Over two centuries ago, the Dommara community migrated from northern India to coastal Andhra Pradesh in South India. Though traditionally a fishing community, they were revered for their talents as magicians and gymnasts. During the harvest season, they would travel to nearby villages and showcase their talents. Villagers would give them grains and other produce in exchange for their performances. Over time, the villagers stopped compensating them with food products, and many Dommara women were forced into prostitution as the only way to sustain their families.
Today, most Dommara girls believe they are destined for a life of prostitution. This mindset pervades because of habit, ignorance, lack of other opportunities, and their limited vision to dream. The Society for Help Entire Lower & Rural People (HELP) was created to inspire new generations of Dommara children to break the cycle and create new lives for themselves.
In 1993 journalist Ramamohan NVS, adopted a few Dommara children when he learned that their mothers had committed suicide to escape their lives as commercial sex workers. As Ramamohan and his journalist friends learned more about the power dynamics and coercive forces that dominated the trafficking industry, they established HELP to break the cycle in the Dommara community.
At the core of its program are two residential schools for the children of sex-workers in Machavaram, and Kanaparthi, Andhra Pradesh. The girls school in Machavaram hosts 65 girls (ages 4-17). The boys school in Kanaparthi has 13 students. At these residential schools, HELP seeks to empower the children through education, vocational trainings, and nurturing a “Yes I can” attitude in life. Many of the children are first generation learners. Older children attend vocational trainings in handicrafts, bakery and bag manufacturing. They attend classes in the evening. HELP also engages various professionals such as journalists, doctors, engineers, lawyers, teachers, and social workers to conduct sessions and guide the children on various career paths.
The children at HELP have faced various traumas, stigmas, and challenges in the early years of their lives. However, they have also demonstrated incredibly strong willpower, resilience, and desire to change their own lives. HELP’s vision is to implement a curriculum to help these children build self-esteem, stand on their own feet, and face the world with confidence. Hopefully, with love, kindness, and guidance, they will amass the tools necessary to overcome their traumatic pasts. HELP encourages older children to mentor the younger ones in hopes that these children will eventually take over the HELP program and become the instruments of change for their own communities. HELP also conducts: (1) active campaigns against girl-child trafficking and child-prostitution, (2) AIDS-awareness campaigns and entrepreneurship training for target communities, and (3) a non-formal education center for Dommara girls and children of sex workers. In 2000, HELP forged a Network Against Trafficking and Sexual Exploitation in Andhra Pradesh (NATSAP) with likeminded organizations to combat trafficking of women and children.
Social stigma attached with HIV prohibits the affected families from coming out in the open and seeking treatment. Children from these families usually need preventative medication to avoid infection, if they have not already contracted the disease. HELP has formed support groups consisting of a panchayat (village government) member, a school teacher, a health official, self-help group members, Anganwadi (Government child care centers) members, and youth group members. The support groups help identify and care for HIV families. The support groups provide information about HIV, assist with the education and health of children, and advocate on the family’s behalf for fair treatment in village services.
Need for Project:
Growing up in the red light district can be difficult for a child. Living in the midst of emotional and physical violence affects one’s self-image. Providing children of commercial sex workers with the skill sets to combat self-esteem issues and foster confidence will allow them to overcome their traumatic pasts and build a more promising future.
HELP strives to create a safe environment at the Manchavaram school for learning and development. To supplement, HELP has organized counseling on health and children rights, vocational trainings and motivational speakers. In 2010, HELP seeks to diversify the methods and tools to facilitate all-round development at the school. New suggested activities could include art, drama, craft and English speaking skills.
As an August 2010 Indicorps Fellow, you will create an all-round self development program for the Machavaram girls school. You will be responsible for creating lesson plans, activities and workshops with the aid of the HELP staff.
