MAITRI ANNUAL REPORT April 2007 – March 2009
TABLE OF CONTENTS Leadership Letter
1
Vision
2
Mission
3
Maitri's Objectives
4
What Sets Us Apart
5
Current Projects
6
Activities of 2008
7
Academic Involvement
8
Testimonials
9
Future Plans
10
Maitri's Timeline
11
Audited Financial Statements
12
Spring 2009 Dear Friends, We sincerely appreciate your interest and involvement in Maitri and Maitri’s work. The involvement, volunteer service, and ongoing support that is given by each of you as partners, interns, friends, well wishers and project participants, enables Maitri to continue providing the assistance, knowledge, and skills to those we serve in India. It is our hope that you will feel a true sense of fulfillment and accomplishment as you continue to support us and motivate us to make a difference in fulfilling Maitri mission “to break the cycle of poverty and ensure the health of the most vulnerable populations, particularly women and children.” “Maitri firmly believes that Prevention is better than Cure” With 2.9 million infected with HIV/AIDS in India, we understand the gravity of the pandemic and the urgency of action needed. We have continued with preventive education and empowering the targeted population of Uniformed Services and their families, which was Maitri’s beginning in the social sector, through projects like Project Samvedna, an advocacy, education and awareness project with the families of the Uniformed Personnel for STI’s/ HIV/AIDS/ TB. Project Samvedna has brought out the gaps that need to be addressed for the families of the Uniformed Services regarding domestic abuse, healthy lifestyles, and sanitary living conditions. We have also expanded our work to other vulnerable groups such as migrant labor which includes construction workers and rickshaw pullers. We have successfully concluded the first phase of Project Sanjeevani, a migrant construction worker’s advocacy and awareness project. We would like to express our appreciation to OMAXE for supporting us in this project by giving us access to their labor force. The adage ”Empower a women and you Empower a family” is one in which Maitri firmly believes. Women in rural India marry very young, and therefore, seldom learn job skills and few have a formal education beyond high school. This leads to their dependence on the male members of their families for survival. In late 2007, Maitri established an informal education and vocational center for women and children in New Delhi. Maitri endeavors to empower women and children with education and life skills such as literacy, marketable skills such as designing, stitching and tailoring, candle making, and pickle making. With the knowledge and the skills, the women are able to become self reliant and in turn break the cycle of poverty, enhancing their income, status, and create a better future for their children. Through Maitrigram, the empowerment center for women, where Maitri has a “Learn and Earn” program for income generation, we are encouraged to see countless women understand their potential and become self confident and independent. Children who were not going to school have been motivated to join the education program and have started attending school regularly. Today, Maitrigram Schools are running in three slums in Delhi and have a total strength of 110 students. Maitri was able to facilitate scholarships for six deserving maitrigram students of Rs. 6,000 each for a year, thereby ensuring they do not drop out of school for lack of financial resources. Maitri is exploring partnerships for raising funds to facilitate deserving students move into good formal schooling. I would like to express my appreciation for the unfailing support to Maitri staff, volunteers, donors, and friends, without whose support Maitri would not have been able to have a positive impact on numerous populations in need. We are excited to reach our full potential in the years to come, and we are eager to take advantage of the possibilities and opportunities that await us in the future. All of our achievements have been made possible with the help of the individuals who generously donate their time and resources to serve these people in need. We are grateful to you, the display of compassion, devotion, nurturing, friendship, and loving-kindness is overwhelming and extremely inspiring. There is no question that this work has and will continue to change lives “with your support.” Sincerely,
Winnie Singh (Founder & Executive Director)
VISION The vision behind Maitri's work is the prevention and reduction of people living with HIV/AIDS, also to ensure that those infected and affected with the disease live with dignity. Maitri also envisions self sufficient, confident, and productive citizens who have taken advantage of the opportunities Maitri offers to help break the cycle of poverty. MISSION Maitri's mission is to fight and prevent the spread of HIV/AIDS as well as to be an advocate for and empower those affect and infected with the disease. We are dedicated to fighting the stigmas and discrimination that is associated with HIV/AIDS in India through awareness, advocacy, and capacity building.
