them. They might not like the course or face difficulty to cope up with the chosen course. In case when a girl decides to leave a course or training programme and wishes to apply for another, Baale support them to switch to different course but the girls are allowed a maximum of one course change. At the same time girls face adjustment issues in workplaces which lead to quitting jobs. There are instances where few girls dropped off from different jobs and got married, which was beyond the control of the organization.
(vi) Mahima India, Kolkata About the organization Mahima India supports Mahima Homes in providing specialized care and rehabilitation to minor victims of sex trafficking and youth formerly in sex trade or victims of sexual abuse as well as other children in need of care and protection, referred by Child Welfare Committee (CWC), police to ensure their successful reintegration into society. Mahima India runs three shelter homes, such as, i) Umang – the girls home for 12-18), ii) Ummeed – the girls home for 6-18 years, iii) Mahima Premanand Boys’ Home for 6-18 years age group. Apart from long term care homes, Mahima runs a drop-in center named Ashaloy for children and women in Kolkata’s biggest Red-Light Area. It is an oasis of hope for the commercial sex workers and their minor children in the heart of Kolkata’s largest red-light district, Sonagachi in Kolkata. Children at the Ashaloy center receive educational opportunities and holistic care while women receive encouragement and proper guidance on learning to start alternative employment toward embracing a new way of life. Group counselling for the community’s women is conducted once a week by a staff member from the Mahima Home. Additionally, these women also participate in awareness program organized once a month by Mahima to educate and equip them with basic knowledge of substituting their existing profession and to sensitize them about women’s rights. 32 https://www.mahimaindia.net/program.php?program_id=2
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Different Shared Living Arrangements for Care Leavers
The organization aims to create awareness and assist in the prevention of sex trafficking and child sexual abuse in the urban and rural pockets of West Bengal to keep the children safe in source areas and also to bring about change in the people’s attitude and mindset.32 Activities in Mahima Homes include enrolling children in formal school to help them continue with their education under special guidance, provide medical facilities, provide psychological therapy and ccounselling, legal aid, provide music therapy though dance, piano and ukulele, provide vocational training, job placements, etc. focusing on adult independent leaving. In Premanand Boys’ Home, the minor boys are also given football coaching and piano classes apart from the above activities.
After Care Program PP
Transition preparedness and independence support
Transition plan for each child under the care of Mahima India starts from the age of 14 preparing them to live better lives after moving from the organization. There is resistance from few children when they must be on their own because many of them are scared to go out of the organization’s care due to their traumatic pasts and absence of families or safe places to live outside the organization. Regular interaction, motivation and giving them variety of career opportunities since 14 years of age help them understand that they cannot stay under Mahima’s care for indefinite period of time. However, since number of girls and boys are also very less, getting 7 – 8 types of jobs in a year through different contacts and networks of the organization does not post much challenge. As part of the transition plans, YAs are assured that Mahima would support them till receiving a suitable job. Mahima thinks education is a non-negotiable component of shelter home irrespective of their age and background. Hence, apart from formal or nonformal education, children in girls are given vocational trainings on tailoring, computer, spoken English and beautician courses partnering with other NGOs and other training institutes. YAs get stipend while trainings
