Exposure Visits 2026: Connecting Communities with Public Services

As part of its community awareness and empowerment activities, STOP organised a series of exposure visits for women from the Tigri and Tughlakabad communities during May, June and July 2026. These visits provided women with an opportunity to interact directly with public institutions and service providers and gain practical knowledge about services available to them.

Tigri Community

Police Station, Tigri | 7 May 2026

S.D.M. Office, Saket | 24 June 2026

Bank of India, C.R. Park | 24 July 2026

Tughlakabad Community

Police Station, Tigri | May 2026

S.D.M. Office, Sangam Vihar | 22 July 2026

Bank of India, C.R. Park | 22 July 2026

Learning Through Exposure

Across these visits, women gained practical knowledge that cannot always be acquired through classroom-based awareness sessions alone. Direct interaction with police officials, government representatives and banking professionals allowed participants to understand procedures, ask questions and clarify their doubts in a real-world setting. The exposure visits strengthened awareness of legal rights, government services, financial facilities and community safety. They also encouraged women to become more confident in approaching institutions independently and accessing services available to them.

Strengthening Livelihoods and Building Awareness in Jharkhali, West Bengal

STOP’s ongoing community work in Jharkhali, West Bengal, continues to bring together livelihood development, women’s empowerment and awareness on human trafficking.

Chick Farming: A Growing Livelihood Activity

As part of the ongoing livelihood initiatives, chick farming has now begun in Jharkhali and has been continuing for more than a week. The activity is providing participating community members with an opportunity to engage in animal-based livelihood activities and develop an additional source of income.

The initiative reflects STOP’s continued focus on strengthening local livelihood opportunities and supporting communities in building more sustainable means of income.

Building Awareness Against Human Trafficking

Alongside livelihood activities, STOP is also working to strengthen awareness and prevention of human trafficking among children and communities.

A one-day awareness workshop on Anti-Human Trafficking was organised at a government school in Jharkhali. The session brought together students and community stakeholders to discuss the risks and realities associated with human trafficking and the importance of staying alert and informed.

Policewomen Join the Conversation

The workshop also included the participation of women police officers, who were invited to interact with the students. They spoke about human trafficking, its risks, the importance of awareness and the role that young people and communities can play in preventing exploitation.

Their participation helped make the discussion practical and relatable, while also giving students an opportunity to directly interact with members of law enforcement.

The ongoing work in Jharkhali reflects STOP’s integrated approach to community development. While livelihood initiatives such as crab farming and chick farming create opportunities for economic empowerment, awareness and prevention activities work towards creating safer and more informed communities.

From Training to Opportunity: STOP Beneficiary Completes German Bakery Course

At STOP, skill development is an important part of creating pathways towards greater confidence, independence and livelihood opportunities.

We are pleased to share the achievement of our beneficiary, Ms. Nazira Khatun, who has successfully completed a three-month German Bakery course. Through hands-on training, she developed practical skills in preparing a variety of bakery products, gaining valuable experience that can support her future livelihood opportunities.

During the course, Nazira learned to prepare:

  1. Cream Cake
  2. Berliner (German Doughnut)
  3. Vanilla Crescent Cookies
  4. Nut Hefezopf
  5. Fresh Fruit Tart (Obsttorte)
  6. Cheese Pretzel
  7. Gingerbread Cookies
  8. Cinema Tart
  9. Butter Hefezopf
  10. Apple Pie

From cakes and cookies to traditional German breads, pastries and tarts, the course gave her exposure to a diverse range of bakery techniques and recipes.

Building Skills, Creating Possibilities

Nazira’s journey reflects how access to practical vocational training can help young women develop new skills and explore avenues for economic independence. Her successful completion of the course is an encouraging step towards turning these skills into future livelihood opportunities.

STOP congratulates Ms. Nazira Khatun on completing her German Bakery training and wishes her continued success in her journey ahead.

Empowering Young Minds: Understanding Peer Pressure on International Youth Day

The session was facilitated by psychological counsellor Aprajita Singh, with Paridhi Negi, Project Associate, STOP Office, present to monitor the session and actively engage the students throughout the activities.

Starting with Connection and Interaction

The session began with an introduction to STOP NGO and the facilitator, followed by an engaging ice-breaker activity, “Find Someone Who…”. The activity encouraged students to interact with one another while discovering similarities and differences among their peers.

Understanding Peer Pressure Through Discussion

Students watched a short video on peer pressure and were asked to observe an important question: “Who is influencing whom?”

The video was followed by an interactive discussion where students explored:

The discussion helped students connect the concept of peer pressure with situations they may encounter in their everyday lives.

Activity: “The Pressure Line”

The session then moved into “The Pressure Line”, an activity based on six real-life situations involving peer pressure. The situations covered friendship, bullying and mockery, skipping classes, conditional friendships, phone and social comparison, and social media.

Students had to respond with Yes or No and, importantly, explain the reasons behind their choices. Their responses brought out some common challenges young people face, including the desire to remain accepted within a friend group and difficulty in saying “No.”

Activity: The “NO Challenge”

The “NO Challenge” focused on turning awareness into practical skills. Students explored different ways of responding when they feel pressured by their peers. Through the activity, they were introduced to assertive communication and responsible decision-making. The discussion emphasised that saying “No” does not make someone a bad friend and that healthy friendships should respect individual choices and boundaries.

