Girl and Women Empowerment in India

Krissi Silianova Start Date: Mar 25, 2016 - End Date: Jun 29, 2016
  • Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, British Indian Ocean Territory

My Travel Story

by: Krissi Silianova Start Date: Mar 25, 2016 - End Date: Jun 29, 2016
India: a place rich of culture and religion, a touristic destination, an economically poor country...

India is one of the 3rd World developing countries where people undergo ultimate deprivation of basic needs such as hygiene, sanitation, housing, education and proper employment. The country is male-dominated and has zero influence by women. Women are the most vulnerable group after children in this country. Women are considered good for housework and child upraisal.

This July I am going as a volunteer on a trip to Varanasi, India to initiate a project for deprived girls and women. The project is about Women & Girls Empowerment through Martial Arts. The trip/project will last 2 weeks. I am going as a volunteer-member of the Dutch foundation FairFight and as an instructor of martial arts. FairFight is a newly established foundation by individuals who are well-experienced in practicing and instructing martial arts. Due to the small funds that FairFight has (sufficient to only cover the project beneficiaries) every member has to cover their personal travel expenses to the chosen destinations.

The goal of the visit in Varanasi, India is to get a selected group of girls, who are abandoned by or do not have families, involved with martial arts. Through martial arts we are going to teach them about how important their lives are, how to win in this unfair fight life has given them and to overcome their fears. I am personally practicing Tang Soo Do (Korean karate) for the past 11 years. I want to share my knowledge with these girls from a personal experience. With Tang Soo Do I have learnt to be courageous in taking up the challenges brought to me; brave when I face obstacles; and to never retreat in a battle. Tang Soo Do  has made me strong to chase my dreams and this is a message I want to transmit to the girls when I am there.

This visit will empower local girls in Varanasi and will start constructing an awareness for equality in the community. The project starts with only a small group of girls and steadily grows to  bringing more girls together. The method applied in the project also makes younger boys aware of the importance to have equality between males and females. For this reason, both genders will eventually start practicing together.

Here is where I seek for your help. In order to make this happen together with FairFight I need to raise money to cover the costs of the vaccinations to be less vulnerable in an environment that I am not used to. Thus far I have purchased my flight tickets. The vaccinations together with the visa to gain access to the country are the next most important part of the arrangement. I hope that you can envision the positive impact of my involvement. I have always dreamt of going to India and now there is a reason bigger than merely visiting the country. There is a purpose to make a change in people's lives for a birghter tomorrow.

Thank you in advance and may you be blessed!

Click on the links below to get a glimpse of the initiative that we are bringing in Varanasi, India this summer!
  • Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, British Indian Ocean Territory

Updates

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  • Donations Milestone #4

    Donations Milestone #4
    HUGE THANK YOU to a dear person from California, Michael Geis, who donated the extraordinary amount of 90 euros!!! Thank you so much for this lovely act of support Michael!!!

    I am so glad to announce that in combination to external donations, I have successfully raised the amount of 289 euros for my trip to get vaccinated and purchase my visa. There are only 14 hours left before this donation site closes so feel free to donate extra money if you wish. This will be then saved in potential expenses relevant to girl empowerment in India and updates about the expenditure will be made when applicable! On July 5 is the final vaccination that I will be getting and then the final countdown begins before we fly with FairFight to Varanasi in India.

    It is hard to express my excitement in words...
    #changingtheworld #videocomingsoon

  • Donation Milestone #3

    Donation Milestone #3
    Big thank you to a lovely woman who donated 50 euros yesterday, Mrs. Sharda Sahebdien!
    The support is just huge!
    This means that in the last 4 days of this fundraiser there are ONLY 27 euros to complete the sum!
    Stay tuned for more updates and #videocomingsoon

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