MAITRI'S OBJECTIVES Create solidarity in action against HIV/AIDS infection, in India, through awareness and advocacy. One of Maitri's main endeavors is to prevent the spread of HIV/AIDS and other STI's as well as fight any stigmas or discrimination surrounding such diseases. We strive to teach as many as possible the ways of transmission and contraction and how to best protect themselves and others from becoming infected. It is our sincere hope that in spreading awareness, we will inspire others to join together and fight the spread of HIV/AIDS as well the discrimination and stigmas that stand as obstacles for those living with this disease. Having a well informed and educated society regarding HIV/AIDS would lay a firm foundation for an India free of this life threatening disease. Ensure that people living with HIV/AIDS receive unstigmatized, affordable, and quality care support and treatment. Many hurtful and untrue stigmas are associated with those infected with HIV/AIDS and other STI's. Some of these stigmas include notions of immorality, promiscuity, homosexuality, drug usage, etc. These stigmas lead to discrimination in the work place, in society, and unfortunately when seeking care. Maitri is dedicated to ensuring that those living with HIV/AIDS receive the care they desperately need, free of judgment and harsh stigmas. Maitri strives for such care to be affordable, high quality, and be seen as a support system for those suffering from HIV/AIDS. Providing such care helps those infected with HIV/AIDS realize that they too are deserving and able to live full, productive, healthy lives. Serve, educate, and reach as many at risk populations as possible. At inception, Maitri primarily worked with the personnel from the Uniformed Services. We have since expanded our focus to include migratory populations and women and children living in poverty. All of these populations are high risk populations for contracting as well as spreading STI's, HIV/AIDS, and many other health issues such as tuberculosis which are easily preventable with proper education and support. Because knowledge is key in the prevention of these diseases, Maitri is committed to spreading unstigmatized information to these three specific at risk populations with the hopes that they in turn will spread this knowledge to others and join us in the fight against HIV/AIDS. Provide information about healthy lifestyles in a clear and effective way Maitri is sensitive to the fact that a lack of education is a criterion for being at risk of contracting HIV/AIDS, other STI's, and Tuberculosis. Therefore, we strive to keep our seminars, pamphlets, health consultations and interviews simple and clear. We provide facts regarding the contraction and transmission of HIV/AIDS, STI'S and other common preventable illnesses, in a very sensitive yet, strait forward way. It is imperative to our mission that this knowledge is well understood and that the recipients are able to go out and spread this information to as many others as possible.
WHAT SETS US APART Dedication to helping multiple high risk populations Matiri's initial focus was on HIV/AIDS advocacy and awareness within the Uniformed Services of India. Since then, Maitri has broadened its scope to include migrant workers and women and children, all of which are high risk populations for becoming infected or being affected by HIV/AIDS. Maitri has been able to gain a deeper understanding of how HIV/AIDS is being spread and the affect that it has on the lives of people all over India. This knowledge in turn allows us to be more effective and successful in our fight against HIV/AIDS. Focus on Sustainability While relief efforts are needed, they don't always have the important component of sustainability which helps needy populations thrive in the future. Maitri understands the importance of helping a population becoming self sufficient and independent. This is why we focus on teaching women job skills and giving young children the opportunity to get an education and become literate. Also, Maitri focuses on providing correct and clear information on how HIV/AIDS is contracted and transmitted with the intention of inspiring people to join our cause, of fighting the spread of the disease, by leading healthy lifestyles, spreading their knowledge to others, as well as by becoming an advocate for those living with HIV/AIDS. Internship Program Maitri develops committed outreach workers by providing students from the Hinckley Institute of Politics, from the University of Utah in the United States, with the opportunity to get first hand experience working with populations at need. These students work as interns for three months and in this time they help Maitri with outreach work and IEC material. It is important to Maitri to have relationships all over the world, we hope that our message of compassion, loving-kindness, friendship, and love will inspire people all over the world to reach out to populations in need in their communities.
