Months of Incubation and dreams are born..

Months of incubation and some dreams are born…

In a city, of as vast magnitude such as Delhi. A place where only 866 girls survive per 1000 males or in other words 134 girls are killed (even before they are born) per 1000 girls suppose to be born. Lives for those who are born and especially for those who are on the streets is a nightmare you and I can’t even in our imagination dare to dream.

A girl, living on Delhi streets, by the time she is 12-13, is certain to be sexually abused. To find security she would start living with a boy/man, who in return of that security will take sexual gratification. By the time she is 13-15, she would have delivered a child and this continues for a long time, sometimes a girl of 21 years would have as many as 5 children all of whom would be living and creating another generation on the streets.

If this was a road in the life of a Delhi’s street girl with the destination being a generation more on the street, a Diversion was needed to take them to a better destination, a better future a better generation in the times to come.

In July 2009, an idea was incepted. The purpose was to break a cycle, change a path, undo the usual, and create a Diversion.

Diversion in the lives of girls, who lived in various slums and street sides of Delhi. These are the girls whose life was configured (by the society, economy and circumstances) in a way of vicious circle, coming out of which was only a dream or to be precise a forbidden one.

Catalyst, Initiated Diversion, a program designed from the inputs of those girls who lived in the jungle called the streets of delhi. The idea was to provide a complete solution, therefore not just a diversion but also a destination.

Today, we are almost at the end of the 2nd batch of Diversion. 23 girls have gone through this program. We are nurturing dreams, which are not so distant realities. A beautician, Computer literate office personnel, a factory manager, a fashion designer, an artist, a Chef and the possibilities are unlimited.

WE do not see few girls off the streets but we see a generation of healthy families leading a sustainable life with a vision to be the Catalyst creating rapid diversions from the vicious cycle of street dwelling for others.

Join us in standing on this road of societal cruelty holding a sign of Diversion…leading to a beautiful destination.

Is it the time to let go..

Is it the time to let go..??

Most of you would have read my previous posts “its time for a new beginning” and “A new beginning has begun” http://catalyst-resurgingdelhi.blogspot.com/ which had stories of Ricky, Sunita and their new born son Rakshit. For those of you who are not aware of their story let me give you a quick recap.

Ricky (17) and Sunita (15) joined our Reboot program about 11 months ago. Sunita at that time was about 5 months pregnant and weighed about 33kgs, which grew to about 37 kgs (after much effort) when she delivered. Their son Rakshit was a miracle as it was a normal deli

very and he w

as a 3kg healthy boy in spite of his mother’s poor health, no immunization and regular use of alcohol in the initial stages of pregnancy.

(11 months ago)

Ricky & Sunita come from the poorest of the poor background living on the streets, doing odd jobs and begging for survival. They lived in absolute filth and

most unhygienic conditions.

(At present)

Under the Reboot project; they are being mentored to lead a better life, identify or acquire a life skill that can sustain them for the rest of their lives and have a stable life. Reboot process is ideally for 6 months but since Ricky & Sunita delivered their child during the project we extended the period to a year.

Now that even a year is being completed, Ricky & Sunita have failed in all aspects of their training. There is a very strong resistance to change into a better life. They like to have filth around them, for example, plates used for food with left over would rot under their bed for several days, their clothes are always unwashed and lying in a heap. Both of them resist regular working and lack punctuality. Even letting them choose their own working hours and anything that they would like to do, they would still not fulfill the commitments.

They have also been found to be compulsive liars and have been picking up odd things from here and there without asking (which can be termed as petty theft) including money.

We have used almost all tools and methods, including physiological counseling, but there has not been much improvement. We have also over shot our budget by Rs12000, and do not have any more funding for them. Over the year we have spent about Rs 1,12,000 including the delivery expenses.

