This Is Empowerment – Seva Trip Part 2

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This SEVA TRIP has been deeply moving!

In our second week of the Seva Trip 2023, we visited our NGO partner NISHTHA in West Bengal. Since 2010, we have developed our programs together, which now provide 550 mothers with micro-loans, 600 young daughters with primary education and 300 adolescent girls with SHE Scholarship for Higher Education. Last year, we also launched new initiatives: Pad Project and Girls Digital Center in this remote poor rural region, south of Kolkata.

 

SHE Girls Became “COVID WARRIORS”

NISHTHA Director Mina Das said, “It is a true miracle that none of these girls got COVID despite their brave actions.”  Throughout the prolonged pandemic, YGB’s SHE scholarship girl students risked their lives against the infection and became “COVID WARRIORS,” cycling into the villages to help illiterate villagers with information about prevention and care, provide masks and medical check up, as well as  delivering urgent food assistance. Many were dying in the villages daily and initially, there were not enough vaccine to protect these girls. However, they did not hesitate to take action to protect the villagers against the pandemic. Thereby gaining deep appreciation and respect from the villagers.

 

Micro-Loan Women Rescued the Villagers

The pandemic lock-down that closed the markets lasted for almost two years, and most people in the villages lost their daily wages. It was during this most difficult time that YGB’s micro-loan mat-making group emerged as the critical income earner. Their handmade mats were in high demand and the local buyer kept increasing orders. Micro-loan women started teaching mat-making to their husbands and other women who desperately needed income. These women gained financial independence, respect from husbands and villagers, as well as giving opportunities to other women. Empowered women empower women.

It was a remarkable in-person visit to all YGB programs in India which confirmed that our programs are truly making an impact not only in educational or financial terms, but also in a steady shift to gender equality through empowerment of girls and women in rural villages.

Your continued support will ensure that more than 2400 fund recipients will continue transform their lives with growing confidence and a sense of self-worth.