CURRENT PROJECTS Project Awaaz – In February 2009, Maitri started Project Awaaz, meaning a voice. Project Awaaz is concerned with cycle rickshaw pullers in the Paharganj area of New Delhi. Cycle rickshaw pulling is hard physical labor with no real job security and is met with many obstacles. Also, cycle rickshaw pullers are often migrants from small villages and are therefore in Delhi alone, often times without a permanent residence. All of this makes cycle rickshaw pullers very vulnerable to diseases and due to their mobility as migrants, they easily spread these diseases. Project Awaaz focuses on spreading awareness regarding health issues, economic opportunities, sanitary living, and working conditions with 500 rickshaw pullers. The main objective of Project Awaaz is to gain insight into the hardships involved in the journey and transition of migration to citizenship in a larger city. The project also aims to inform these workers of their rights as citizens and make them aware of the health and economic opportunities available to them. There are thousands of cycle rickshaw pullers in India who are unaware of the health risks they take by not having a proper diet, practicing safe sex, and keeping themselves clean. Through Project Awaaz, Maitri strives to reach as many of these workers as possible and inform them how they can break the cycle of disease and poverty. Project Samvedana – Project Samvedna, which means compassion, addresses domestic violence between husband and wife in uniformed families. Maitri will be reaching out to 5,000 women in Project Samvedna over the next year in Delhi, Shillong as well as in the North Indian states of Punjab, UP and Haryana. The projects initial phase will be a sensitization workshops for Maitri staff. It is important that the staff is well versed and comfortable with the various and common domestic issues and are able to correctly respond to women opening up to them about such issues. Once the Maitri staff is properly trained, they will be collecting data through questionnaires and indepth interviews. This data will be analyzed in order to facilitate an effective means of intervention in order to make a positive change in the lives of women who suffer from domestic violence. Along with data collection, Project Samvedna will be conducting workshops to inform women about proper sanitation for their home, healthy life choices for them and their family, HIV/AIDS & TB prevention, as well as to expect to be treated with kindness and respect in the home. The first of such workshops was held in March 2009, in Shillong with the wives of personnel serving in the Assam Rifles. There were 250 women present at the workshop and the Maitri staff was able to conduct research by having the women fill out and in-depth survey as well as inform them about how to have a healthy domestic lifestyles. Project Sanjeevani – In India, migrants are of special significance to the HIV/AIDS epidemic because of their frequent movement between source and destination areas. Limited awareness of HIV/AIDS issues and lack of access to social support networks add to the migrants’ vulnerability. Project Sanjeevani was a step forward in response to the needs of the migrant workers and their families. Project Sanjeevani commenced in July 2008 with an intention of reaching out to the migrant worker population on the OMAXE construction site in Faridabad in the state of Haryana. The project was a primary health care project with a strong emphasis on HIV, STI and TB prevention, care and support. In addition, the project also had an impact on the general health, women’s and children’s health of the migrant workers and their families. During the six months of on-site intervention, the project reached 1,600 workers and their families. Maitri established sustainable referral relationships through partnership with local organizations to provide workers with necessary contacts for medical and social
counseling to ensure that after Project Sanjeevani has ended, the participants would still have access to the services they need. The data generated from the project is being used to create a replicable and sustainable model of intervention for the migrant labor population. Project Jagriti -With the ever present accesses to media, television, computers, and the overall liberalization of the Indian culture, attitudes toward sex have become much more liberal and casual. Because of this shift in both attitude and behavior surrounding sex, youth populations have become one of the highest risk populations for contracting and spreading HIV/AIDS and other STI's. Maitri understands it is crucial to reach out and give the youth the information needed to avoid making risky decisions that can lead to unwanted pregnancy and life altering diseases. Project Jagriti is an ongoing project under which, Maitri