Safecity Monthly Updates: February 2020

Safecity is growing exponentially and we’re constantly working hard to translate our vision to reality. Because we don’t want you to miss out on our work, we’ve decided to put together a monthly column to tell you about what we’ve been up to. You can sign up for our newsletter here.

Inclusive Urbanism at Kalaghoda Arts Festival

In partnership with the consulate general of Sweden in Mumbai, Red Dot Foundation for the second year in a row exhibited at the Kalaghoda Arts Fest, Mumbai’s premier cultural festival. From February 1-9, the photo-exhibition ‘Sustainable and Inclusive Urbanism’ was on display to increase awareness about enabling equality; accessibility and inclusivity in our cities. We participated in a panel discussion on the current challenges and possible solutions for making Mumbai a sustainable and inclusive city.

Panelists included Ms. Anna Lekvall, Consul General of Sweden in Mumbai; Dr. Sangita Hasnale, Assistant Commissioner – Planning, MCGM; Ms. Prathima Manohar, Founder and CEO – The urban Vision: Mr. Nilabh Nagar, Urbanist and Architect, Hafeez Contractor; Mr. Suhas Karnik, Honorary Secretary, National Association of the Blind (NAB) and Ms. ElsaMarie.

Be A #CyberSaathi

Red Dot Foundation co-created a curriculum on Cyber Security, Online Sexual Harassment Prevention and Redressal and Gender Sensitivity along with The Office of Nappinai NS. We conducted our first program at Banasthali University, Rajasthan, for several hundred students, parents, teachers and community folk over second weekend of February.

We are planning to roll this out in as many schools and colleges possible. We want spaces – public, digital and social to be free of violence and make it an empowered community. Get in touch with us at info@reddotfoundation.org if you wish to know more or want us to host workshops in your organisation.

CFLI- Safe Campus Program

As part of the Canadian Fund for Local Initiatives, Safecity implemented a project called Safe Campus Program wherein a series of workshops were conducted at 20 colleges in Mumbai, Pune, and Satara.

As a part of this project, a group of 100 youth ambassadors were identified from each of these colleges and were trained to conduct workshops at their respective colleges. The topics that they were sensitized to included POSH and POSCO, gender discrimination, gender equality and inclusiveness, sexual harassment within their campuses, and methods of addressal and reduction of the same. These youth ambassadors then went onto conduct workshops and activities which included an essay writing competition conducted by Tilak Maharashtra Vidyapeeth Nursing department, skits by the students of SIES college explaining POSH at workplace and colleges, and, engagement of the students of Nirmala Niketan, with the local communities to create awareness regarding the same.

These events and workshops were a huge success and we thank our team led by Marissa Borges, Mona More and Sayali Khatavkar for their effort and dedication that went into this project.

Local Institutions take Amplify Change ahead

Over frequently held workshops in the two communities of Kashewadi and Prem Nagar, the Amplify Change project working towards ensuring Safe Public Spaces has now moved a step ahead with local authorities and police being involved in it. This month, the local police also participated in the engaging sessions held with the communities where women from the community raised concerns over their safety, especially in and around the common public toilets.

The police made them aware of POCSO, POSH and relevant IPC sections. Topics like how to lodge a complain, sexual harassment and how to use the safecity app were also covered.

Our volunteers conducted a signature campaign at Kashewadi and Marketyard and managed to get over 152 signatures from one of the communities.The campaign was for implementing safety guidelines like regular patrolling of police, implementation of CCTV cameras, appointment of at least two female constables in the area which will make it easy for women to report their issues.

Bal Suraksha: An initiative with Rise Up

The Rise Up project, Bal Suraksha, is being organised in 20 Zila Parishad schools of Jawali Taluka, Satara. It focusses on strengthening the impact of the POCSO Act and its redressal mechanisms. The research done in Maharashtra, to support the project’s need in Satara, showed that although the act is there in the law, its implementation on field still needs to be reviewed.

Under the project, we have trained “Know your rights educators” who are developing advocacy plans to be implemented in their schools, communities and villages. Till date, they have conducted interactive workshops on POCSO for 320 faculty members and administration staff in Medha – Satara.

A major development in the project has been the approval of stakeholders like the Educational Block Officer and the local Zila Parishad who have given their approval to implement the Bal Suraksha Project in these schools.

