OSI-India
In the "Janata Vasahat" slum of Pune, as in many parts of India, girls from the lowest levels of society face countless obstacles to gaining an education. Financial straits force children out of school and into labour at an early age, or in best cases their parents cannot afford the necessary classes and educational materials. Lacking an education means the girl is without prospects. Parents, uneducated themselves, then feel their daughters as a financial burden, meaning that they are married prematurely, often without choice, becoming virtual slaves to their circumstances, if not to their new 'family', and soon find themselves mothers to children who will experience the same cycle as themselves.
OSI-India
Starting in 2008, OSI sponsorship took Minal's concept a quantum-leap forward by providing a consistent and substantial means of support for individual girls in the community. OSI sponsors provide the means for each girl to be enrolled in private classes, receive medical care and counselling, and supplemental nutrition. Via sponsorship and her own hard work, she is able to gain an education, as far as her capabilities will take her, all the way through college or vocational training, to a career of her own choosing, with control over her own destiny. In addition, OSI's program site sponsor (see below) provides the means for Minal and the small ASHA staff to work directly with each child and her family on a full-time basis,
Since we began in 2008, most of our 'graduates' have obtained or are studying towards bachelor's degrees, in fields such as engineering, IT, accounting,
nursing, and fashion design, with some having obtained master's. Many of our eldest have achieved financial independence with professional careers,
and are supporting their families. Even those who are studying towards degrees simultaneously work respectable part-time jobs which earn more than
their parents working full-time as domestic servants or labourers.
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Visit ASHA's Facebook page... Commentary - Some thoughts on the achievements of our remarkable Pune girls, as well as unforeseen benefits lately being observed in their neighbourhood...
Janata Vasahat
Janata Vasahat is an impoverished slum community located on the slopes of Parvati, -a prominent hill in Pune crowned with an ancient temple. It is an extensive, sprawling community of shanties, inhabited mostly by migrants from rural areas of Maharashtra and Karnataka states, who have come to the city in search of opportunity.
The "original" or "legal" homes in the slum are simple masonry, tin-roofed constructions of one or two rooms, registered with the Pune Municipality, and provided with a water tap and electricity. However, many homes in Janata Vasahat are "illegal" shanties, rudimentary constructions of tin or other materials, prone to conflicts with the municipality, and without the infrastructure benefits of the legal homes. This is the result of a growing number of migrants to the community, destitute of the means for legal housing.
Janata Vasahat has it's own charity-run hospital as well as private physicians. Conversely, desperation of many residents means that there are anti-social elements in Janata Vasahat, -gang fighting, gambling, production/selling of black-market liquor, domestic violence, early marriage, child labour, etc. Alcoholism, and the domestic abuse that usually accompanies it, is rampant.
Adults in the community are largely illiterate or with minimal education. Most men in the community work in unskilled jobs or as labourers, while women work mostly as domestic servants in homes nearby. Employment/income is unstable and minimal, with family incomes typically ranging between US $80-$200 /month.
Most young children study in the local Marathi language at government schools within walking distance of Janata Vasahat. A few of our children who have migrated from distant regions study in Urdu language schools and have to travel through the city to reach these. Beyond elementary school, colleges and higher education institutions are particularly abundant in Pune, and completing/passing grade school is all that is necessary for our girls to have access to these.
Excursions
All is not struggle and study! Truly one of the most important things OSI does is to provide fun and educational excursions
for our Janata Vasahat children as frequently as possible. Their childhoods are largely devoid of happy and fun memories,
and the kindness of OSI donors helps us to compensate for that. Getting these girls away from their studies, out of their
slum environment and out of the city... we often see a completely different side of their personalities, -or rather their real
personalities shine through, as they are free for a day to just be children.
Below are links to excursions that we have provided for our Pune children.
Mauli Resort
Anjanvel
Yavat Agro Resort
Orchard Resort
Hotel Conrad Career Tour
Seema Farms
Armed Forces Medical College
23 June 2018
Shantivan
Morachi Chincholi
Orchard Resort
Bhimashankar & Shivneri Fort
Lonavala
Konkan Kanya
Mahabaleshwar
Chincholi Morachi
Sankranti
Theater and Katraj Snake Park
Mumbai
Saras Baug Park
Niwara Elder's Home
Sinhagad
Pune Educational Excursion
Sanskruti Culture Park
Personnel
Program Site Sponsor
Alok Pandya (USA) Alok is a successful young entrepeneur who early in his career felt a desire to use his business success to impact the lives of disadvantaged children. "It's the lives you impact and make better that really matters in this world." -Alok OSI and our children are fortunate that Alok has chosen to make this difference with us.
Program Manager
Minal Dani and ASHA (India) Minal is voluntary Founder and Director of "ASHA", an effort to address violence and injustice against women in Pune. Minal and the ASHA staff work tirelessly, full time on the ground to achieve our mutual goals for our Pune children.
Program Liaison
Nick M. Hindman Resident in nearby Sri Lanka, OSI president/founder Nick M. Hindman also serves as voluntary communicative liaison for our India program.
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OSI-Sri Lanka
OSI-Russia