Team STOP made this Christmas Eve unforgettable with Secret Santa celebrations on the 24th of December, 2024. From jingling laughter to heartwarming surprises, the air was filled with pure festive magic. Our members exchanged not just gifts but smiles, hugs, and a whole lot of love. Watching everyone unwrap their surprises was like witnessing a cascade of joy—each reaction brighter than the Christmas lights!
An Effective Communication Workshop, held at STOP’s Tughlakabad Community, on the 10th of December, 2024, aimed to equip students with vital communication skills through engaging activities. Welcoming an audience of around 30 students from the 6th to the 9th class were STOP’s Team members, Sakshi Gaur and Shirine Marian Tigga. It began with an introduction to active listening, where students practiced paraphrasing and participated in the “Sit and Jump” activity to enhance attentiveness. Non-verbal communication was explored next, focusing on body language, gestures, and eye contact. Students enacted scenarios using only non-verbal cues to understand its impact. The final segment emphasized verbal communication, highlighting clarity and relevance. A dialogue exchange activity allowed students to practice concise, dynamic conversations in English. Hands-on activities made the session interactive and educational, fostering a deeper appreciation for effective communication’s role in academic and professional success.
On the 22nd of November, 2024, Gerlinde Ma’am, a long-time supporter of STOP, visited Tughlakabad to engage with the community and staff. Her visit included a series of impactful activities, starting with a meeting with staff at the community center. She then interacted with children from families affected by recent demolitions, offering emotional support and encouragement by listening to their stories and aspirations. She also held an interactive session with 9th standard students, discussing their career goals and sharing insights from her own professional journey. She later participated in a community event at Durga Mata Mandir focused on drug awareness and prevention, organized by Ramola Bhar Charitable Trust and supported by SPYM. Drawing from her experience in addiction recovery, Dr. Gerlinde spoke about using acupuncture as an alternative therapy for drug withdrawal, emphasizing a holistic approach to treatment. Her visit inspired hope and reinforced community collaboration.
On the 22nd of November, 2024, STOP conducted a revision training session for Tughlakabad’s women, focusing on practical application of knowledge gained from eight previous training programs addressing issues like domestic violence, child marriage, health, education, and human rights (sponsored by APPI). The training was conducted by the Project Coordinator, Shirine Marian Tigga and Psychological Counsellor, Sakshi Gaur, respectively. Mahila Mandal Volunteers mobilized participants, engaging them in discussions and situational assessments to reinforce their learning and empower action. Activities included a detailed recap of prior training, practical exercises on legal measures and support systems, and a questionnaire testing real-life application of knowledge. Tughlakabad youth volunteers supported participants with reading and writing tasks, fostering community collaboration. The session highlighted confidence-building and impactful feedback, demonstrating participants’ readiness to address abuse and injustice. It also provided valuable insights for the organizers to evaluate and enhance training effectiveness.
The Senior Programme Manager of STOP, Smritikana Ghosh Paul, and Gerlinde Büchinger-Schmid, an important member of the STOP-Germany Friend Circle, visited the Sundarbans in West Bengal from the 23rd to the 28th of November, 2024. During those days, a number of meetings with at-risk women, children, aged people and survivors were held with the STOP Team.
This was our beloved Gerlinde Ma’am’s anecdote about her experience in there:
It was a deeply impressing und moving encounter with women whose husbands are killed mainly by tigers, and thanks to STOP, they receive vocational training in making dress and incense sticks which they can offer for sale on the local market, in order to finance their livlihood at a low level. Often however, the low income is not enough and requires local official support in the form of weekly food parcels known as “rations“.
Learning how to use digital tools (cell phones) is an important source of support in addition and is particularly favored by the younger generation of women. At the same time, education and protection of women and girls regarding human trafficking is an essential part of STOP’s social work in that area. Poverty and social backwardness makes you vulnerable to trust the promises of human traffickers and thus falling in unknown dependence and abuse of all kinds.
The fate of widows in the Sundarbans is diverse. It is a struggle for living space for humans and animals. The forces of nature, such as annual cyclones and floods, not only destroy nature but also the livelihood of the people in the Sundarbans. Since women play a very tough role in the society of the Sundarbans, they need a strong, sustainable support for their empowerment.
During our home visits, we were told a few depressing life stories. Some of them were:
A young widow and her 6-year-old son were sent away by their in-laws and thus refused the existing right of inheritance to real property. She is currently living with her mother without a school leaving – certificate and financial security.
In another family, after the marriage of the daughter, the fatal injury of the father by a tiger led to a considerable financial burden, as the family had been heavily in debts for several years for managing finances for the daughter’s wedding.
A grandmother whose husband was killed by a tiger and whose daughter was subjected to fatal domestic violence had to raise her orphaned grandchildren, aged 15 and 13. Although the son-in-law, who meanwhile passed away, was punished by the court and was sent to prison, the children remain victimized. The grandmother’s daily income of 80 Rs for cutting 40 kg fish is a minimal financial help.
STOP has been working tirelessly to combat human trafficking, and since its inception, the region of Jharkhali has become a trafficking-free zone, as was stated by our Outreach-in-charge, Bishnupada Dey.
STOP recently spearheaded a transformative community awareness program in Tughlakabad, tackling the pressing issue of drug abuse. Featuring expert speakers like Mr. Gaurav Pandey and Mr. Amarnath from SPYM, the event illuminated the dangers of addiction, preventive strategies, and the critical role of collective action in fostering a healthier society.
The program included an impactful street play by students, vividly depicting the devastating effects of drug addiction on families and communities. Expert talks highlighted preventive measures, identification of early signs, and ways to support individuals at risk. Interactive sessions encouraged audience participation, fostering a shared commitment to addressing this issue.
An Essay Writing Competition for students from Tigri and Tughlakabad Education Centres further engaged young minds. Topics explored the media’s influence on drug use, the role of family in prevention, and addiction’s impact on relationships. Winners, Palak and Hasan, captivated the audience with their speeches and received awards for their outstanding essays.
The psychoeducation session held on November 8, 2024, in one of STOP’s Communities, Tigri, focused on teaching positive self-talk to 25 students from classes 5 to 8. Facilitated by STOP’s Psychological Counsellor, Sakshi Gaur, the session aimed to highlight the role of self-talk in shaping emotional well-being and personal growth. Students learned that positive self-talk, characterized by kind and supportive thoughts, can boost confidence, reduce anxiety, and enhance problem-solving skills. Emphasis was placed on its importance for children aged 10-14, a critical period for building self-esteem and resilience as they form identities and face academic and social challenges. The session included an engaging activity called the “Positive Self-Talk Journal,” where students filled in prompts like “I feel proud of myself because…” to reflect on their strengths and achievements. This exercise was designed to help students recognize and appreciate their positive qualities, reinforcing self-worth and encouraging a habit of daily positive reflection. The session concluded with a discussion on integrating positive self-talk into daily routines, empowering students to manage emotions better, build resilience, and approach challenges with a healthier mindset.
STOP’s Communities celebrated the festival of lights, Diwali, and the pictures display their sheer enjoyment!
At the Ekatva – Green Diwali Festival on October 27th, 2024 at Sunder Nursery, Delhi, STOP was represented by its psychological counsellor, Sakshi Gaur. Addressing an audience of over 5,000, Sakshi spoke on human trafficking, sharing alarming statistics and highlighting STOP’s mission to combat the oppression of women and children. She recounted the inspiring story of STOP’s founding by Roma Ma’am and detailed its impactful work and achievements. STOP was honored with the “Changemaker of the Year” award at the event, celebrating its dedication to creating a compassionate and sustainable world.
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