Episode 87: The hard life of Devadasis and how we can show support with Mahima from Terre des Hommes

‘If I were to sit under a tree and tell you the sadness we have to suffer’, she said, ‘the leaves of that tree would fall like tears. (From the book Nine Lives)

In this episode Mahima Sashank from Terre des Hommes NL explains all about the life of Devadasis in India and her role and the role of Terre des Hommes to change the narrative and how to create a better world for those faced with the hard life of being a Devadasi.

“They are bold, they want to bring about change, they want their lives to change.” Mahima Sashank

DEVADASI means servant of God, but this term has been used for children who get into a system of sexual exploitation. Children as young as 12, 13 years old are told this is what they are supposed to do in the name of God and culture.

Terre des Hommes offers life skill training: A total of 16. Confidence building, resilience, communication skills, leadership training and more.

CHILDREN GOOD Project TdH is working to getting children out of the devadasi system in 5 districts in North Karanataka, 80 villages all together. TDH wants to empower the children. “We are just facilitators and we EMPOWER them!”

About Terre des Hommes:
A global organisation you can find all over the world.
They focus on:
ADVOCACY teaching children that and how to fight for themselves, train them how to speak and defend themselves through the lifeskill program.
SENSITISING the community and the community members about the hard life of devadasis. Change in community attitudes.
Training children as agents. Children solving village problems. Including them in problem solving for the communities.

SPREADING AWARENESS AND RAISING MONEY! Please donate to this cause and BE PART OF THE CHANGE! CONTRIBUTE TO THE SOLUTION!

“The devadasi system is not a cultural practice by any stretch of imagination, but a system of child rape, sexual slavery, caste discrimination and gender-based violence.” The New Humanitarian

SHOW NOTES
FUNDRAISER! PLEASE SHOW YOUR SUPPORT HERE:
https://secure.terredeshommes.nl/donation-goforyourlifepodcast

Report link
https://www.datocms-assets.com/22233/1676368257-children-good-phase-1-report.pdf
www.tdh.nl

BOOK: NINE LIVES by William Dalrymple THE DAUGHTERS OF YELLAMMA (chapter 3)
https://williamdalrymple.com/books/nine-lives-1

Also mentioned: Tribe of Lambs https://tribeoflambs.com/