World NGO Day-27th February

NGOs have a history that dates to at least the late 18th century, they have always been at the forefront of social movements and changes.Back in 2014, the 27th of February became a historic day for the NGO community worldwide. This international calendar day, now known as “World NGO day,” was inaugurated for the first time internationally. World NGO day honours the nonprofit organisations and volunteers who give their time and resources to help make a difference.The tremendous work of NGOs around the world is needed more than ever today.

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Thank you !

GIRL CHILD EDUCATION !

      GIRL CHILD EDUCATION-Pooja Sarkar 

Every day, girls face barriers to education caused by poverty, cultural norms and practices, poor infrastructure, violence and fragility. Therefore, here at HEEALS, GIRLS’ EDUCATION is a priority.

“Education is one thing no one can take away from you”- Elin Nordegren . Also, as rightly said in the African proverb, ‘‘if you educate a man, you educate an individual. But if you educate a woman, you educate a nation.”

Girls’ education goes beyond getting girls into school, it is ensuring that girls learn and feel safe while in the school. Education is the key for women to achieve economic independence. It is also ensuring that girl child complete all levels of education with the rightful skills necessary to navigate and adapt to the changing world. That the education give them the freedom of making their own rightful decisions about their life and also contribute to the communities and the world.

Although women in the majority of countries have the right to education, the problem lies in the equal access to education. In many developing countries, millions of women do not complete their education because they are forced by their society, by their circumstances or by the threat of violence to focus on household or care giving. Better educated women tend to be healthier, earn higher incomes and participative. They enable better education for their children and better health care. All these factors combined can lift not only their households but also their communities and the nations out of poverty and social norms.

HEEALS is a Non Profit Organization which aims to safeguard health, environment, education and livelihood to promote sustainable development of society. Poverty remains the most important factor for determining whether a girl can access an education. Studies show that girls who face multiple disadvantages such as low family income, living in remote areas or locations, disability due to belongingness to a minority group , are the farthest behind in terms of access to completion of education. These factors affect negatively in the access of education. Another example is Child Marriage which is also a critical challenge. Child brides are more likely to drop out of schools and look after the family. This affects the education and health of the children as well as their ability to earn a living. There are many reports showing that around 40000 girls under the age of 18 years get married every day. This should be put to an end to increase women’s expected education attainment and their earnings.

Every day Girls face barriers to education due to many reasons caused by poverty, cultural norms, poor infrastructure, and many more reasons we are unheard of. HEEALS with its volunteers and interns from different regions are working together with girls and women and through the medium of Documentary films and art is trying to create awareness among the masses about girl child education , menstrual hygiene , sanitation and safe drinking water and trying to relate how girl child education id also directly related to poor sanitation facilities, unsafe drinking water and lack of knowledge to obtain the same.

HEEALS relies on our generous sponsors and donors in order to be able to run our workshops and provide the facilities. If you are interested in providing financial support for our projects and  workshops and to know more about projects like our ‘Pads for Girls’ project, please connect with communications@heeals.org. You can also support girls in menstruation and eduaction by talking and creating awareness among them. Also, create awareness among your families, friends and neighbours.

Here at HEEALS, projects focus on Targeting boys and men to be a part of discussions about cultural and social practices and ending child/ early marriage and addressing violence against girls and women.

If you haven’t already, be sure to ‘like’ HEEALS’ page on Facebook and follow us on Instagram and Twitter page.

