PURPOSE - TO PURCHASE A PLOT OF LAND AND CONSTRUCTING A COMMUNITY CENTRE
i) for Sakhi, Home for Women and Children who are victims
of violence – an activity of Cultural Academy for Peace
ii) To bring various activities of CAP including a Peace Centre under
one roof.
Sakhi an activity of CAP is a Community Centre for Women and children who are victims of different forms of violence. Started in 1989, Sakhi could provide succour to a number of poor women and empower them to face the realities and to bring about a paradigm shift in their attitude. From a stage of helplessness and dependence to independence and to interdependence.
ABOUT OUR ORGANIZATION.
Cultural Academy for Peace(CAP) is a registered charitable
organisation registered under the Travancore Cochin Literary Scientific
and Societies Registration Act 1955. Its members are committed to active
non violence and strive to cultivate a culture of peace based on justice,
love and active non violence. It aims at the upliftment and empowerment
of the disadvantaged, oppressed, vulnerable sections of the society especially
women, youth and children by providing rehabilitation, training and education,
empowering them to be healthy individuals in the society. It is also our
endeavor to train and empower students and youth to assume leadership
role in the society. Over the Past 9 years our activities included providing
alternative living condition for the victims of domestic violence, Women’s
crisis intervention centres and counseling centres, educational and empowerment
programmes, legal aid and referral centres, numerous campaigns to focus
on women’s issues, advocacy and lobbying for women’s rights,
non-violence and conflict management skill training peace education etc.
CAP has an Advisory Committee consisting of eminent personalities from
different vocations
vocations – Psychologists, Doctors, Lawyers, Police officials, District
Administrators, Sociologists, HRD Specialists, the representatives of
the target group(victim) etc. Its administrative office is situated in
the city of Cochin in the state of Kerala in South India.
MAJOR ACTIVITIES
i. Sakhi – Sakhi is a Short Stay and rehabilitation
home for women in distress.
ii. Vocational Training Centre
This include a Floral Art Centre, Food Cover Making, Paper Bags and Cloth
Bag making, Art Work using dry flowers, tailoring and stitching etc.
iii. Family Counselling and Reconciliation Centre
iv. Training programmes for students, youth and women, pacifists, social
workers.
a. On Conflict management and non violent mediation skills
b. Peace education programmes
c. Capacity building
d. Self awareness
e. Communication skill etc
Report for the year 2004 enclosed.
I.ENGENDERING SOCIAL BACKGROUND
Being a strong patriarchal society women are presupposed to be subservient to men and are normally at the receiving end. In the event of any atrocities/ problems that befall a family, women and children would be the hardest hit. Reason be any – unemployment, alcoholism, casteism or communal violence it is the women who are the ultimate victims. Their state of dependency juxtaposed with the financial hardships make them vulnerable and at the mercy of their oppresors.
Atrocities on women are on the increase as revealed by many recent studies. Evil effect of dowry system, alcoholism, lust for flesh or money, financial strains, unequal power distribution within family and outside etc lead to strained relationship and violence against women. Out of sheer desperation and helplessness women are forced to leave their homes and run away for safety. The inmates have very different and painful tales to narrate that made them to seek shelter at Sakhi.
II. ATTEMPTED SUICIDE CASES ON THE INCREASE
The enormity of this problem is manifested in the manifold increase in suicide attempts among women and especially among violence victims. Though a very small state, suicide cases are maximum recorded in the state of Kerala where Sakhi is situated among all the states in the country. Various factors have contributed to this plight. Newspapers carry on a daily basis horrifying reports of suicide and a good number of them women and children. It is also pertinent that Kerala leads the states in India in alcoholism and divorces rate too. Violence perpetrated against women is on the increase. Sakhis’ relevance has to be seen in this context. 2 cases of attempted suicides among many reported at Sakhi are explained below:
a) Sindhu aged 13. Hails from a poor family in Ernakulam district. She had stopped her studies. Her parents are labourers. She got acquainted with a young man in their neighbourhood. One day she visited his house and he was alone at that time. While talking he offered her a cup of cool drinks. Soon after drinking she felt dizzy and lost her conscious. When she woke up she found that she was molested. Later she understood that she was pregnant. But the man refused to accept her. She was totally broken and upset. In utter disarray she attempted to commit suicide. However her attempt in this regard was providentially thwarted by her mother who happened to notice it. She was brought to Sakhi at this stage.
b) Ponnamma aged 50 was brought to Sakhi after an attempted suicide. Her husband was a drunkard. He was a blacksmith by profession. She had 2 daughters who were married away and his drunken habit turned out to be worst, thereafter. Everyday he used to abuse her on very flimsy reasons and physical manhandling usual. Whatever small earnings he make was expended for liquor and he had borrowed money from many. There were occasions when he burnt her hands using matches. Neighbors were afraid to interfere and the pleas of his daughters fell on deaf ear. Psychologically and physically drained she attempted suicide.