conducts awareness workshops in schools. Through workshops in these schools, Maitri has reached over 1900 students in a manner that encourages an ongoing participatory communication about healthy lifestyle choices. Maitri also discusses drug use and the negative affects that drugs have on an individual’s health and life in the long term. Maitri’s objective is to reach the youth before they become sexually active so as to teach them how HIV/AIDS and other STI's are transmitted and most importantly, how to prevent the transmission of such diseases before they are faced with the decision to have sex as well as many other adult decisions that come with adolescence such as drug use. In the next phase, Maitri plans to expand Project Jagriti by actively targeting university students ages 18-24 and increasing the reach of the program to include discussion of other health-related topics as well such as female reproductive health care, TB, HIV/AIDS/STIs and drug abuse. Maitrigram: Income generation project -
The World Bank estimates that 42% of India’s population lives below the global poverty line of $1.25 per day. A large percentage of this are women and children, who have little or no access to education and/or job opportunities. Maitrigram is a project designed to enable underprivileged women and children with the necessary education and skills needed to generate an income, become independent, and break the cycle of poverty. Maitrigram teaches women designing, cutting, tailoring and other marketable skills. These skills provide these otherwise impoverished women with a sustainable means of generating an income. Also, as a part of Maitrigram, two alternative education programs have been established in two New Delhi slums. These education programs work to supplement to the children's formal education. Maitri tutors these children and helps them to fully understand and comprehend their school subjects such as basic mathematics and English language skills, thereby encouraging and motivating them to stay in school and complete their education. During the year, Maitri identified six smart, deserving and motivated children from these communities for scholarships that will help further their studies by allowing them remain in school.
ACTIVITES: 2008 - PRESENT April 2008 – -Attended the Asia Pacific Military Networking conference on HIV/AIDS April 2008 – -HIV/AIDS awareness program at various schools in Shillong. June 2008 – -HIV/AIDS awareness program at various schools in Shillong.
July 2008 – -Workshop for army in Shillong -Project Sanjeevani initiated -Health camps for children in R.K. Puram informal education program -HIV/AIDS awareness workshop with Haryana Police -Constellation for AIDS Competence Workshop November 2008 – -Inter School NGO Meet at Modern School, Vasant Vihar -Children's Day 2008 December 2008 – -Work finished on-site for Project Sanjeevani
February 2009 -Initiation of Project Awaaz -Maitri became a member of APPACHA (Asian Pacific People's Alliance for Combating HIV/AIDS) representing Delhi. March 2009 -Initiation of Project Samvedna in Shillong -HIV/AIDS awareness presentation at teachers training college in Shillong -HIV/AIDS awareness presentation at teachers St. Xaiver's secondary school in Shillong -Mr. General Singh sat on panel for the HIV/AIDS response to prevention, care, and treatment conference in Guwahati. -Maitri started managing and moderating two regionally important HIV/AIDS eforums: AIDS India and AIDS Asia.
ACADEMIC INVOLVEMENT WHERE
WHO
WHAT
WHEN
Teachers Training Institute in Shillong, Meghalaya, India
Maitri Staff
Maitri invited to conduct a workshop on “HIV/AIDS: Prevention, Care and Support”
March 2009
St. Xavier’s Secondary School in Shillong, Meghalaya, India
Maitri Staff
Maitri invited to conduct workshops for March 2009 the high school students on “Leadership in the youth: Dangerous Behavior and HIV/ AIDS”
Confederation of India Industry (CII) in Guwahati: HIV/AIDS: A Response to Prevention, Care and Treatment"
Lt. Gen. Bhopinder Singh, Ms. Winnie Singh
Lt. Gen. Singh invited to speak at the plenary on HIV and its impact on Armed Forces. Ms. Singh invited to speak on gender and HIV.
March 2009
Maitri Office, New Delhi, India
Maitri Staff
Maitri started managing and moderating two popular HIV/AIDS eforums: AIDS India and AIDS Asia. AIDS India currently has approx 6350 members and AIDS Asia currently has approx 5800
March 2009
Asia Pacific People's Alliance for Combating HIV/AIDS (APPACHA)
Maitri Staff
Maitri is honored to become a member representing Delhi.
February 2009
Maitri Office, New Delhi, India
Maitri Staff
Commissioned, designed and printed IEC material for Public Health/ STI’s/ HIV/ AIDS/ TB
January 2009
“Stakeholders’ consultation on HIV/AIDS interventions in the construction sector” organized by ILO in New Delhi, India.