Here is the scenario; Both of them, especially Ricky, does have dreams and aspirations and taste of a better life, but not in practice. If they leave now, our investment goes waste as they will go back on the streets, now with a baby. If we keep them, they will keep taking the facilities given to them for granted, which is money raised by enormous efforts and sacrificial giving.

Since, all of you have been instrumental in bringing them so far here is my question..

IS THIS THE TIME TO LET GO..?? Your inputs will help us take the right decision

In Honor of Mr. Hal Mischke

Catalyst Mr. Hal Mischke, A partner of Catalyst moved into Glory on January 10, 2010. Catalyst feels honored to have associated with such a great soul. We also feel privileged that Mischke family have trusted Catalyst to pledge the memorial gifts of Hal towards the work of Catalyst. May the Lord of Peace be with you all www.mischkefamily.wordpress.com

Another Day in Catalyst Life II- Mother spelt with an "i"

Does the word MOTHER always have the same meaning?

Some time ago there was a TV commercial for a motorbike that projected the riders of the same to be the unshakable ones in lives turmoil. In my adolescent and young adult years when I was much inclined to get into various types of trouble (Including girl friend problems) and then behave like the tough guy “the unshakable type” and keep sulking in the background. The first one to spot that would be my mother, and I always wondered how? My mother always said that she knew what I needed even when I could not speak (as an infant). It’s much easier now.

I revere a mother as someone who knows the best for their children and I would not equate that to fathers even being a father myself. But this belief of mine was shaken just a few days ago and I am still in shock. I am sharing this story with all of you as our series “Another day in Catalyst life”

“MOTHER” Spelt with an “I”

Four months ago, just before the start of our project Diversion, we approached a 12-year-old girl Kanu (name changed) to be a part of Diversion. Kanu has been known to us for about 2 years and is a very attractive looking girl. Our staff anticipated her to get into trouble if she stayed under the flyover (our project area). But her mother was very adamant of not sending her as she was the one who would earn money by rag picking or begging, bring water, cook food and take care of 3 other siblings as the mother in under alcohol influence all the time. Our best convincing did not work.

3 weeks ago, late at night, we got the news that Kanu and one other girl of the same age has been raped by a man of the same locality. This man has children of almost the same age. More over the community has let off this man for a fine of Rs 3000. We tried to get the mother file a police case but no one including her was even willing to speak about it.

When we spoke to the girl, she was shattered and wanted to get away from this place. We took her to our shelter and contacted the police with her situation but the police were of a different opinion and directed us to hand over the girl back to the mother no matter what as she is the natural guardian of this girl. In spite of us referring to her sexual exploitation, under age labor and begging the police did not give us an option and under pressure we had to send the girl back. On her return she along with other girls who were in our favor were brutally beaten by their families.

2 days hence the girl disappeared, people say she has been sent back to her village, which we know well, does not exist. The mother who is still here is poisoning the minds of other families.

Catalyst is thinking, how do we handle these mothers with and “I”, what can we do next??

Your opinions will be of great value

PS: There is always a hope

For those of you who remember the previous edition of Another day in Catalyst Life "Buy back offer with a slight Difference"

The girl Anamika is now a part of Catalyst's Diversion Project and is doing very well. She is being treated for chronic Asthama. She has transformed into a very cheerful and happy girl from being low and sulking. She aims to sustains herself in one years time and start supporting her family who are still living under the flyover. Remember her in your prayers.

Looking at the scars can you feel the pain.. By Angelika Samuel Gier

First time when I felt the pain of burn was when I was 6 and wanted to feel the effect of molten wax on my palm. My friend and my comrade poured a lot more than What I expected and aaahhh! I pretended to be all brave and held on my tear glands, but kept nursing the burn boil for over a week.

 

Lot of us would have had similar experiences of playing with fire and the effects of it. When I was 12, I accidentally dropped boiling hot oil on my feet, again it was by mistake and was my mistake. Even today when I look at those scars I remember the pain.