She filed a divorce petition in the court. Recently while she was standing with her lady advocate in the corridor of the court this man appeared all on a sudden and slapped her seriously. A police man seeing the incident rushed to the place but he meanwhile made his escape. Another complaint is lodged in the court in connection with this.
c) iii) Another sad plight is that of the children who accompany their
mothers. Being problematic themselves, the mothers are not in a position
to give the wanted emotional support to their children. This can be detrimental
in their personality development. Hence we give special attention to the
children too. After a reasonable time, grown up children are being admitted
in boys/ girls Homes. There are a few such Homes who positively respond
to our needs and extend co-operation.
SERVICES WE PROVIDE AT SAKHI
Many of them come for admission even without a second set of clothes to wear and emotionally seized. Taking care of their emotional need is an immediate requirement. We have got a small team of counselors who attend to this aspect. We also provide safe accommodation and food, medical care and legal assistance. We arrange vocational training programmes, self-awareness and health classes. In the management of the Home, the inmates are given an active role. With this in view frequent house meetings are arranged and healthy interactions promoted. Cultural programmes are also arranged under their initiative. In short, we foster a harmonious relationship and healthy ambience where they are empowered to stand on their feet and face life in a positive way through this type of community life.
In getting various services like assistance of Police, lawyers, medical help and rehabilitation assistance etc, we closely liaison with other NGOs ( Non Governmental Organisations) and government departments. Through these agencies we get a lot of relevant informations too.
Our volunteers also strive to strengthen and straighten the strained family ties. We are happy that we could bring about reproachment in a number of strained relationships and broken families united.
OTHER ACTIVITIES OF CAP
1. A Family Counselling Service
We have a team of 3 counsellors who provide family counselling services.
The number of clients approaching us for counselling is on the increase.
2. Vocational Training Centre
Needy women and children are given training in making food covers,greeting
cards, dry flower making, paper bags for shops and super markets etc.
They are also provided training in flower arrangement, bouquet making
and stitching etc. Three specially trained trainers are engaged in this
activity. We also help them in finding out markets for their finished
goods. This provide a source of income to them.
3. PSH Project ( Partnership In Sexual Health)
In association with the Kerala State Aids Control Society we are running
this targeted intervention programme on sexual health and behavioural
change. Three fishermen communities in Cochin were selected for the purpose
of targeted intervention. Our programme includes awareness programmes,
counselling, medical assistance and health camps. We also focus on the
general development of the area. Victimised women in these areas are welcomed
to our community centre – Sakhi for empowerment and support.
4. CAP also has a training department extending
specialized training in Conflict Management and Mediation, Self Awareness
and other HRD subjects. An experienced and well-qualified team of trainers
are handling the programmes, which are tailor made to suit the specific
requirement of each group. We offer this service to NGOs, Social Workers,
Peace activists, elected representatives, Police etc.
OUR NEED
Sakhi Community Centre is functioning from a rented building and so is the case with other activities of CAP. Sakhi is housed in one building and the other activities in another building which are a few miles apart in Cochin city. All the premises are rented. Hence a pressing need is an own premise for SAKHI where other activities can also be accommodated within the community centre premises we propose to set up.
COMPELLING CIRCUMSTANCES
1. As pointed out elsewhere Sakhi is functioning in a rented
premise. At a time when we struggle hard to meet its expenses, we note
that a major part of its income raised through local contributions is
being expended by way of rent. A permanent premise would help to save
this expenditure and to channelise it for direct services.
2. Frequent shifting is another problem that we experience and the concomitant
expenditure and inconveniences. Normally, houses are leased out for 1
or 2 years and tenants have to leave the building thereafter. During the
last 4 years we have to move out three times with all the furniture and
household articles.
3. Reluctance on the part of landlords to lease out the building to a
centre like SAKHI is another problem. Sakhi’s inmates comprise of
women and children from different cultural background, with different
problems and suicidal tendencies. This peculiar nature of the inmates
is not naturally pleasing to the landlords as the problems created by
them can be a headache to them too as landlords. Hence the landlords prefer
small families to safeguard their interest. During the previous shiftings
we had experienced this problem. Some of the buildings suitably located
and available for rent were not available to us and the reason being the
stigma explained supra.
4. Own premises will give a feeling of security for the inmates. As explained
else where we had to shift thrice during the last four years and a feeling
of insecurity looms large
5. The infrastructure of the centre, the neighbourhood etc plays a significant
role in creating the right ambience for the inmates. This is possible
if we can have our own place and building. In the backdrop of the hesitancy
of the landlords to lease out their building, chances of getting a suitable
place is remote in future too.
