(August 08, 2016) –
Rise Up! Daughters of India, a passion project undertaken by a group of South Asian employees at World Vision Canada, launched today.
Rise Up! Daughters of India is an integrated project that aims to engage the Indian diaspora in Canada to help Indian girls stay in school, through the provision of toilet facilities.
In Canada, girls can easily go to the washroom when they need to. Sadly, in India it’s a different story. About 63 million girls do not have access to toilet facilities in India forcing them to ‘go’ outside. A significant number of girls decide to drop out rather than risk their safety and dignity.
At the project launch during the Panorama India Festival at Yonge-Dundas Square, Toronto, World Vision Canada representative Rochelle Rondon encouraged the Indian community to do three things: (1) visit the project website at daughtersofindia.ca; (2) consider donating; and (3) share the campaign website address to friends, family members, and social media contacts.
By asking people to make a minimum $10 monthly donation for at least three months, the project hopes to help girls in India remain in school.
Quote:
“Nature’s call should not be answered outdoors. But, it is a normal occurrence in India where a reported 47% of schools do not have functioning separate toilets for girls. The Rise Up! Daughters of India offers the Indian diaspora an opportunity to give Indian girls the dignity and protection they deserve.”
Elmer H Lighid, Rise Up! Daughters of India Project Lead, World Vision Canada
What members of the Indian community in Canada can do:
• Visit the project website at daughtersofindia.ca
• Consider pledging to help provide girls in India with toilets at their schools
• Share the campaign website address to friends, family members, and social media contacts