In the last 5 years, I have made 5 different attempts to start blogging. New Year’s resolutions, Self-Motivation workshops, Persuasive writing classes brought me very close to it, but could never push me the whole nine yards. Today, I write my very first blog post and I think it’s the right time to do it. As opinionated as I am, to write a blog just to share my opinions about the culprit of this great recession, Obama’s healthcare policy or Charlie Sheen’s “winning” antics just didn’t seem like the right thing to do.
A Social Impact Marketing Class at the Kellogg School of Business brought me face-to-face with my dream project. Girl 267 is my fight to empower ten young girls in India’s eastern state of Orissa. So what does 267 have to do with empowerment? Before I answer that, let me tell you the story of a stunning twelve year old girl, Chanmani. Chanmani begins her household chores at 4 in the morning. Then with her sister, she makes rope for the family business. Around 8 am, she heads for the rice fields where she works until sundown. This young, unassumingly enterprising girl has never seen the inside of a classroom because her family cannot afford it and they believe that losing her labor would put a strain on the family’s earnings. The saddest part is that her parents are ready to get her married by 15 and hence think educating her will not lead to any returns for the family. While an education for you and I will lead to a job and a successful career, an education for Chanmani will lead to not just a successful career, but a whole new life too.
Care International has made an extraordinary commitment to educating young women in the villages of India. They have implemented residential learning programs exclusively for girls (ages 10-14) designed to help never-enrolled or out-of-school girls complete primary level schooling in 11 months. $267 can put a young girl through this accelerated program and empower her to retreat from her poverty-stricken life, get married at an appropriate age and design her life as she desires. To discover more about Chanmani and Care International’s concerted efforts to tackle the evils of her life and many others watch the video below. Watch this space for more updates about Girl 267 and the ten young girls whose lives you and I together can change.
Great post. Greater cause! The country has spent over a century in fighting for rights for our little girls. It's about time we take up equal responsibility in the cause. Good start with taking the cause social; talking about it online can influence awareness in a big way! Good luck!
ReplyDeleteThe sex ratio in India is 93 women to 100 men. The female literacy rate in India is also lower than the male literacy rate. Also, the majority of India does live in the villages...these are all well known yet often neglected facts about India. Care International is supporting/actively taking up a very important cause that will help shape the future of India.
ReplyDeleteGlad you picked this topic to debut your blog writing with. This is a very timely & relevant post. Social awareness is much needed.
All the best!!!
I'm really happy to see you tackle this cause through a medium that you're not necessarily comfortable with using. Thanks for taking the time to shed some light on the lives of so many young girls whose lives we can touch through our dialogue and assistance. Looking forward to learning more about the other girls you feature.
ReplyDeleteUsing your blog to spread awareness on this issue is a great idea!
ReplyDeleteIndia is focussing on educating its youth as it realizes that without an educated population, the nation is handicapped. Yet, as you rightly mentioned, women-equality has always been a prime concern in our country. We can say that gradual changes are evident in the current generation, however, majority of the rural mindset remains unchanged.
We need more bloggers like you who can urge India's youth to contribute to this cause. Being the future of the country, if we don't initiate change then who will?
It's a fantastic issue to write on and I hope this leads to something concrete. Wish you all the best!
Wow...great beginning!!
ReplyDeleteMost of us are aware (even if just vaguely) that many young girls in India and in other parts of the world could and should have a better life or future. But it is not clear how we could help. Thank you for telling us what we could do to help them.
ReplyDeleteGreat blog.. Such blogs are the best medium to reach youngsters and get them involved..
ReplyDeleteThis is a great topic and one I think needs a great deal of attention. Girls education in India needs to be looked at from a wider cultural and social perspective than what is currently being done. While the proportion of illteracy among women is staggering, I think what most people dont understand is the difficulty in overcoming factors such as rural areas or social milieus and norms that have been inherent for generations. Yes, while facts such as 40% of Indian girls under 14 arent in school are appalling, Care International is playing a vital role in ensuring that the women of our country have the opportunity not only for formal education but also to be able to play an active role in thier own decisions.
ReplyDeleteGreat blog! Creating awareness is the first step to progress.
Thank you guys for your great comments and leaving the little tidbits of information about this cause. I'm excited to get this started and hope you continue to read and share your thoughts!
ReplyDeleteI'm really proud of you. Please let me know how and where to send the fund for atleast 2 Children.
ReplyDeleteYour Father
This is a brilliant idea.
ReplyDeleteChildren in our country require such initiatives. It is an urgent topic which needs to be addressed in India and all other developing as well as underdeveloped countries. Its great to see you blogging about this.
Best of luck mole.
We have 115,000 individuals in India with high net-worth. Since 2000, this elite group has grown an average of 11% annually. Between 2006 and 2007, the number of wealthy individuals in India surged by 23%, which is the highest growth rate among the affluent group in the world.
ReplyDeleteThe upper class donates 2.1% of their household income to charity in India and the middle class 1.9% of their household income to charity in India. We definitely need more philanthropists in India.
We being educated should make the thoughtful decision in helping these girls or donating to the Care International foundation to help tackle the cause of poverty so these people can become self-sufficient. $267.00 for 11 months is less than a dollar a day. With the help of your blog I hope you can reach the masses in spreading the word to help these girls get their education and be self-sustaining.
Good Luck with your cause!
In the fastest growing country in the world, it really is a pity to still see girls getting married at the age at which they should be completing BASIC education! An educated population is the strength of a country and in India, where the population today stands at 1.21 billion of which over 30% is female, it is imperative that basic education is meted out to this mass. The success of this cause is integral not only for the overall success of our nation but from a humane and moral perspective as well!
ReplyDeleteThis blog is a brilliant initiative! Awareness is the first step to finding a solution!
All the best with Girl 267!