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Heeals/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/heeals

Instagram: Instagram : https://www.instagram.com/heealsindia/

Kindly Donate To Sustain Our Work In Corona Pandemic

Donation Details Are Below

DONATORS LOCATED IN INDIA

Account Number: 002101200566

Bank: ICICI 

Address: ICICI, Gurgaon Branch

Sco-18 & 19 Sector -14, Huda Shopping Center, Gurgaon -122001                   

RTGS/NEFT IFSC CODE: ICIC0000021

INTERNATIONAL DONATORS

Please email: communications@heeals.org

"ATITHI DEVO BHAVA" (The Guest Is God)

VOLUNTEERING OPPORTUNITIES IN INDIA

India is a country of a kaleidoscope of cultures with umpteen variations in food, clothing, language, music, festivals and religious beliefs. The country is home to four of the world’s biggest religions and each individual has the right to practice their own rites and rituals. The variations in climatic condition, land structure and political set-up have resulted in considerable differences in dress, food habit and social customs and practices. With religion comes the spirit of celebration. Major festivals are celebrated across the country with equal fervor while several others are celebrated locally with great enthusiasm.

In short, the variations of India’s cultural diversity are strung together with the string of peace and harmony. India is indeed an ‘embodiment of unity in diversity’.

Keeping the spirit of ‘ATITHI DEVO BHAVA’ (the guest is god) alive, India has always provided opportunities for people across the world to volunteer in several fields across the country. Not only are people able to experience the cultural diversity of the country, but also witness the extravagance of our festivities. Thus it is a two-fold opportunity that provides a chance to learn and while having fun. Doing voluntary work in India can help you get a feel of Indian culture while doing your bit and bringing about a change in the lives of those in need. Several non government organizations across the country invite students and professionals from across the world to work and learn with them.

Volunteering can be done in several domains

1. Teaching children
2. Contributing to Community Development
3. Empowerment of  Women Throughout India
4. Working with Children with Disabilities
5. Providing Healthcare Services
6. Becoming a Dental Volunteer
7. Combining Yoga & Volunteering
8. Helping with Construction Projects

If you are willing and able to donate your time, there are almost endless ways you can volunteer for a worthy cause in India. Whatever your skills and interests, you’re likely to be able to find a volunteer program that will enable you to provide concrete assistance as well as have a meaningful and memorable time. Travelers who have participated in this experience have enjoyed the sheer variety of sights and experiences included, traveling with others and making friends, as well as the professionalism of the organizations.

To experience the vibrance of colors and the spirit of brotherhood in the upcoming festival of Holi, tourists from across the world travel to India and actively engage themselves in the festivity. This naturally becomes an excellent opportunity to make your travel worthwhile. Holi is known to endorse the spirit of giving. Thus one can make full use of every opportunity by filling the lives of the needy with happiness through little efforts.

So we at HEEALS invite people from across the world to come enliven the spirit of Holi while contributing their bit to society and experiencing the beauty of

‘Incredible India’.

By -Tvisha

New Year New Beginnings!!

Every day is a chance to begin again. Don’t focus on the failures of yesterday, start today with positive thoughts and expectations. ~ CatherinePulsifer

2020 is literally knocking on the door.I am sure most of you must have started to think about what your New Year's resolutions will be for the upcoming year. While you might have already started filling your resolution list there is one more choice you might want to include at the top of your list.

Yes, you guessed it right. I am talking about volunteering in your community.

If you are thinking of making a change in your life this year and you’re looking for motivation, we’ve got your back.

Here are the Reasons to Have Volunteering as a New Year's Resolution:

·         Destress - There can be nothing more satiating than the joy of giving.Yes, it’s a secret barter where you give something that you have and receive happiness without asking for it. It is the best way to destress yourself.Volunteering has been linked with increased levels of happiness and decreased depression.

·         Meet great people -One of the best parts of volunteering is meeting other great people like yourself who share similar interest.Volunteers help create and support healthy communities.

·         Learn new skills – Volunteering can help you learn new skills.It is a good start to finding an opportunity that's right for you.Through volunteering you can challenge yourself to try something different and explore your latent potential.

The next question which might come to your mind is how and where do I start.

Starting over can be challenging, but also it can be a great opportunity to do things differently.

Here are a few steps you will want to take:

#1.Think about the causes that you are passionate about devoting your time to.

