Petition to End Child Marriage

Equality Now Girls under 18 are forced into marriage throughout the world. Equality Now has been on the forefront of advocacy to end this practice.  "It is a human rights violation that legitimizes abuse of girls under the guise of culture, honor, tradition and religion. When a young girl is married and gives birth, a vicious cycle of poverty, poor health, curtailed education, violence, instability and legal and other discrimination begins." You can help: sign the petition.  This will be presented in June to governments attending the Human Rights Council session. Read more about how you can help Equality Now here.

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Yuwa

As a big fan of women in sport, it's always been discouraging to see the absence of sport in the lives of most Indian girls.  Not at all surprising, mind you, but discouraging - I felt the absence. It's a thrill to see Yuwa-India develop.  Yuwa gets how important sports for girls can be. The confidence, courage, and connectedness that sports can bring are felt throughout all aspects of life. Do read more about Yuwa-India here

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Popping Tags, Popping Bulbs

Thanks, Macklemore, but here in Delhi we’re popping bulbs, not tags.  Due to reasons both entertaining and unfathomable, we pop lightbulbs on the daily.  Every night when I come home empty corrugated paper tubes, the packaging for lightbulbs worldwide, litter the trash.  These are the Indian version: pale blue or orange,  standard-issue flimsy.  Are the light bulbs so weak that a few days worth of work exhausts them?  Or is the wiring in our 40-year-old house so antiquated that a mismatch occurs, with no update in sight?  Or maybe the inevitable surges and spikes of the erratic supply from the…

  • Post category:IndiaMusings
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Shalom Hospital

I first visited Shalom Hospital almost two years ago when they were preparing to move to a new location.  The new facility is on the northern outskirts of Delhi -  a very long trip for staff and doctors, but close to where most target group patients are. Shalom provides compassionate, home based, palliative, and critical care to people living with HIV/AIDS.  The Indian transgender and homosexual community is particularly affected and Shalom caters to them. Read more about Shalom Hospital here   

  • Post category:IndiaMusingsNGOs
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Sewa Ashram/Delhi House

It's over an hour from central Delhi to Sewa Ashram on the northern edge of the city. Here 125 destitute men - not just the poor, but men who are ill and the mentally physically or disabled - are given treatment, a home, food, and comfort.  Tuberculosis and HIV patients dominate.  Most men are picked up from the streets, but some are left at the door to Sewa Ashram.  This is human care for those who have no one - and where there is no safety net. Hospital beds are perched around in the courtyard. One older man does not…

  • Post category:IndiaMusingsNGOs
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C4AC – Cocktails for a Cause February 7

C4AC In Gurgaon February 7: Our Second Annual 'School Lunches for Diksha' was a great success.  Diksha provides hot school lunches for each child - almost 200 - every day.  For many children this is the only hot meal they get.  Partygoers raised over 54,000 INR on Friday alone. Contributions can be made at the AWA Delhi office throughout February or anytime directly to Diksha.  Many thanks to Richa for hosting and to Shanta, the fearless leader of Diksha, for coming and telling us more about the school.  

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