Give Girls from Underprivileged Families a Chance to Continue Their Studies

Summary

Fourteen-year-old Rinky (name changed) from Ajmer district, Rajasthan has looked forward to the day when schools would be open again, for the last two years. Now, however, given the economic set back her family has suffered in the Pandemic, Rinky is not sure she would be able to get back to school. In the past two years her parents have lost their regular work at retail stores in the city, the family is now dependent on irregular and unreliable daily wage, barely surviving. Due to lack of resources, Rinky was not able to take part in online learning modules and is now likely to have a tough time being able to get back to offline classes, due to learning gaps. 

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a devastating effect on girls’ education across India. School closure across the country has increased girls’ involvement in housework, even childcare for younger siblings, sparing little time for learning. According to UNICEF, millions of girls are likely to drop out of school once the schools do open. 

INDIAdonates’ partner, Rajasthan Samagrah Kalyan Sansthan (RSKS) has so far identified 250 girls between 11 to 15 like Rinky from 20 villages in Ajmer district of Rajasthan. These girls do not have the basic school supplies, hygiene material or knowledge of hygiene and sanitation. The severe financial plight of the families has led to food insecurity, irregular meals and reduced health status for them, further preventing them from reaching their full potential with studies. The girls are now looking at an uncertain future with the high likelihood of child marriage. 

To keep the program going and comply with the Covid-19 safety rules and regulations, RSKS has adopted a door-to-door approach method that is safe and applicable even when the schools are shut down due to the spread of covid-19. To reach out to every girl child, the details are taken from the school and each child is provided with school supplies, hygiene materials such as sanitizer, soaps, menstrual hygiene products for a year. Further to bring up the girl’s optimum health status, they are provided with nutritious food supplements for the next 6 months. To follow-up, home visits at regular intervals are conducted for each of the 250 children for the next 4 months to ensure they continue to attend school. 

In the face of the devastating after effects of the COVID-19 pandemic in the lives of marginalized rural girls, INDIAdonates aims to provide immediate and direct relief to prevent the situation from taking a turn for worse. Your contribution of Rs. 2200 would be essential in keeping a vulnerable girl healthy and in school, preventing a bleak future for her.