Initially, you will have to familiarize yourself with the Dommara community, the girls in the Machavaram school, the current curriculum and local teaching methods. It is integral to immerse yourself in the community in order to understand the unique challenges facing children of commercial sex workers. You should invest substantial time in understanding HELP’s case studies to accelerate your learning. Due to the sensitive nature of the project, it is important that you maintain an open dialogue and stay in constant communication with the HELP staff and the children’s families to address any challenges that may arise over the duration of your project. You should be prepared for stark differences in your approach and the prevalent methodology.
Next, you should create and structure a program that will build confidence and address low self-esteem in the children. You should build upon the efforts of 2004 Indicorps Fellow Gandhrav Telhan who focused on developing a self-esteem curriculum. Programs may include sports, martial arts and performing arts. In addition to self-esteem development, you will support the vocational training program that will allow the Machavaram girls to explore various career paths in order to break the cycle of prostitution. You may also invite inspirational speakers, organize field trips, create a mentorship program or put together a “career fair” depending on the progress of the project and the interest of the community.
Given the students’ academic schedules, the girls will not have much time to focus on extracurricular activities during the weekdays. You can begin engaging with the families via other HELP initiatives in the communities like the HIV awareness program. You may also spend a few days a week at the HELP center in Chilakaluripet to strengthen the parental involvement and create a more positive home environment. Regular group meetings and home visits could help you gradually build trust on a personal level with the families. An annual fun fair/mela showcasing talents of the children and their mothers could advance self-esteem for both stakeholders.
Finally it will be imperative to thoroughly document all findings/observations, lesson plans and feedback. Proper documentation will allow for replication and scalability of best practices. Throughout the project, it will be necessary to network and reach out to trained social workers, mental health experts, and other non-profit organizations doing similar work in order to foster an exchange of ideas and experiences.
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Target Community:
The primary beneficiaries of the project are the girls in the Machavaram school. You will also indirectly work with the families of the children and the Dommara community at large. Other stakeholders you will engage with include social workers, police, mental health experts, and other non-profit organizations.
Objectives:
• To build self-esteem of children of commercial sex workers through education and extra-curricular activities
• To create institutional partnerships and network for school activities
• To build stronger and supportive home environments
Challenges:
• Creating and implementing programming for children of different ages
• Encouraging the children to break the commercial sex trade cycle without being disrespectful to their families
• Scheduling activities at a residential school with an otherwise full calendar
• Being empathetic without internalizing the struggle
• Remaining self-motivated in an environment with limited guidance and support
• Finding a sustained source of motivation amidst an emotionally volatile environment
• Showing tremendous patience and compassion for everyone engaged in creating the children’s environment
Team-Based Model:
Each project is designed as a three-way partnership between you, Indicorps, and the partner organization. Each grassroots partner organization – in this case HELP – will be hosting two to four Fellows. Consequently, the August 2010 Fellowship will have both an individual and a team component.
As a team of Indicorps Fellows, your focus is to strengthen HELP’s efforts to assist a community caught in a cycle of commercial sex work. Team members will focus on different area including building self-esteem in children of sex workers and HIV/AIDS awareness, care and counseling.
You will be provided dormitory accommodation with other HELP teachers at the residential school in Machavaram. Simple vegetarian food will be provided. You will do your own laundry and assist with team chores. International calling is available at the school. Internet access is available at the HELP main office in Ongole. Ongole is 25 km away from Machavaram; it is well connected by road transport. For local transport, you will travel on buses or tandem with staff on motorcycles.
The language spoken at HELP is Telegu. For this project, a basic knowledge of Telegu is required. If you do not have basic knowledge of Telegu, you can still apply if you can make a commitment to gain a basic understanding before the start of your Fellowship year.
Please explain the qualifications that make you a strong candidate for this project - be sure to elaborate on any experiences with at-risk youth and/or promoting personal development.
2.
Laila, a thirteen year old girl whom you have been mentoring, has approached you with concerns that her father wants her to start earning money. She is worried that he wants her to become a sex worker like her mother. What will you do in this situation?
3.
Describe a time when you have had to discuss a subject that is considered to be "taboo." How have you approached the subject and made the person you are speaking with feel comfortable and safe?
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