Adhikaar ho” to bring awareness about gender-based violence and challenge conventional attitudes of men towards women. Our team in Warrangal organised another street play that focused on the impact of domestic violence on children and how the presence of our SuperSmart Shakti Girls Network in the community is helping young girls. The SuperSmart Shakti Girls’ Safety Network prioritises the safety of girls through creating awareness about gender-based violence and connecting them to a strong peer network. We adopt a multi-fold approach: connect girls to a peer network, equip them to recognise risks and resist pressures of early marriage, hazardous work and dropping out of school.

Beyond the campaign for #16daysofactivism, we conduct awareness programmes all year round. We have tailormade curriculums for each demographic of the society that ensures that the members of the community are sensitised and educated about issues of gender, masculinity, violence, gender-based discrimination, sexual harassment and laws related to them.

Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and Twitter to know more about our upcoming events and programmes.

Movie screening at Government City College, Hyderabad

Community awareness session organised by Save the Children

Girls participating in the Signature Campaign

My Choices Foundation

This post was authored by the My Choices Foundation communications team. Our mission is to keep you informed on the cause, and hopeful that transformation is possible one story at a time.

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My Choices Foundation makes inroads into Chhattisgarh with our Safe Village Program

My Choices Foundation makes inroads into Chhattisgarh with our Safe Village Program

We are excited to announce that we organised our first Safe Village Program in the region of Bastar, Chhatisgarh, thus marking the beginning of a new (ninth) state to raise awareness and empower the community about sex trafficking with our innovative tools – comic books, flipcharts, helpline and counselling. During the sunny mid-afternoon on Saturday, […]

We are excited to announce that we organised our first Safe Village Program in the region of Bastar, Chhatisgarh, thus marking the beginning of a new (ninth) state to raise awareness and empower the community about sex trafficking with our innovative tools – comic books, flipcharts, helpline and counselling.

During the sunny mid-afternoon on Saturday, 4 December 2021, villagers happily welcomed the team of My Choices Foundation. Our team found shade to begin a meaningful exchange. When our Program Director, Vivian Issac, explained the purpose of the visit and what the Safe Village Program is all about, villagers paid careful attention to anti-trafficking messages. It instilled their curiosity and they had questions. This also helped our team to rediscover the passion and the intent of the work we do – as it happens in each of the Safe Village Programs – to create a safe living and thriving environment for every girl in the nation of India.

We started with our Safe Village Program in Jagdalpur, Chattisgarh due to a newspaper article we came across two years ago and have been working to make inroads in the state since then. In February 2020, a leading English newspaper daily reported that six trafficked children were rescued in Andhra Pradesh and one little girl was from Jagdalpur. Her little fingers were soiled and toiled because of numerous hours of labour work. We had been working with our network to find the right partner, who aligns with the mission of My Choices Foundation and were elated when we found one who is equally passionate as us.

As time passed, comic books were distributed and our engaging flip charts were a huge success too. The messages of Good Fathers, Informed Mothers, Guardian Girls and Smart Boys resonated with the villagers. It was an active and participatory discussion. As people made sense of the messages, two families came forward and said that two boys and one girl had gone missing two years ago. We gathered as much information possible to file a police complaint and with the help of our stakeholders are making efforts to get the children back home.

The community agreed to have all our sustainability elements of our Safe Village Program – Nodal Teacher, Gram Mitra, Rakshak and Community Leadership to ensure that the village is safe.

Reflecting on the Safe Village Program in Chhatisgarh, each Safe Village Program is a passionate exchange of knowledge that creates a lifeline of awareness for many people and a towards the path for a safe society.

My Choices Foundation

This post was authored by the My Choices Foundation communications team. Our mission is to keep you informed on the cause, and hopeful that transformation is possible one story at a time.

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Grassroots volunteers stop child marriage in Karnataka

Grassroots volunteers stop child marriage in Karnataka

Karishma*, 16 wanted to study but was being forced into getting married by her parents. With the support from our active network of grassroots leaders, we stopped the child marriage and ensured her safety. Karishma’s father lost his first wife. He remarried which resulted in family disputes among his four daughters and their step-mother. Due […]

Karishma*, 16 wanted to study but was being forced into getting married by her parents. With the support from our active network of grassroots leaders, we stopped the child marriage and ensured her safety.

Karishma’s father lost his first wife. He remarried which resulted in family disputes among his four daughters and their step-mother. Due to the crippling financial burden of raising his family, he decided to marry one of his daughters with minimal expenditure during the pandemic. Karishma who is only 16 was forced by her father to marry at a young age.

