Dear Friends,
I want you to know that our team is grateful for you and our entire community of friends and partners. We all continue to experience the ongoing effects of inflation and realize that this has created additional economic challenges for so many. Similarly, we see how this time has been difficult for NGOs, including our own. The cost of serving broken women, youth and children has increased while charitable giving has declined over the last year.
Sadly, these challenges can lead to real consequences. For example, one of our partner organizations, way bigger and older than us (among several), has shut down many of its projects and operations and salaries are pending for several months. Many of their staff have been calling me for jobs. This definitely will leave a gap in the service to this nation and it is a time to weep. Will you keep in mind the ground reality and continue to stand with us at Purnata so that we can meet the growing needs coming our way?
In spite of these current challenges, we remain deeply committed to our cause and those we serve. Purnata will soon complete nine years, entering our tenth, and we’re just getting started! We are prayerfully looking forward to all that is in store for us in the years to come. There are exciting adventures ahead of us and we are just thrilled that you're coming along with us on this journey to bring freedom and transformation to broken lives. Together, let's see survivors of trafficking healed and this evil come to an end!
So, thank you for standing with us! People like you make this work possible every single day. Will you consider partnering with us even further in this fight? At the financial year's end, we are still short of about Rs. 13 lakhs (approx. USD 16,250). To donate now, check out the link here.
We are thankful for you and can't wait to continue to share new stories of hope and freedom with you!
Yours sincerely for a traffic-free world,
aaboo :-)
Celebrate the change in these young lives:
On 19th March, eight teams played in the five-a-team "Play for a Cause" football tournament, at the Decathlon Sports turf in Kurla. Organised by Sports Mentoring Infusion (SMI), our teens/youth from both communities we serve were excited about this opportunity. They are coached by the Founder of SMI Mr Jesson Jose. We bought sports shoes and T-shirts for all the teens/youth who participated with help from a generous donor. We took a few extra players as substitutes and also to see that if they play sincerely, they will also get an opportunity and the kit. Totally 20 teens/youth from both our centres were there along with 4-5 staff.
SMI tournaments are different from other tournaments, in that, abiding by the values of the tournament is more important than just scoring goals and winning the game. Best conduct team is usually given the main winner tag in the SMI Tournament.
Here is a quote from the letter from SMI after the tournament. "We would like to extend our heartfelt congratulations to the Best Conduct Team (Main winner of the Tournament) i.e. "Purnata Bhandup" for their exemplary behavior throughout the "Play for a Cause" Football tournament. Your sportsmanship and fair play, not using abusive language, not putting others down, encouraging others and many more have set a great example for all the participants and inspired us to continue our efforts towards a noble cause. I believe almost all the teams abided with this. However, the ones who did the most were given this award."
The Home Team (SMI) were first and Nitro Titans were the runners-up. for their outstanding performance in the tournament. Prizes were also given for best conduct players, best support & assist players, best goalkeeper, and top scorer for their exceptional skills and contributions to the tournament.
We are looking forward to these teens/youth to become young men and women who excel in life and become good citizens of this nation, imbibing values that contribute to nation building.
Staff training by Apnalaya:
On the 16th and 17th of March, we had training with Apnalaya. Ten of our staff were part of the training at the Apnalaya centre at Govandi. This is part 2 of training of which three days were already completed. Many matters were taught and discussed including Urban governance, branches of government, service delivery bodies like the Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai (MCGM) and how and whom to contact when for various matters. The training included teaching leadership and the qualities of being a leader.
A Civic Action Toolkit was given teaching how to handle various types of complaints, how to write a compliment letter, Right to Information act (RTI) and Public Interest Litigation (PIL). Video clips, group discussion and various activities formed part of the training methodology keeping the participants involved.
We are thankful to the Apnalaya team for taking the effort to train and equip our staff.
Legal Aid training on Zoom
13 staff from Mumbai and Kolkata have been attending a Legal Aid training done by Advocate Nikita Agarwal.
They have been covering topics like laws around child trafficking, the definition of trafficking, Constitutional provisions, fundamental Rights against exploitation, Article 15(3) affirmative action of women and children, Article 21(A) Compulsory education for women and children to 14 years, Indian penal code - Section 370 on Trafficking, Kidnapping (section 360, 361, 363A, 365, 366), kidnapping for slavery (section 372, 373), Child Act (section 377, 375), PITA Act, 161 police statement, duties of investigation agencies and Information technology Act, 2000.
Thanks to the Apnalaya team for patiently training us.
We have launched an online crowdfunding campaign on Ketto to gather 20 lakhs to cover a shortfall in our resources here in Purnata. We now have 95 individual donors and 26 fundraisers and have raised ₹7,99,344. We want to exceed our goal by adding more fundraisers in the following weeks. To learn more click here.
Thank you for your continued support. Together, we can make a difference. I hope you’ll take the time to look at our website at www.purnata.org and the regular updates we put on social media via our handle @Purnataorg. As always, feedback is welcome and encouraged.