 

Recently, I saw another burn scar. This scar was on the legs and stomach of a 15 year old girl. And I thought what pain she would have gone through when she got burned and I remembered my little instances of life when I felt the twinge of burn. Speaking to the girl, she mentioned “ I poured kerosene on myself and lit myself up”. None of my experiences in life corresponded to this sort of event.

 

I had a few doubts of this girl’s behavior and now I was sure she was mentally unstable and had suicidal tendencies. Therefore deputed a counselor for her and also gave special instructions to the warden of the girls house to pay special attention on her.

 

We enquired of her background and met with her parents and siblings to get to know more. We came to know that she got so upset with her father’s abusive nature that one fine day she thought she will finish it all and therefore those scars.

 

This girl, in other instances, is a fighter. She is working hard to learn, to study and also want to be someone in life. Not only that, after being burned, her body became crocked and was bent, she was not able to use her right leg. Being from extremely poor background they could not afford any physio  and whatever little her mother gathered for her treatment was put to, what her father considered to be better use, “Drinking”. But this girl pulled herself with her own hands, straightened herself and now is absolutely fine except of those scars.

 

Now, this did not correspond with why she burned herself. A girl like her would rather fight than wanting to kill herself. So after many days, when I was counseling her as she was a bit low. She told me something I never anticipated. She said, “I burned myself but I did not wanted to kill myself”. My obvious question was, then why? She said, “My father was drunk and wanted to rape me”, and showing me her scars she said “this is how I wanted to present myself to him”. I looked at her scar again and now I could not feel the pain…

Written by Angelika Samuel Gier

Russian New Channel RT, carried a story about the work of Catalyst

Catalyst India has been functional for almost 2 years now. Our very first and flagship program is called "thank God its saturday" which is a time of fun and frolic with the kids who live on the street. Its an effort to share the affection that they lack.

A news channel called RT from Russia carried this story attached as a video below. 

The Video features our super star Pinto Kumar, who works with the Red Moon Bakery.

Enjoy

Abhishek Gier

Executive Director

www.catalystindia.in

Ps: The video runs in VLC player

A new Beginning has Began

I slept at 4 am after completing a few pending things. Just when my sleep was getting sweet, there was a knock at my bedroom door. It was not something I was prepared for or even anticipating. Sunita’s due date at her last check up was still 28^th August and this was just 11^th August.

We rushed Sunita to the hospital, her water broke on the way and we were still a few kilometers away from the hospital. Just to remind you, Sunita is just 15yrs old and still weighs only 37 kilos, she and her husband are a part of our Reboot Project http://www.catalystindia.in/whatwedo.aspx?projectid=16&projectname=Reboot. I could constantly hear Sunita’s laments in her own dialect that made them sound even more painful.

We were at the hospital in 25 minutes; thank God it was wee hours which is rare few that are spared by the ruthless traffic of delhi. Sunita was taken in the emergency room and her doctor was called. All we had in our control that we could do was PRAY.

Four hours passed, Sunita was still in labor pain, At 10:30 am Sunita was moved into the labor room. All of us, along with Ricky were anxious and were walking up and down the corridor, so much so that the Director of the hospital laughingly said, “ it seems like a movie scene from bollywood”.

We took Ricky to quickly grab a bite and the moment the canteen served steaming hot maggie, the phone rang, it’s a boy and the exact expression of Ricky’s face was indefinable.

Sunita gave birth to a 2.25 kilos (Almost 5 lbs) fair healthy boy, we call him “Rakshit” which means “the protected one”. He is indeed the one God protected from the place he was conceived till the time he was born and we believe He would continue to do so.

And here comes the most amazing and miraculous part, which in 3 decades of my life I have only heard of; Sunita “walked” home at 6 pm this very same day in contrast to the colossal complications we were imagining in this under age, weak and unplanned pregnancy.

Thanks to Dr Shiela Sharma, Dr. Koshy and all the staff of AIPF Mission Hospital along with the staff and volunteers of Catalyst and above all, All glory be to God.