The rise of Child Marriage in Karnataka during the COVID-19 pandemic

During the COVID-19 lockdown, Karnataka witnessed a steep rise in the instances of child marriages. According to the Karnataka State Commission for Protection of Child Rights (KSCPCR), Childline recorded 2,180 child marriage cases in Karnataka from April 2020 to January 2021 (Source: The Hindu). The schools remain shut and girls stayed home, families used this opportunity to marry their underage girls as there was no school to monitor the attendance of the children. During the pandemic, as the restrictions grew, people started conducting smaller weddings which became another factor that influenced the rise in child marriages. Earlier as marriages would be a huge affair, people would notice and report via helpline, now they are being conducted within the confines of the family’s home, making it difficult to spot child marriages.

Call for rescue

To combat the rise of child marriage and sex trafficking in villages, we actively engaged in training and enlisting grassroots volunteers after conducting our awareness program – Safe Village Program. Our grassroots volunteers – Rakshaks, Nodal Teachers and Gram Mitras – are trained and equipped with tools and resources to report child marriage and sex trafficking and get the right support to prevent these crimes.

This training was helpful for our Rakshak when she became aware of Karishma getting married. She called our anti-trafficking helpline 1800 419 8588 informing us about the child marriage that is about to occur in the district of Vijayanagar, Karnataka. Once we received the call, our team sprang into action by alerting our implementing partner closest to the district People NGO to take action. They deployed their field trainer to visit the village to check on the situation. The field trainer took assistance from the Gram Panchayat, Asha Workers, Rakshak and Nodal Teacher who arrived at the venue of the engagement to rescue the child.

Once the child marriage was stopped, the parents were explained how it impacts girls. Karishma’s parents were explained, girls who enter child marriages are more likely to experience domestic violence are at a risk of early and unplanned pregnancy which increases the risk of maternal complications and mortality and are likely to remain out of school.

After explaining the risks of child marriage, Karishma’s parents were made to sign a letter that ensured that Karishma would continue her studies and would not be forced to marry before she turns 18. Karishma’s parents assured us that they would not make decisions that would negatively impact their children again. Today, Karishma is happy and is continuing her education.

Our Rakshak and Nodal Teachers are actively present in the community to ensure no child is left behind when it comes to getting an education. They are the eyes and ears of the community who work to ensure no girl loses her childhood by marrying at a young age.

This case refers to the minimum age of marriage as 18 since this incident took place before the Union Cabinet’s December 2021 amendment to the law.

*Name changed to protect the privacy of a young girl.

My Choices Foundation

This post was authored by the My Choices Foundation communications team. Our mission is to keep you informed on the cause, and hopeful that transformation is possible one story at a time.

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Why do people stay in abusive relationships?

Why do people stay in abusive relationships?

Relationships are complex and abusive relationships come with their own set of complexities. It is difficult to ‘just walk away’ from a relationship. It takes an immense amount of courage to leave. Domestic violence and abuse are about power and control and when a survivor walks away from the relationship they threaten the power and […]

Relationships are complex and abusive relationships come with their own set of complexities. It is difficult to ‘just walk away’ from a relationship. It takes an immense amount of courage to leave. Domestic violence and abuse are about power and control and when a survivor walks away from the relationship they threaten the power and control that their partner has established over them. This may cause the partner to respond in hurtful and harmful ways and hence makes the process of leaving very difficult.

How to get help?

Reasons for staying in an abusive relationship are extremely complex. One of the major reasons includes fear of retaliation from the perpetrator or the following through of the threats that the perpetrator has been using to ensure the survivor stays in the relationship. These could include fear of personal safety, the safety of children, custody of children, financial dependency, and much more. As the survivor is aware of the extent the perpetrator is willing to go, they may not be able to escape the relationship.

Leaving an abusive relationship is not as easy as simply walking away.

Why do people stay?

Many people fear for their personal and their child’s safety when they are in an abusive relationship. Besides the physical risks of staying in abusive relationships, there are also emotional and situational reasons involved regarding why people choose to stay.

Believe that their partner would change and that the abuse would stop.
In families where abusive relationships have been normalised, people fail to recognise the red flags of an unhealthy relationship.
Financially dependent on their partner
Lack of support from family to leave the partner
Loving their partner, attachment to their partner and feeling responsible for the abuse they face.
Feeling scared to make life-changing decisions or feeling guilty over the failure of their relationship.
Fear of emotional trauma that their child would experience in the case of separation
Fear of loss of custody of children
Societal pressure and shame – In India, divorce is considered taboo and domestic violence is a private matter that many refuse to acknowledge or speak about. Hence, separating from the perpetrator becomes an ordeal for many survivors when the relationship status is given more than the safety of the survivor.
Fear that their problems will not be taken seriously by society as well as law enforcement agencies.
Lack of access to resources and information regarding domestic violence redressal mechanisms.
Disability – If someone is dependent on others for physical support, they might find it difficult to leave as they might equate their well-being to being in the relationship.