For example- You might want to support a child’s education or you might want to work towards a cleaner environment

#2.Make a list of the opportunities you are interested in filling and the skills you can provide as a volunteer.

For example - You might like to teach kids or provideassistance in coordinating workshops, and seminars.

#3.Look for volunteer opportunities in your local community.To make things fairly easy for you I would like to mention about the wonderful volunteering opportunities available at HEEALS.

For example- You can work either as an online volunteer or as an intern or simply as a social worker.

To know more visit - http://heeals.org/volunteer-zone-

I would like to end with the words of Martin Luther Jr. -

Take the first step in faith. You don’t have to see the whole staircase, just take the first step.

Wishing you a very Happy New Year from the entire HEEALS Community.

Contributed by – Priyanka Dalmia.

THE IMPORTANCE OF SANITARY PADS

THE IMPORTANCE OF  SANITARY PADS

Menstruations are seen as a health, social, genderand human rights issue. Menstruations and human rights are strongly related. Rights of Indian girls are constantly denied because of menstruations’ taboos and unawareness: the consequences are gender inequality, poor access to water, impoverished health and illiteracy. In particular, the right of education has been recognized as human right, but in India 23% of women give up school because of menstruation. Women that drop out from schools became dependent on their families’ financial support. This it’s the cause of inequality and oppression which lead to lack of professional employment and social injustice.

The effects of poor menstrual sanitary condition have a huge impact on infections at urinary and reproductive apparatus. If untreated, they can provoke cancer or sterility. It is difficult to convey the importance of the issue, even because most NGOs are handed by man and they not tend to put much importance on the topic. Moreover, Indian old women don’t want to address the issue and most of the mothers have a conservative point of view. This silence over awkwardness of discussion creates a sets of taboos and biases that increases menstrual hygiene misconceptions.

Above all, taboos set out special limits. They exist in many societies to maintain social order: in India taboos create caste-based differences. Taboos are still everywhere, including well-educated people. Notably, menstruation taboos are created by misunderstanding and misconception: periods are seen as unwanted, something dirty and to hide.

In fact, 90% of women during periods are affected by restrictions of every kind: young girls during menstruation cannot enter into puja room, into kitchen, they may not look themselves in the mirrors, avoid certain food and cannot attend guests. In rural ares, girls have to sit separate at menses and they can wash their menstrual cloths only early in the morning, before other members of the family wake up. Religion play a key role in this issue. Hinduism give restrictions on certain activities of girls during periods, Islam gave some kind of restriction on going to the market or take a bath.

Menstruation practices are influenced by culture, individual awareness and socio-economic status. The economics background has a direct influence on menstruation practices, like on the choice among pads or private toilets. For instance, in residential areas, girl adopt napkins and no social restriction occurred. In rural areas, on the other hand, old cloths are utilized and social restriction exists.Menstruation among many communities is culturally prohibited. Most tribal households are below the poverty line. In rural and tribal areas mothers themselves lacks of knowledge, due to socio-economic status. In these poor areas there’s a low acceptability of pads due to irregular supply, lack of awareness, non-availability and poor quality, therefore only 12% of women in India use sanitary pads.Cloth pads are worn in the underwear to prevent menstrual fluidfrom leaking onto clothes. After using them for 3\4 times, they can cause girls abrasive wounds the inner tights. Moreover, stains are visible: girls feel ashamed and unclean. The old clothes are washed with a specific stone and dried in dark and unhygienic places that none can see. However, a more safe option can be falanin: it is a piece of fabric, easier to wash and dry then the old cloth.It does not cause skin abrasion nor strains. Falalin is more cultural accepted.In rural and tribal areas, sanitary pads can have disadvantages, like high costs, high frequency of change them, unavailability, fear of strain the toilet and no facilities.Undoubtedly, the importance of sanitary pads gives an higher quality of life and less hygienically infections.Consequently, knowledge regarding puberty should be given by mothers and teachers. Menstrual health should be included in the curriculum at school and in the local health committee, a program of awareness should be conceived and low-cost sanitary napkins need to be provided. Even if the government of India submitted $ 20 million budget for pads, we hope that menstrual awareness in India will be raised soon.