Lt. Gen. Dr. Bhavana Gulati made the 25 November 2008 Bhopinder presentation of Maitri’s HIV/AIDS Singh and Dr. interventions in the construction sector. Bhavana Gulati
Migration and HIV in Manila, Philippines
Ms. Winnie Singh
Invited to speak on “Migration and HIV: Policies and Actions for the Future.”
23rd – 25th October 2008
Uniformed Services Consultation in Kiev, Ukraine
Ms. Winnie Singh
Presentation of a paper on “Implications of Gender Bias in Uniformed HIV Response”
29 September to 3 October 2008
UNAIDS Global Task Lt. Gen Force on HIV in West Point Bhopinder New York, USA Singh, Ms Winnie Singh
Lt. Gen Bhopinder Singh was inducted 29th -30th July 2008 on the Global Task force as a permanent member representing civil society. Ms. Winnie Singh was inducted as a permanent member to represent the interest of the families of the Uniformed Personnel
Rotary Club of Delhi Midwest in New Delhi, India
Maitri Staff
Invited to conduct an Awareness workshop on STIs/ HIV/AIDS
UNAIDS Regional Task Force on HIV in Bangkok, Thailand
Lt. Gen Bhopinder Singh, Ms Winnie Singh
Lt. Gen. Bhopinder Singh was invited 1 – 3 April 2008 on the Regional Task Force as a member representing civil society. Ms. Winnie Singh was indicted as a member to represent the interest of the families of the Uniformed Personnel
July 2008
Testimonials Dr. Bhavana Gulati, Maitri's Program Manager, has worked first hand with many of Maitri's life changing projects. One of our most recent projects, Project Sanjeevani, working with and educating migrant construction workers about HIV/AIDS, STI's, Tuberculosis, and other common health risks that affect migratory populations, is currently coming to a close. When asked how these projects have affected her, Dr. Gulati said:
“We always plan projects keeping the needs of the beneficiaries in mind. However, we as people planning and implementing projects also learn a lot. For implementing needs-based projects, we should acquaint ourselves properly with our beneficiaries. This process is a lesson which we learn and carry with us throughout our lives… it helps us in being sensitive towards issues and proactive in our approach. The various projects we undertake strengthen our understanding as individuals while consolidating Maitri as the organization with a mission.” Maitri has implemented many successful and rewarding projects that, as Dr. Gulati mentioned, have benefited both those in need as well as the workers and volunteers who carried them out. Helping those in need and seeing their lives be positively impacted is a very powerful experience. Shahnaz Bano, an employee at Maitri who worked one-on-one with the migrant workers for Project Sanjeevani,said: “Initially when I start interacting with the laborers, I found they were very wary of us. One of the women got annoyed when I interviewed her 16 year old daughter because I had to ask questions related to sex and other issues which were personal. When I went for more interviews many of the women and men refused me or were annoyed that I was there. After this, I decided to take a different approach. I started talking to the workers and their families about their lives and I started getting to know them rather than just asking them personal questions right away. I learned to start with small issues, and truly get to know people. In the end, 20 of the people we interviewed signed on to be peer leaders who promised to spread our message to others in much the same way that we did for them. I still get phone calls from them and it is amazing to see that our message really is reaching people.” And of course, it is very touching to hear how our work is affecting the lives of those in need. Shayma, a 45 year old Chattisgarhi migrant laborer, had this to say about Maitri's work under Project Sanjeevani: “Before Maitri came to work with us (migrant construction workers), we only knew that there was a disease called AIDS, but that we should keep away from such discussions because such things are discussed only by improper people. We were not very happy initially that the Maitri staff would come and talk to men and women about sexual health and reproductive health but, I and a lot of people, like me who realized that not talking about issues is the root cause. Now, I have become a peer educator with Maitri and am spreading the knowledge that I received from them. “ It is people like Shayma that we strive to reach and touch with our work. There is so much misinformation out there regarding HIV/AIDS and it truly is an honor to know that we have gotten through to so many people from so many different places across India and that they have chosen to further our message and cause to others that they know and love.