A survivor goes through immense psychological and emotional turmoil which forces them to stay in abusive relationships. If you know someone who is being subjected to domestic violence, sensitive and unbiased are two words that one must never forget when talking to a survivor of domestic violence and abuse. Do remember that it is not easy for the survivor to leave their partner immediately. As a family member or friend always remember that, the survivor knows what is best for them. Be patient and supportive of the decisions that the survivor makes. They need friends and people around them who are willing to listen to them, have an open mind and are non-judgemental. The goal is never to get them to leave an abusive relationship or situation but rather to provide.

Guide for Friends and Family of survivors of abuse

It is not your fault

If you are being subjected to abuse, you may feel scared, trapped, angry or confused. All of these are normal responses to instances of abuse and violence. Sometimes people also tend to blame themselves for the abuse they face. However, please know that abuse is never the survivor’s fault.

Please contact our toll-free helpline for free counselling, safe home and legal support 1800 212 9131, if it is unsafe to call leave us a message on WhatsApp- 9333 40 4141 and our team will get back to you. All calls are confidential.

How to get help?

My Choices Foundation

This post was authored by the My Choices Foundation communications team. Our mission is to keep you informed on the cause, and hopeful that transformation is possible one story at a time.

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Domestic violence & abuse: How to get help?

Domestic violence & abuse: How to get help?

Domestic violence is a violation of human rights. It is a consequence of minimising and discrediting the equal status of a woman in a patriarchal society. It can occur in any form – physical, sexual, verbal, psychological, economic, stalking, cyberstalking, or a combination of various forms of abuse. Recognising Domestic Violence and Abuse The first […]

Domestic violence is a violation of human rights. It is a consequence of minimising and discrediting the equal status of a woman in a patriarchal society. It can occur in any form – physical, sexual, verbal, psychological, economic, stalking, cyberstalking, or a combination of various forms of abuse.

Recognising Domestic Violence and Abuse

The first step to seeking help is to recognise the signs of abuse. Domestic violence can manifest in many forms. The most telling sign is fear of your partner. If you feel like you have to be on your guard around your partner—constantly watching what you say and do to avoid a blow-up—chances are your relationship is unhealthy and abusive.

If you believe that you are a victim of domestic violence, here are some signs you can look out for:

Being isolated from your family and friends.
Having bruises on you
Your movement, income and access to resources are being controlled.
Your online presence is being monitored.
Being pressured into engaging in sex.
Being belittled or being constantly being told that you are overreacting or are worthless.

Know more about the signs that you can look out for by reading this article.

Creating a Safety Plan

Leaving an abuser can be difficult. It is imperative to have a safety plan in place –

Consider calling a women’s shelter in advance for support. We operate a safe home where we provide emergency services for women in crisis. Call our helpline 1800 212 9131 for more information.
You can also confide in a close friend and request assistance during this difficult time. Ensure you reach out to only trustworthy friends and family who will not give away your location or contact information once you have left your partner.
Be sure of where you are going to go and how you will get there during an emergency.
Always keep your phone ready to use in an emergency with a minimum balance and sufficient battery charge. Store important numbers on speed dial.
Keep an emergency bag with important documents, money and clothes and hide it somewhere safe in case of a life-threatening situation at home.

Getting help and support

Domestic violence in any form is unacceptable. If you are being subjected to domestic violence or are in an abusive relationship please call- 1800 212 9131, if it is unsafe to call leave us a message on WhatsApp- 9333 40 4141. Free, confidential counselling and support are available through our helpline services via our team of expert counsellors.

Watch this video to know more about what happens when you call our toll free number –

My Choices Foundation

This post was authored by the My Choices Foundation communications team. Our mission is to keep you informed on the cause, and hopeful that transformation is possible one story at a time.

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Campaign uses comics to raise awareness of child trafficking in West Bengal

Campaign uses comics to raise awareness of child trafficking in West Bengal

“My daughter is 15 years old and my husband was arranging for her marriage. When I read Surokhito Gram Karyakrom’s comic book, I learnt that girls shouldn’t get married before the age of 18. It’s not good for their health and the future. It was difficult to convince my husband, but he agreed eventually”, a […]

“My daughter is 15 years old and my husband was arranging for her marriage. When I read Surokhito Gram Karyakrom’s comic book, I learnt that girls shouldn’t get married before the age of 18. It’s not good for their health and the future. It was difficult to convince my husband, but he agreed eventually”, a mother from a remote village in the district of Bardhaman, West Bengal.