6. Proximity of hospitals, police station, legal aid centers, bus stop
etc also are significant in choosing the right place considering the nature
of our work. Unfortunately we have to compromise in meeting with many
of these requirements in the present context of staying in rented accommodation.
Though we may not be able to satisfy all of our requirements in the case
of a purchase, we can at least ensure majority of these requirements.
7. An own premise would also serve to bring together CAPs different community
activities under one roof. As explained elsewhere Sakhi is at present
housed in one building and the other activities of CAP in another rented
building. This would help to enhance administrative effectiveness, make
communication easy and save time and money.
A PEACE CENTRE WITH TRAINING FACILITY
Cultural Academy for Peace is a centre for Peace activists in the area. We often respond to various situations threatening peace. We organize group meetings, public meetings, demonstrations etc with a view to disseminate the principles of peace and cultivate a culture of non violence. Reports of violence, communal disharmony, group tensions are on the increase. United Nations Security Council Resolution 1325 urges all UN member states
• To increase the number of women at all decision-making
levels in conflict prevention, management and resolution
• To increase support for women’s peace building activities
• To support equal participation for women in peace negotiations
at all levels
• To address the specific protection needs of women in conflict
situations
• To prosecute war crimes against women
CAP makes use of this UN Resolution 1325 and the Resolution 53/243 on Culture of Peace to empower women . UN has identified action to foster a Culture of Peace in key areas such as education, sustainable development and democratic participation. The resolution 53/243 recognizes equality between men and women on an essential feature of a Culture of Peace. CAP is one of the few organizations that keep UN Resolutions alive and is disseminating the Resolutions and its meaning to the grass root level.
Peace is thus an important concern of CAP and an area of focus is training.
We have got a small team of internationally accredited trainers. One of
the areas of specialization is “Conflict Management & Mediation”.
We have extended this programme to a number of groups including peace
activists, social workers, police, elected representatives in government
etc and the programmes are highly appreciated. We also offer programmes
on self awareness, interpersonal relationship, communication etc and other
HRD subjects and hundreds of people have been already benefited. Since
we don’t have our own premises to hold the training programmes halls
are being taken on rent for the purpose. In the proposed building we can
accommodate this centre too which is an important need of the time.
In short, the requirement is to purchase a plot of land and to construct
a suitable community building.
MONITORING OF THE PROJECT
The project will be monitored by a Core group of 4 members – 2 engineers, a Chartered accountant and an official of CAP. They will be reporting to the Chairperson CAP.
FACULTY
We have a competent and experienced group of trainers comprising of Sociologists, Counsellors, Doctors and Psychologists.
AUDIT & ACCOUNTING
The accounting will be done by one of the staff members as per standard norms and the accounts will be scrutinized and certified by a chartered accountant. The treasurer is responsible for the proper use of funds and the managing committee will oversee the work of the treasurer. The audited statement of account has to be submitted to the Society Registrar – Govt. of India and also to the Ministry of Home affairs and Social Welfare Department.
BANK
We have permission to receive funds from foreign sources from the Central Government of India under the Foreign Exchange Act. Our Account number is 1133 at the Federal Bank Ltd, MG Road, Ernakulam, Cochin, Kerala, India.
BOARD OF MANAGEMENT
The Management Board meet thrice a year to make sure the efficiency of the programmes and quarterly reports and statement of accounts are produced on a regular basis during the Board Meeting.
We submit this proposal for your kind consideration and support to make this project a reality.
Beena Sebastian.
FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS
Financial assistance is sought for the cited purpose and its details are worked out as under.
For a plot of land approximately 20 cents @ Rs 1.50 lac per cent – 3000000
Cost of construction of a building with an area
of 5000 sq ft
@ Rs 500 approximately - 2500000
----------------
Rs.5500000 ----------------
Area Details
For Sakhi
Dormitory area - 600 sq.ft
Living Room - 200 “
Dining room & kitchen - 450 “
Reading & Recreation rooms - 300 “
Toilet area - 150 “
House mothers room and toilet - 200 “
Meditation Room - 300 “
Vocational training area (One hall and a room) - 400 “
HRD training centre - 450 “
Counselling centre (2 rooms) - 300 “
Community Service Centre like AIDS prevention, Community Health (2 rooms)
- 450 “
Office (Administration) - 500 “
Toilet area (other then Sakhi) - 300 “
Guest room and toilet - 200 “
Store Room - 200 “
__________
5000 “
__________
We are submitting the proposal for Rs. 55 lacs for your kind consideration and sanction.