It’s only my third week in the job but this week I was lucky enough to visit the Odanadi girls home in Mysore, South India; the project which Yoga Stops Traffick supports.
This year’s campaign supports a home for trafficked girls and we are hoping to raise £25,000 through Yoga Stops Traffick to fund the home for 6 months. Karnataka is the state in India where the home is located and it has the 3rd highest rate of trafficking in the whole of India. Every day in this state 26 children go missing from their families.
My week has consisted of meeting the charity founders, Stanly and Parashu, as well as the children and amazing staff who ensure the daily operations of the charity. It has been an incredible insight into the challenges the charity faces in dealing with the complex issue of child trafficking but also a privilege in seeing first-hand the difference it makes to the lives of survivors. The charity is unique in taking a proactive approach to tackling the issue of trafficking. Odanadi, our local partner, have an investigations and rescue team who work tirelessly to identify victims not just in Karnataka but across India. Once the girls are rescued they are rehabilitated in the home and receive counselling as well as other forms of support.
The overall goal of the girl’s home is to reintegrate the girls into society and part of that is training and education. Whilst I was at Odanadi I was lucky enough to visit the beauty training school where the girls undertake a 6 month training programme. The variety of skills the girls learn is astonishing, not only are they learning pedicure, manicure and facials but also hair and henna!
The team at Odanadi have fought hard for the children to be accepted into University – something which they were previously prohibited from doing because of discrimination as a result of their background. Now the government in Karnataka has set aside 1% of University places for trafficked children so a greater number can access further education and improve their chances in life.
We can’t wait for Yoga Stops Traffick this year to get more practitioners, studios and teachers on board in support of the girls home!