News
- “Bolivia is not doing enough to protect girls against sexual violence"
- New projects against child exploitation in Ehiopia
- Government promises action against Dutch pedophiles in foreign countries
- Bangladeshi projects make headlines in Dutch newspapers
- Foundation stone for new vocational training institute in Bangladesh
- Project Partner Koinonia helps flood victims return to school
- Terre des Hommes hospital ship no longer needed
- Flood relief in Sri lanka
- Terre des Hommes draws the attention of the United Nations to the human rights of trafficked children
- The Hague Global Child Labour Conference
- For a reinforcement of children’s rights
Working children
13 year old Nandini, seen in the picture above, never went to school. She works as a weaver to supplement her family's income. Thanks to local project partner Society for Human Education (SHE) Nandini attends non formal education classes for out-of-school children. Non formal education provides working children the opportunity to study at a convenient place, pace and time. Nandini is studying for her 10th standard diploma.
Education and Health Care for the Devadasi Community and other Poor Families
Project code
: IN-136A
Project period:
01/04/2010 to 31/03/2013
| Programme | Exploitation | Funds needed | €3531.00 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Country | India | People supported directly | 5322 |
| Project location | Bellary | People supported indirectly | 2412 |
This project benefits children, youth and women from Devadasi families and Dalit (people regarded as untouchable) families. Devadasi is a religious practice in parts of southern India whereby parents marry their daughter to a deity or a temple. The marriage usually occurs before the girl reaches puberty and requires the girl to become a prostitute for the temple priest and upper-caste community members. Devadasis are forbidden to enter into a real marriage. Although forbidden, the system continues due to poverty and lack of opportunities for families from the lowest caste, the so called untouchables. Devadasis face discrimination, remain politically powerless and suffer from acute poverty, oppression and exploitation. It is not uncommon for the female children of Devadasi women to be dedicated as Devadasis themselves, repeating the cycle. Devadasi families are at the very bottom of the social order, living in clusters on the outskirts of the villages.
Devadasi and Dalit families in the project area are mostly illiterate, lack access to health services and the children do not have access to quality education. Devadasi and Dalit families usually don't have access to income generating activities and market oriented vocational training.
This project promotes holistic development of Devadasi and Dalit families in the project area through health care services, education and socio-economic development services. The project provides health education on water-borne and faecal-borne diseases, safe drinking water, sanitation, sexual transmitted diseases such as HIV and personal hygiene. It provides ante natal care for pregnant women and post natal care for lactating mothers. All children in the project are immunised and primary school children educated on health issues. Children in the early learning centres receive supplementary food and their growth is monitored.
The project runs early learning centres in the villages where children otherwise wouldn't have access to early childhood education. It supports teachers through teacher training in primary schools to improve quality of education. Children from Devadasi and Dalit families receive financial support to continue secondary education.
Devadasi and Dalit women form self-help groups with saving and credit schemes to promote income generating activities.
Through awareness raising sessions in combination with other project interventions no girls were offered as Devadasi in the last couple of years in the project area.