INDIA Scaling Nomi s Rural Train the Trainer Curriculum to create more economic opportunity for survivors and women at risk of human trafficking
Nomi Network started its rural train the trainer program in 2012 in The Araria District, Bihar.
The Araria district is one of the most underdeveloped districts in Bihar, India, sharing its border with Nepal. It is a source and transit district for the trafficked women and girls. Trafficking in persons for labor, forced prostitution or domestic servitude is a fundamental human rights violation and has serious consequences for the individuals, families, communities and nations. The International Organization for Migration (IOM) defines human trafficking as the illicit recruitment, kidnapping and selling of a person either within national or across international borders. Women and children are the predominant victims of human trafficking, specifically those on the lower end of the economic spectrum, which increases their vulnerability dramatically.
Human trafficking is a lucrative, underground business run by both large syndicates and small local networks. Alongside drug and arms smuggling, trafficking ranks among the top three most profitable illicit trades worldwide. The trafficking syndicates, big and small, are run by experienced criminal groups in the center, taking advantage of adolescent and cash hungry contacts in ordinary rural and urban communities. Networks of procurement and selling of women, girls and children penetrate most distant villages, and most difficult borders as well. The trafficking networks in Forbesganj, Araria District of Bihar break through borders across various parts of the Nepal region, Bangladesh, and West Bengal boarders to other parts of the country as well as overseas. Nomi Network works with: Prostituted women and girls Retired sex workers Daughters and sisters of prostituted women Women and girls living in immediate vicinity of red light districts Women and girls from the untouchable caste community Women suffering from domestic violence Many of these women have been targeted because they are orphaned or homeless, have a physical disability, or are child brides Program Results Nomi s curriculum and approach has a proven impact in Bihar. Prior to our program, most of the women were illiterate, abused and with a high level of barriers to work, including emotional and psychological. Our achievements include: Placed 100% of women who completed Nomi s advanced training program in Bihar into jobs Trained women to become leaders and entrepreneurs in Bihar Trained women to become master trainers Empowered entrepreneurs in Bihar who are making saris to sell in their local markets, opened up the first women owned store in the region 100% of Nomi trainees in Bihar open their own bank and savings accounts 100% of women trained by Nomi in Bihar are now sending their children to the school 85% of women trained by Nomi now make products that comply with competitive industry standards Domestic violence and trafficking cases have decreased significantly for women in our Bihar program
Program Expansion Bihar Community Development Center. A center provides training, job opportunity, career path and community center that empower women and improve their livelihood as well as transform community. On one acre of land Includes: Production Center Training Center Child Care Center Livelihood Promotion Space Housing Office space Toilet and Washroom Conference room Courtyard with garden Women owned retail store Current Programs Economic Empowerment Training Program: Using the Nomi curriculum, we provide leadership, entrepreneurship and technical training to women who are survivors of sex trafficking, women at risk of human trafficking, including at risk of intergenerational prostitution. During the training, they also receive access to literacy, math and computer classes. Entrepreneurship Training: The Nomi training enabled the women to successfully identify an opportunity in making and selling petticoats locally. The women, in partnership with Nomi, have opened a local shop where we are training women to be sales representatives and store managers. The training includes field trips into the city and meeting with small business owners. Adolescent Girls Painting Class: Focuses on adolescent girls who live in or near the redlight district. This is an afterschool program that allows the girls to learn discipline, art and life skills. They earn a modest stipend for their work. Educating the Next-Generation: Nomi re-enrolls or enrolls the children of our program participants into public or boarding school. In addition, we refer the girls who are extremely vulnerable to trafficking to a partner organization s boarding school. Nomi has expanded this program Future Programs Community Development Center (CDC): Nomi will build a community development center on one acre of land in Bihar, the poorest state in India and the most difficult location to provide services to survivors and women at risk of human trafficking. The CDC will include a production center, child care center, emergency housing, classrooms, and community development area for the community to embark on entrepreneurial activities. We have a partnership with a large Indian company that has been working during the product development stage with our trainees. The products will be distributed in their existing global supply chain. Nomi will lead trips for organizations we train to visit the Bihar Center and learn first hand our rural approach and model.
* * * Photos and names have been changed to protect their identity
* * * Photos and names have been changed to protect their identity
Replicating Nomi Network's Train the Trainer Curriculum We have received hundreds of solicitations from non-profits all over the world to partner with Nomi Network by training their staff and providing job opportunities for their constituents. Based on our conversations with the Asian Development Bank, USAID, Indian/ Cambodia companies and other international stakeholders, there is an immense need for Nomi's rural curriculum that empowers low-skilled work force to advance in leadership roles. We aim to train organizations to deliver Nomi's curriculum across the world. Our curriculum consists of: Teachers Training Model Activities for students Curriculum Lesson plans Tools and forms to track the progress of trainees we HOPE you will consider partnering with us to replicate nomi s program around the world.
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