Future Plans
Black Diamond (Tentative name) Project Black Diamond aims to improve awareness and health of high-risk populations in North East India. These high risk populations include the coal miners who work in the area, the truck drivers transport the coal from the mines and the sex workers who are often visited by these migrant worker populations. Through Project Black Diamond, Maitri aims to perform a study on the degree of infection of TB, HIV/AIDS and other STIs as well as the awareness level that the target population has on these diseases. This project will also facilitate treatments and establish a referral network for those in need. Project Rakshak 2 Project Rakshak 2 will be a renewed form of Maitri’s original Project Rakshak which provided HIV/AIDS prevention and awareness programs to uniformed personnel from military, paramilitary and police forces and their families. Maitri plans to perform a study to determine the impacts of the Project Rakshak on the target population and use these findings to improve and update the project to best meet the current needs of the population. Maitrigram Maitri intends to expand Maitrigram, which currently teaches tailoring, designing and cutting to women and offers after-school assistance to students, in order to include more people and encompass more subjects. The Maitrigram women’s empowerment program is an income generation program aimed at teaching local women marketable skills. Maitri will expand this program to include knitting, crocheting and fashion design classes as well as classes on pickling and candle-making for women in the area who are interested in acquiring skills that can be used to turn a profit. These classes are to continue at the current location in Sonia Vihar, Delhi and will also be expanded to include a location in Shillong. In conjunction with the classes, Maitrigram aims to further the women’s empowerment project through offering micro financing options to local women in order to broaden their independence and their abilities to help support their families’ needs. Women’s health clinics will be offered at the Sonia Vihar and Anant Ram Dairy locations in Delhi once a week to provide medical referrals and consultations to local women. This will encourage the women to take responsibility for their health and arm themselves with the ability to care for themselves and their families.
MAITRI'S TIMELINE July 2005
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Inception of Maitri
Sept 2005
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International Conclave on Uniformed Intervention
Dec 2005
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Open House with UNAIDS International Director
Jan 2006
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MASSES, an Eco friendly recycled handmade paper plant project for the empowerment and self-reliance of a women's community living with the virus, commissioned at Laitkor. Employs and trains 100 women.
Feb 2006
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Initiative for women's equity and awareness Program for HIV positive personnel of Assam rifles
July 2006
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Drop--in centers for demobilized soldiers
Dec 2006
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World AIDS Day commemoration
March 2007
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National Consultation on Universal Access to HIV Prevention, Treatment, Care, and Support to Women and Children.
April 2007
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-Establishment of Women's Empowerment Center in Basti Vikas Kendra, Nehru Ekta Camp, R.K. Puram , New Delhi -Initiation of Project Jagriti
June 2007
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Drug abuse and illegal trafficking awareness rally in Shillong, co-sponsored by Kripa Foundation and supported by UNODC.
Oct 2007
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Establishment of informal education center in New Delhi
Nov 2007
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HIV/AIDS awareness workshop with various schools
Dec 2007
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HIV/AIDS awareness workshop with St. Mary's school in Meerut HIV/AIDS awareness workshop at Aiforce School in New Delhi
April 2008
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Attended an Asia Pacific Military Networking Conference on HIV/AIDS HIV/AIDS awareness program at St. Edmund School in Shillong HIV/AIDS awareness program at Modern School in Vasant Vihar in New Delhi..
June 2008
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Workshop for army in Shillong
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Health camps for children in R.K. Puram informal education program
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Initiation of Project Sanjeevani Initiation of Project Rakshak
July 2008
HIV/AIDS awareness workshop with Haryana Police Constellation for AIDS Competence Workshop Nov 2008
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Inter School NGO Meet at Modern School, Vasant Vihar Children's Day 2008
Dec 2008
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End of on-site work for Project Sanjeevani
Feb 2008
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Initiation of Project Awaaz in Paharganj, New Delhi
March 2009
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Initiation of Project Samvedna in Shillong HIV/AIDS awareness presentation at teachers training college in Shillong HIV/AIDS awareness presentation at St. Xaiver's secondary school in Shillong