In our organization, HEEALS, we firmly believe that to provide the resources, knowledge, expertise and leadership will help the people and the communities across the states of Indiato use their skills to improve the quality of life, environment, education and livelihood and that of future generations.

We want to ensure that through empowering our local communities with knowledge and education we can begin to eradicate poverty in India.

That’ why we implemented PAD4GIRLS project, giving to girls free pads so they can feel more healthy, secure and more aware!

-Bene 

WASH & MH Intern 

Internship Completed !!

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HEEALS Intern Testimonial Video

HEEALS Intern Elisa successfully completed her internship and share her experience through her Testimonial Video.Interested Candidate Looking For Internship In NGO Sector Please Contact Us At: communications@heeals.org

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Interested Candidate Looking For Internship /Volunteering/Volunteer travel program At HEEALS Please Contact Us At : communications@heeals.org

Please Come Join Us!

Facebook Page :https://www.facebook.com/Heeals/

Twitter Page:http://www.twitter.com/heeals

HEEALS Intern Testimonial Video

HEEALS Intern Martina successfully completed her internship and share her experience through her Testimonial Video.Interested Candidate Looking For Internship In NGO Sector Please Contact Us At: communications@heeals.org

Please Join Us At Our:

Facebook Page :https://www.facebook.com/Heeals/

Twitter Page :http://www.twitter.com/heeals

Interested Candidate Looking For Internship /Volunteering/Volunteer travel program At HEEALS Please Contact Us At : communications@heeals.org

Please Come Join Us!

Facebook Page :https://www.facebook.com/Heeals/

Twitter Page:http://www.twitter.com/heeals

HEEALS Intern Testimonial Video

HEEALS Intern Jorge successfully completed his internship and share his experience through his Testimonial Video.

Interested Candidate Looking For Internship In NGO Sector Please Contact Us At: communications@heeals.org

Please Join Us At Our

Facebook Page :https://www.facebook.com/Heeals/

Twitter Page :http://www.twitter.com/heeals

Interested Candidate Looking For Internship /Volunteering/Volunteer travel program At HEEALS Please Contact Us At : communications@heeals.org

Please Join Us At Our

Facebook Page :https://www.facebook.com/Heeals/

Twitter Page :http://www.twitter.com/heeals

"Social,Economic&Political Will Is The Key To Ensuring Water And Sanitation For All"

Political leadership and concrete action have led to good progress on creating universal and sustainable access to decent sanitation and drinking water, but additional efforts are needed to fulfil commitments by the 2014 deadline, a United Nations-backed partnership reported today.

The 15 developing countries that made specific commitments to tackle open defecation have made notable progress in scaling up community-based approaches to sanitation, according to the report. UN figures show that some 1.1 billion people still defecate in the open, leading the UN General Assembly this year to designate 19 November as World Toilet Day.

Nine countries reported significant budget increases for sanitation and water and many leaders have given the water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) sector higher political visibility

According to the findings, more effort must also be made to include multiple stakeholders in the progress review process. While two-thirds of developing countries consulted with development partners, only 10 per cent solicited inputs from civil society and 10 per cent included the ministry of finance. Meanwhile, civil society has been engaged indirectly by donors in connection with the review.

The UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and the UN World Health Organization (WHO) announced last March that the world had met the MDG target for improved drinking water sources, but that many still lack safe water, and that the target for improved sanitation is lagging and will not be met at current rates of progress.

"Social,Economic&Political Will Is The Key To Ensuring Water And Sanitation For All"We need combined efforts of social,economic and political institution to eliminate the barrier in providing WASH SERVICES to the people.




Edited By: Sonika

Source:UNNC