Empowering Girls in India Filming with Debby Ryan in May 2012

About Free the ChildrenFree The Children is the world’s largest network of children helping children through education, with more thanone million youth involved in our innovative education and development programs in 45 countries. Founded in1995 by international child rights activist Craig Kielburger, Free The Children has a proven track record ofsuccess.

The primary goals of the organization are to free children from poverty and exploitation and free young peoplefrom the notion that they are powerless to affect positive change in the world. Through domestic empowermentprograms and leadership training, Free The Children inspires young people to develop as socially consciousglobal citizens and become agents of change for their peers around the world.

Partnering with DisneyFree The Children is delighted to have the opportunity to again partner with DisneyFriends for Change to affect incredible change in the lives of marginalized peoplearound the world. We are thrilled to have Debby Ryan as an ambassador for suchan important cause to raise awareness around the world.

In May of 2012, we are honoured to host Debby and the Disney film crew to developimpactful content around this important program in the community of Lai Gow,located in the state of Rajasthan, India.

Free The Children and Disney Friends for Change

BackgroundFree The Children has been working in India for over 10 years. India is the largest democracy in theworld, with nearly 1.2 billion citizens, or 1/6 of the world’s population. Free The Children is workingwith the Indian government in the Udaipur District of Rajasthan. Rajasthan is a desert state in theNorth eastern corner of India, with some of the oldest remains of human civilization in the world,dating back over 4,000 years. It is also a region that suffers from numerous economic and socialchallenges. Girls in India, specifically among tribal populations of Rajasthan, suffer from a greatnumber of gender disparities. For them, the opportunity for education is challenged by domesticobligations, family finances, and cultural barriers. Only 52.7% of women are literate in Rajasthan,the lowest rate out of any province in India.

Free The Children in India

Free The Children’s operations in India began in 1996, when we set out to build a rescue home for freed childlabourers. It became apparent however, that if we wanted to prevent child labour, we would have to address the rootcauses. As such, we shifted our focus where we felt it was most needed: education. This is the first pillar of our Adopta Village model. And so, we began building schools.

Quickly we realised that there were many other barriers preventing students, particularly young girls, from attendingschool. The most common reason is household responsibilities. Girls will often walk hours every day to collect waterfor their family, preventing them from attending schools. Free The Children now builds water pumps at all of ourschools, allowing girls to fulfill their responsibilities and get an education. Water is the second pillar of Adopt a Village.

If children in our communities are not healthy however, they cannot be attentive in class or even in attendance. Healthcare and sanitation is the third pillar. Free The Children builds health care centres and offers sanitation and hygieneclasses for the whole village, reducing the spread of disease and increasing overall health, allowing more children tostay in school.

Finally, it became apparent that even with schools, wells and health care, children missed school for financial reasons:children go to work when their parents are unable to bear the financial burden of the household themselves. The finalpillar of Adopt a Village is alternative income. These programs empower mothers with financial independence thatallows them to support their families, keep their children in classrooms and out of situations of child labour.

Adopt a Village is designed to empower communities to break the cycle of poverty and supportthemselves over the long term.

How we work: The Adopt a Village Model

MORE INFORMATION ON LAI GOW CAN BE FOUND HERE: http://www.freethechildren.com/reporting/lai

LocationLai Gow is located in the northern district of Udaipur in the state of Rajasthan, India.

BackgroundLai is a rural community made up of tribal peoples, known as “Adivasis.” Tribalpopulations throughout India traditionally lived in rural and interior areas, distant frommost of the region’s populated areas, in turn in isolation from much of society. WithinIndia’s caste system they are considered so inferior that they do not even have their owncaste.

PopulationThere are approximately 700 people in Lai Gow, of which 250 are children.

Recent ChallengesHistorically excluded from even entrance into the organization of society, now Adivasi’sstruggle to keep a pace with modern Indian society and government. Currently ruralareas all throughout India are slowly being encroached to access rich natural resources,development projects, and industrialization. As a result tribal populations are being forcedinto urban centers and/or deprived of all natural resources and independent governancestructures which traditionally ensured their survival. With lack of awareness andeducation in regards to politics, economic and social mobility, this community struggles tobridge the gap between their past and India’s present.

Overview: Lai Gow community

Rupi is 13 years old and lives in the community of Lai with herparents, brother and his wife. As a child Rupi had attendedschool, but after grade 3, her parents decided it was notimportant for her to get an education as she would need to dohousekeeping and help her mother with agricultural work.

But things changed when Free The Children started working inLai. Through programs aimed at raising the awareness aroundgirls education, and efforts to break the cultural perception ofaccess for girls, Rupi’s parents have learned the importance ofher receiving an education.

Happier than ever, Rupi now attends school everyday and isespecially fond of poetry. She plans to continue her educationand hopes to one day teach dance.

Rupi`s story

Sohan is 12 years old and lives in the community of Lai with hisparents and nine brothers and sisters. Although he’s still just achild, it wasn’t long ago that Sohan was working in the alcoholbusiness in Udaipur district along with his younger brother. Butafter hearing news that a Free The Children school was going tobe built in his native village, he and his brother decided to stopworking and return home.