We are also looking forward to building associations with the Gyan Prakash Foundation that works with the Maharashtra Government’s education department.

Alongside, our team at Satara is leading workshops, sessions and focus groups with children and parents. Over 1471 individuals have been part of these workshops.

Multiple sessions across Delhi

Our Program and Outreach Officer, Jyoti Goyal in Delhi is currently working with a community at Sarvodaya Camp. Jyoti did overall four workshops this month with girls of different age groups. From discussing safe and unsafe touch with younger girls, they also had a conversation on the impact someone can make if they report any kind of sexual harassment which includes eve-teasing, inappropriate touch etc. These sessions also talked about gender stereotypes and how one loses opportunities due to them.

On 11th February, a POSH workshop was also organised at Etasha Society, Madanpur Khadar community of South Delhi. Sexual Harassment at Workplace, Internal Complaints Committee and process of complaint redressal were some of the topics that the 19 participants discussed. They are undergraduates and recent graduates who’ll be part of the workforce in coming years.

Another session with Prajna Foundation focused on Child Sexual Abuse, particularly on Safe and Unsafe touch. This was held on 15th February.

Sakhi Annual Poetry Awards 2019

The Woman Inc. & Beyond Black (a subsidiary of Red Dot Foundation/Safecity) in association with The Jimmy Foundation, Sheroes and Point of View, presents SAKHI ANNUAL POETRY AWARDS 2019. An opportunity to voice your creativity through words, rhymes & rhythms, and at times blank verses.

Winners will get a mentorship/fellowship opportunity with The Woman Inc. magazine, Safecity, and Point of View, and further, a chance to get their work published in an annual poetry anthology.

Declaration of final results is on International Women’s Day, March 8. Check out the jury members here.

A creative lab on Building Inclusive Cities

With the objective to dismember the veil of threat that envelopes every woman as she steps out of the comfort of her home, Red Dot Foundation is co-hosting a creative lab for building inclusive cities along with The Urban Vision, SheThePeople and the office of N.S. Nappinai as part of the Leadership Network for Change [LNC] at CDDRL, based at Stanford University..

The goal of this interactive lab featuring multi-disciplinary teams is to develop striking & viral material to advocate and propagate these ten principles of women friendly cities.

This gender sensitive approach to planning of urban cities emphasizes upon citizen’s actions and policy strategies to terminate the perpetuation of negative social norms.

To register for the event in Delhi on 5th March 2020, click here.

To find out more about our Creative Lab in Mumbai head to our website.

Vital Voices Mentoring Walk

The Red Dot Foundation is co-hosting its fifth Vital Voices Global Mentoring Walk on 7th March at JW Marriott Sahar, Mumbai along with Priti Patkar, co-founder of Prerana Anti Human Trafficking.

Vital Voices is a global non-profit organisation cofounded by Hilary Clinton for the advancement of women’s rights. Every year around International Women’s Day members from the Vital Voices network host mentoring walks all over the world. This year we join our peers in hosting 160 such walks in over 66 countries.

Our mentoring walk features 30 senior women leaders who represent a diverse range of professions – diplomats, entrepreneurs, businesswomen, non-profit leaders, authors and development professionals. The mentees are young women from the cohorts of NGOs such as Prerana Anti Human Trafficking, Sneha, Reality Gives and Save The Children along with other young women. The young women will be paired with the women leaders based on their goals, aspirations, interests and skills. The “walk” though symbolic, provides an opportunity for one-on-one interaction, mentoring and networking.

Be Your Own Superhero

This campaign is to celebrate your story. It’s to celebrate the countless stories that collectively give us hope to #RiseTogether and fight against injustice. If you’re someone who has stood up for a friend who was being harassed, we would love to hear your heroic story too!

#BeYourOwnSuperhero today and share your story of action against harassment with us- bit.ly/BeYourOwnSuperhero

Our Global newsletter

Do subscribe to the Red Dot Foundation Global newsletter if you would like specific news featuring our work across the globe.

Click here to read. Do subscribe if interested.

Girl Fund Campaign

We have been selected by Global Giving to be part of their Girl Fund Campaign. We appreciate every generous donation. Even Rs 500 or $10 will go a long way.

You can use this link to donate- https://www.globalgiving.org/projects/training-10-youth-campus-ambassadors-on-safety/