Did you know we have supermoms in our communities?  

On this Mother's Day, we would like you to meet some of them 

These mothers from a slum in Saidapet, Chennai, are making a positive difference in the lives of children and families through the Child Protection Unit (CPU) they are part of. A CPU is a community-level body designed to reduce children’s vulnerability and protect their rights. The group meets every month to discuss the issues children in their community face and find solutions. They also reach out to local government leaders or the police when necessary. “We are really proud to be part of this CPU. Through this, we get a chance to raise awareness about child protection, hygiene, education, and many other important issues, not just for our children, but for all the children in our community,” says Mohanapriya (32), one of the mothers. 

Gayathri (30) was married off by her parents at the age of 16. Gayathri, her husband, and their two sons lived hand to mouth until World Vision India provided her with a sewing machine. She began earning a decent income, and after a few months, she joined the Self-Help Group (SHG) in her slum in Bangalore, where she started saving. She also had the opportunity to attend various training sessions on women’s empowerment, parenting skills, and child protection through the SHG. Over time, she began training other women in her community on topics such as health and hygiene, child marriage, and the importance of education. Through her hard work, Gayathri recently secured a job as a security guard at the Bangalore metro. From being a child bride at the age of 16, Gayathri has come a long way. She now earns around INR 20,000 a month. 

Every morning, as early as the sun rises to bring the first light into Saikah village in Mizoram, Zoramsanzi, a mother of three, opens her shop and arranges each item on the racks built inside her house beside the window. Shortly after, the villagers begin lining up in front of her shop to buy their necessities. Zoramsanzi had to drop out of school in class nine and was married off when she was about 17 years old. Six years later, her husband divorced her. She started a small shop to make a living, but struggled to run it profitably due to a lack of funds to restock her inventory. In 2014, World Vision India provided Zoramsanzi with economic development assistance of INR 20,000 to expand the range of products in her shop. Since then, her sales have steadily increased. “I always wanted to educate my children in a private school to help them learn English, but due to financial constraints, I had to send them to a government school. Today, I have managed to transfer two of my children to a private school, and I am able to pay their fees,” she says, her face lighting up with a beaming smile. 

Neha (23) was married off soon after completing her 10th grade. When she became pregnant with her first son at the age of 19, there was no one to offer guidance or support. “At that time, I never left the house. I didn’t weigh myself, didn’t receive the necessary vaccinations during my pregnancy, and I didn’t speak to anyone. I stayed home and delivered my son with the help of my mother-in-law and a dai (midwife),” she recalls. But now, things have changed drastically. Neha is no longer afraid of pregnancy; in fact, she now provides counselling to mothers in her community through targeted and timely counselling (TTC) on nutrition, health, hygiene, and best practices before and after pregnancy. She also monitors the progress of mothers and children. She feels fulfilled knowing that she is able to contribute positively to her community. 

Labels: #childwellbeing #2019 #children #empowerment #health #livelihood #mother'sday #mothers #nutrition #women #worldvisionindia