Now Sohan and his brother go to school each day instead ofgoing to work in the alcohol business. Every morning, Sohanwakes up early, cleans the house and prepares breakfast for allof his 11 family members. Then he heads off to school. At 4:30,the school bell rings and Sohan heads home, does his choresand, finally, goes to bed.

Sohan is thrilled to be back home attending school, and gratefulthat he and his brother no longer have to work in Udaipar. Heloves to study and he hopes to keep learning and end up doingsome amazing development work in his community when hegrows up. Sohan is also a good artist and actor, and he’s alwayseager to participate in school ceremonies and skits.

Sohan`s story

Lai Gow: in pictures

Lai Gow: in pictures

Watch the video

Empowering Girls

In order to combat barriers to education for girls inthe community of Lai Gow, Free The Children hasplans to build two new gender balanced schoolblocks and a new Women’s Resource Centre. Thiswill provide spaces for girls of primary school age toattend school along with their male counterparts.Additionally, Free The Children is developing anevening education program for young girls who havehad to leave school as a result of family obligations.The Women’s Resource Centres constructed byFree The Children and supported by the Indiangovernment will also provide childminding servicesfor preschool aged children, eliminating anotherbarrier to education for young girls.

Leadership programs help to promote the value of education for girls within our communities by givinggirls the tools to be their own advocates. These programs are a part of Free The Children’s holistic,sustainable development model known as Adopt a Village.

Plans for Change

Preparing for India

To travel to India, you must have a valid passport. Your passport cannot expire within six months of the dateof departure from India. Your passport must contain two blank pages at the back in order to obtain yourIndian visa. If you do not have room in your passport, you can either get additional pages added or apply fora new passport.

Visa’s are not available at port of entry and must be obtained in advance. Your visa will be stamped in yourvalid passport prior to departure at your nearest Indian embassy or consulate.

For instructions on applying for an Indian visa as a US citizen, please visit: http://www.indianembassy.org/

The Indian Embassy in the USA is location at the following address:Consular Wing—Indian Embassy2536 Massachusetts Ave., NWWashington, DC USA - 20008Telephone: (202) 939-7000Fax: (202) 387-6946

Here are the key details you will need to fill out the visa form:• Your visa is valid for entry into India for only six months from the issue.• Please apply for a tourist visa.

For your visa information please include the details of our Country Director in India:Sponsor name: Shobha Sharma Address: 33 a 2, New Fatehpura, near income tax office, Udaipur,Rajasthan 313001, Phone: 011.91.979.939.5658

Passport and Visas

It is important that all your immunizations are up to date before you travel to India. It is stronglyrecommended that you visit a travel doctor for recommendations on immunizations a minimum of sixweeks before departure. It helps to do your research beforehand, but only a travel doctor can give youprofessional recommendations on the vaccines and medications you will need to keep you healthy whileabroad. Some vaccines are administered in a series that can take several weeks, so be sure to book yourappointment well in advance of your departure.

Your travel doctor will likely require you to take a tetanus shot (if not up to date).

Your travel doctor may also recommend (not require) the following vaccines are up to date:

• Hepatitis A• Hepatitis B• Typhoid

Your travel doctor may also suggest you carry malaria pills depending on the time of year.

Immunizations

Dress will be casual for the majority of the time; however, there will be a few opportunities for semi-formalevening dinners. There will be laundry service available during your trip, so there is no need to bring alongmore than the necessities. Loose, lightweight, long clothing is both respectful and cool in the predominantlyhot Asian climate.

Quality footwear is very important. The best are low-cut court shoes or training shoes. Those old beat uprunning shoes in the closet are just fine too. Other items you ABSOLUTELY MUST pack in addition to yourtravelling clothes are:

• sunscreen• sunglasses• a hat or a bandana• work gloves for school building.

PLEASE NOTE: When visiting communities, pleasedress modestly. If possible, please refrain from wearingtank tops, short skirts or shorts high above the knee.Also, when school building on site, no open toe shoes areallowed (flip flops, sandals) for your safety.

Clothing

Gifts

Should you wish to bring gifts for the community, we advise that you don’t buy any gifts to bring with you. Ifyou are really keen in helping, we encourage you to wait until you come to India and identify together withour staff on the ground what is most needed and then can arrange for a donation that will best serve thecommunities you are visiting. We encourage you to live the experience to the fullest and to take mentalsnapshots of the moment. Please note that cameras should only be used with the permission of the staffaccompanying you, so as not to offend any local community members.