‘Surokhito Gram Karyakrom’ comic in the Bengali language aims to raise awareness among children, women and communities about child trafficking. The comic book focuses on the story of a ‘Guardian Girl’ Rani who educates the communities on how to protect children, women and girls from traffickers. The book delivers a trafficking prevention message in an appropriate cultural context and visual format, along with simple vocabulary to capture the attention of rural people, including people with low literacy levels.

Making it relevant to all ages, the comic book has characters of:

– A Good Father who protects his daughter ‘like a farmer protects his crops’

– An Informed Mother who ‘will not marry her daughter before she turns 18’

– A Guardian Girl who ‘is determined to study and raise awareness about child trafficking’

– A Smart Boy who ‘respects girls and acts an influencer to prevent trafficking’

“Child trafficking is a tough topic and our comic book is an effective means to communicate the dangers of trafficking in a way that is empowering, thoughtful and educational. It is resonant with readers of all ages and hugely popular among children. During our field visit, each participant is handed over a copy to take it back home. It stays with them and proves to be a reinforcing tool as the conversation about various characters continue to take place in their homes”, said Vivian Isaac, Program Director of My Choices Foundation.

West Bengal is one of the most vulnerable states where deep-rooted harmful societal practices such as child marriage, child labour and unsafe migration are highly prevalent. Additionally, COVID-19 has fuelled cases of child marriage and school dropouts, triggered by financial pressures and increased unsafe online practices. Thousands of women and girls are lured to cities each year by traffickers who promise good jobs or with a prospect of happy marriage, but sell them into modern-day slavery.

My Choices Foundation, Hyderabad based-NGO conducts Surokhito Gram Karyakrom, aimed at sensitising at-risk community members about child trafficking and commercial sexual exploitation by organising field-based programmes and communication tools such as comic books, flip charts, educational videos and roleplays.

My Choices Foundation

This post was authored by the My Choices Foundation communications team. Our mission is to keep you informed on the cause, and hopeful that transformation is possible one story at a time.

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Victims’ voices lead the way!

Victims’ voices lead the way!

Trafficking in Persons affects generations and not only individuals. The poor and vulnerable are the most susceptible and COVID-19 only reaffirmed this severe tragedy. The 2021 theme for World Day against Trafficking in Persons is, “Victims’ voices lead the way”. It speaks so many things all at once. It speaks the truth, it speaks to […]

Trafficking in Persons affects generations and not only individuals. The poor and vulnerable are the most susceptible and COVID-19 only reaffirmed this severe tragedy.

The 2021 theme for World Day against Trafficking in Persons is, “Victims’ voices lead the way”. It speaks so many things all at once. It speaks the truth, it speaks to the victims of abuse and it allows us the realisation, that hearing the voices of the victims and their truths, enables us to combat human trafficking.

My Choices Foundation held its 3rd Asian Anti-Trafficking Forum this week in anticipation of World Day against Trafficking in persons. We focused on equipping, strengthening and encouraging our grassroots’ stakeholders who work in the villages to keep the villages safe, encourage children and raise awareness on trafficking in persons.

This perfectly resonates with ‘Victims’ voices leading the way’. Through our grassroots stakeholders, we are able to amplify the voices of the victims and hear their accounts first-hand. Listening to the victims’ voices through our grassroots stakeholders allows us to focus on the crucial role they play in establishing effective measures to prevent trafficking, as well as measures to raise awareness more effectively through our Safe Village Program.

With the support from our grassroots’ stakeholders, we have conducted more than 5,000 Safe Village Programs across eight states in India, impacting 26,30,000 people. The programme adopts a holistic approach and focuses on sensitising at-risk community members about child trafficking, its causes, risk factors, creating awareness about ways to prevent child trafficking, sustaining the awareness and conducting vulnerability-reduction workshops. We believe that we can end sex trafficking together with collective knowledge and action.

On the 2021 World Day Against Trafficking in Persons, I honour our grassroot stakeholders who are committed to listening to the stories of the victims and give them a voice. At My Choices Foundation, we are committed to giving each and every woman and child the choice to live life free from abuse and sexual exploitation. We thank you for joining us in the fight!

My Choices Foundation

This post was authored by the My Choices Foundation communications team. Our mission is to keep you informed on the cause, and hopeful that transformation is possible one story at a time.

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