Reflection and Key Learnings

The session concluded with a reflection activity where students shared what they had learned. The key messages included:

    Women’s Empowerment and Income Generation through Crab Farming

    Stage 1: Salinated Water Management

    The process begins with the management and preparation of the naturally salinated water available in the village ponds, creating suitable conditions for crab farming.

    Stage 2: Clearing and Preparation of Ponds

    The ponds are cleared and cleaned to prepare them for crab farming. This includes removing unwanted materials and preparing the pond environment for the next stages of the activity.

    Stage 3: Cage Preparation and Fixing

    Cages for crab rearing are prepared and fixed inside the ponds. These cages provide a controlled space for rearing and managing the crabs.

    Stage 4: Net Fixing

    Nets are fixed around the cages and farming areas to secure the crabs and prevent them from escaping, thereby supporting effective crab rearing.

    Stage 5: Training and Capacity Building

    Training is currently being provided to the participating women on crab farming and related practices. The training is helping women develop the practical knowledge and skills required to manage the activity and strengthen their livelihood opportunities.

    Role of Mahila Mandals

    Mahila Mandals form an important community platform through which women participate in the livelihood activity. Their involvement supports collective participation, coordination and women’s empowerment.

    Women’s Empowerment and Income Generation

    The overall initiative connects crab farming with women’s economic empowerment. By engaging women in a practical livelihood activity and building their technical skills, STOP is supporting opportunities for income generation and greater economic participation.

    Documentation of Success Stories

    Case studies and success stories of women participating in the initiative are being prepared to document the outcomes and experiences emerging from the project. These stories will also contribute to project documentation, learning and reporting.

    Awareness Programme on World Day Against Trafficking in Persons | 30.7.2026

    Community Stands United Against Human Trafficking on World Day Against Trafficking in Persons

    SUMMER CAMP ACTIVITIES AT TUGHLAKABAD, 2026

    Creative Learning Through Art, Recycling, and Innovation

    Youth Capacity Building Workshops under APPI

    From April to June 2026, Ms. Paridhi Negi, Project Associate, STOP, conducted a series of youth capacity-building workshops in the Tigri and Tughlakabad communities under the Azim Premji Philanthropic Initiatives (APPI). A total of 16 youth groups, comprising 160 adolescent girls and young women, participated in the programme.

    The participants attended interactive sessions covering ten key themes: Child Marriage, Child Labour, Education, Domestic Violence, Human Trafficking, Personal Health and Hygiene, Human Rights, Cyber Crime, Menstrual Health, and Leadership. The workshops aimed to strengthen awareness, build life skills, and empower young people to make informed decisions while promoting safe and healthy communities.

    The sessions were facilitated through participatory methods, including group discussions, role plays, quizzes, case studies, videos, demonstrations, and interactive games. A pre-training assessment was conducted to understand participants’ existing knowledge and tailor the sessions accordingly.

    Throughout the programme, participants demonstrated increased awareness of their rights, legal protections, cyber safety, menstrual hygiene, and available support systems. Discussions encouraged critical thinking on issues such as child marriage, trafficking, domestic violence, and access to education. Leadership and communication activities further helped participants build confidence and develop problem-solving and decision-making skills.

    The workshops created a safe and engaging learning environment where participants actively shared their experiences, clarified misconceptions, and strengthened their capacity to become informed, confident, and responsible members of their communities.

    TRAINING FOR MAHILA MANDALS – TUGHLAKABAD AND TIGRI

    Project STOP of Ramola Bhar Charitable Trust (RBCT), with the support of Azim Premji Philanthropic Initiatives (APPI), successfully organised an 18-day Capacity-Building Programme for Community Women Groups (Mahila Mandals) in the Tigri and Tughlakabad communities. The sessions were facilitated by Ms. Narayani Bhattacharya, Project Coordinator, with the objective of empowering women leaders with the knowledge, confidence, and skills to address critical social issues and strengthen community action.

    Each training session began with a relaxing exercise that helped participants feel comfortable, encouraged active participation, and created an engaging learning environment. The programme followed a participatory approach, combining presentations, interactive discussions, case studies, group activities, experience-sharing, and question-and-answer sessions to ensure meaningful learning.

    The training covered the following modules:

    1. Health and Hygiene
    2. Menstrual Health and Hygiene
    3. Health and Hygiene Practices
    4. Leadership and Decision-Making Skills
    5. Child Labour
    6. Education
    7. Child Marriage
    8. Human Rights
    9. Cybercrime and Digital Safety
    10. Human Trafficking
    11. Domestic Violence

    A key feature of the programme was the active involvement of the Mahila Mandal leaders from both communities. After receiving guidance on each module, the women leaders were encouraged to present the topics before the group, share their understanding, facilitate discussions, and respond to questions from fellow participants. This approach not only reinforced their learning but also strengthened their communication, leadership, and public speaking skills while building their confidence to act as community resource persons.

    The programme concluded with participants expressing their commitment to applying the knowledge gained within their communities by raising awareness, promoting education, safeguarding the rights of women and children, and supporting collective efforts to prevent violence, exploitation, trafficking, and discrimination.

    Through initiatives such as these, Project STOP, with the support of Azim Premji Philanthropic Initiatives (APPI), continues to nurture informed and confident women leaders who play a vital role in building safer, more resilient, and empowered communities.