• All travellers are registered with their respective embassy to ensure accountability in case of emergency

• Travel advisories are monitored by international and country offices

• Copies of all passports, medical and travel insurance, emergency contact information, dietary and medicalrequirements are collected well in advance of the trip by our international office

• Satellite phone and mobile communication is used at all times; constant communication open 24 hours a day betweenin country teams and our Toronto office

• All facilitators have up-to-date first-aid training and have participated in our extensive facilitator training program

• Our extensive facilitator training program includes emergency evacuation protocols, standard operating proceduresand crisis prevention/management training

• Our facilitator carries a comprehensive first aid kit

• Proximate location to international airport

• Local hospitals with high medical standards are aware of our trips and prepared to handle any minor or major medicalsituations

• Hospital on par with western standards in Udaipur

• All transportation is manned by our staff

• Always traveling as a group by day under the guidance of our expert facilitators

We have been facilitating trips overseas since 2002 with an incredible track record of safety and success inthe countries to which we travel, including Ecuador, Kenya, China, India and Mexico. Security measuresinclude:

Security

WeatherThe climate in the district of Rajasthan is moderate with seasonal variations. The average temperature is71 Degrees Fahrenheit and the average rainfall is 600mm. Due to warm temperatures and rainfall,activities are organized accordingly such as building which occurs early in the mornings, and late in theafternoons.

FoodWhile in Lai, you will have the opportunity to sample a range of traditional Indian and Asian cuisines. Wewill also provide purified drinking water throughout the trip however feel free to bring a water bottle withyou on the trip so that you can always have water with you. Meals are sourced from local restaurants andguest houses that are regularly visited by our visitors pre-arranged by our staff. The majority of the foodyou will be eating in India is vegetarian, as it is the local custom.

HealthOur on ground facilitators are fully trained in first aid and emergency protocol. Facilitators carry anextensive first aid kit with them at all times throughout the trip. The Udaipur Hospital is an excellent facilitythat provides the same standards of medical care you would expect in North America. Local hospitals withhigh medical standards are aware of our trips and prepared to handle any minor or major medicalsituations. Guests will still be responsible for purchasing their own out-of-country medical insurance forthe duration of their trip.

The health questionnaire that you will be asked to fill out is completely confidential and will be used sothat medical personnel may make informed decisions in the event of an emergency.

Other things to consider

Q: What time zone is India in? A: India is on IST (India Standard Time), and is 10½ or 11½ hours ahead of EST (Toronto time), depending on the time of year.

Q: Is there bottled water? A: We provide bottled water for our guests to drink. We bring huge jugs of purified drinking water to the lodge and then recycle them after each trip. We recommend bringing along a good water bottle that you can fill up as you head from our lodge for your day trips to the community.

Q: What is the voltage? A: The voltage in India is 230-240V/50Hz. An Indian-style plug has two circular metal pins above a large circular grounding pin. Please make sure to bring a converter with you.

Q: Can I bring gifts for the kids? A: We humbly ask that you do not bring candy or toys to give away as presents for any Me to We overseas trip. Me to We and Free The Children work together in solidarity with our partner communities, and request that our trip participants also carry on this relationship of respect. We work to be as equitable as we can with communities, and strive not to create conflict or the feeling of want. That is why we believe in giving them a hand up, not a hand out.

Frequently asked questions

Please DO NOT bring a hard suitcase if possible. Your clothes and equipment should ideally be packed in a hiking backpack or soft travel bag if possible. Essential Items to bring are:

• Sturdy, reusable water bottle • A camera (extra/reusable batteries and film/ memory card) • Adapter/Converter that covers India (if needed for charging camera batteries)

- Voltage in India is 240V (in North America it is normally 110V) - Plugs are the same as what you would use in the UK (3 prong rectangular)

Packing suggestions: • Sweater • Zip or pullover fleece• Raincoat (windbreaker) • A few tops/t-shirts that you can get dirty• Pair of comfortable jeans for evening supper • A few pairs of light pants that you can get dirty• Closed toe shoes for the day • Hat/Bandana and sunglasses for sun protection • Work gloves/Gardening gloves (optional, extras are provided) • Small backpack/bag for daily use in India • Hand wipes, or sanitizer • Sunscreen (minimum SPF 15, suggested 30) • Insect repellent with the highest content of DEET (30%) • Lip Balm with SPF

--------- Please pack additional toiletries as needed ------------

Packing for your trip

ENGLISH

Hi

How are you?

Good

I’m fine

Thank you

And you?

See you later

I really like it

My name is

Whats your name?

Sorry

I live in the US

HINDI

Namaste / Namastey

Aap kaisay heinh

Accha

Meinh teekh hu

Shookriya / Dhanyavaadh

Aur aap?

Phirr melain-gay

Mujay bahuth accha lagaa

Mera naam [insert name]

Aapka naam kya heinh

Maafh chaathi / shamaa

Meinh amrikan hu

Helpful phrases in Hindi

May 5th

Depart for India

May 7th

Arrive in Udaipur, India (fly via Delhi)

May 8thSightseeing in Udaipur

May 9th – 12th

Visiting the Lai communityFilmingParticipation in local activities

May 13th

Depart Udaipur (fly via Delhi)

May 14th

Arrive in United States

Travel dates for discussion

Itinerary for discussion

Itinerary for discussion

Itinerary for discussion

Itinerary for discussion

We’re looking forward to have you join us!