As COVID-19 continues to ravage India, a more insidious effect is creeping up that is undoing the decades of progress India made in the education of the girl child. Close to 10 million girls in India are at risk of dropping out of school due to the pandemic with direct implications of early marriage, early pregnancy, trafficking, child labor, and violence. Whereas the decline in economic activity, service disruptions, and loss of primary caregivers and breadwinners have placed girls at a heightened risk of poverty and exploitation. 

The dreams and aspirations of young girls have been taken away from them with their futures laying in precarious and uncertain conditions. To address this alarming situation, Milaan has set up a residential hostel for 100 girls who have been pushed into vulnerability especially due to COVID-19 affecting their families with the loss of one or both parents. 

The free-of-cost hostel is housed in Milaan’s Swarachna school and caters to girls between 11-14 years of age or in grades 6-9th from Hardoi and Sitapur districts of Uttar Pradesh. Milaan’s goal is to create a social environment where girls feel safe, foster deep friendships, and dare to dream big. 

The school offers resources such as the computer lab, library, and sports development to be accessed by the girls for holistic growth, whereas the hostel will act as a community in ensuring their well-being and development. Most importantly, Milaan will create an abode where the girls can be children free of burdens and struggles, encouraged to be creative, playful, and joyous.

The hostel facility will be designed in a way that it will create inter-linkages with:-
● Milaan school where these girls can have access to education in order to complete their schooling till class 12th
● Local Anganwadis for regular health checkups and information
● Running special life-skills and leadership education programs for the girls to build their confidence and decision-making skills
● Counselors / mental health professionals to help them move beyond the trauma that they have faced in life.
● Vocational training courses are provided by Government and non - government entities.
● Opportunities of internships, scholarships, higher education, and jobs to get them future-ready

The impact of a safe, nurturing, and stimulating environment on the minds and growth of children is amazingly transformative. With every one girl out of the chain of suffering, exploitation, and violence, Milaan wants to help alter their destinies and empower them to re-write stories full of hope and triumphs.

We seek your support towards the cost of providing free residential hostel and education to one girl, estimated at INR 45,000 per year.