Organisation:
Borderless World Foundation (www.borderlessworldfoundation.org/)
Location:
Kashmir Valley, Jammu
Problem:
Kashmir is called as ‘Paradise on the Earth’ but it is not the same case for girls, children and women as they are the targets of continuous warfare. This does not just affect their present but also their future. Encouraged by the motive to help these girls, Borderless World Foundation, by providing ‘homes’ for conflict-stricken young and orphaned girls, providing care, safety, security, education and rehabilitation. It relies on the principles of rescue, rebuild and revive. This project is called Basera-e-Tabassum (BeT) which means ‘Abode of Smiles’ and it runs three such homes in the districts of Kupwara, Budgaon and Anantnag. Another home is being run in Jammu which houses young girls from Kashmiri families who were displaced due to conflict in the valley. A total of 230 number of girls are presently a part of this project.
Solution:
Borderless World Foundation’s direct beneficiaries are the orphaned girls, widowed young women, girls rescued from militancy, single young mothers(under the age of 18 years), and their dependent families; with emergency healthcare services all communities living in the conflict zone, security agencies, are another category of direct beneficiaries. More than 110 girls have got integrated back in the community (Staying with their single mother, married and settled in families, working in communities in various jobs and in small scale businesses). 40 girls are pursuing higher education (Graduation, Post Graduation, Professional courses) in different states in India. A total of full-time staff in the entire establishment is of 35. More than 50 volunteers are available on the field for any emergency purposes. Every home has a 10-15 member Advisory Committee who are from the local community. More than 15 schools are supporting our girls’ education in their respective institutions, by providing free or subsidized education, scholarships, concessions in fees, supporting travel and study material costs.
Scalability and Impact:
The scale-up model looks at the following objectives: to expand the existing Home Basera-e-Tabassum(BeT), which should be able to accommodate 300 orphan-girls in a span of four years, to establish / build a school for these girls and provide them quality education, this school will be open for day scholars in order to provide for an ‘inclusive’ learning environment and appropriate exposure, to provide for overall and holistic development of these children, educate them aware of their rights, to strengthen local community structure, through self- empowerment and income generation.
Financial Requirements:
Financial
Scaling up
Government Support
Networking and Partners
Staff
Awards and Recognition:
Winners of the CSO Partners’ Outstanding Annual Report Awards 2009.
Mother Teresa Award