International day of the girl
You will have read about our GATHER FOR GIRLS campaign targeted to celebrate the International Day of the Girl (October 11) and to raise funds for PAWA.
Thank you for the enthusiasm and support shown to date.
We chose IDG for us to rally around because it is so aligned to our mission at PAWA. It is formally called International Day of the Girl Child to recognise that girls need particular rights protected: the right to play a full and equal part in their communities and societies, and that starts with the right to continue in education.
This year is the 11th anniversary of the IDG. There has been much progress over that time, but as we know from our own projects, the challenges of Covid 19, conflict and climate change mean that girls continue to get left behind. But we also know that teenage girls, given the opportunity, can be change makers in their communities, can lift their families and build a stronger future for all. We see this time and again in the projects we support; read below about how the work of Karuna Trust — where PAWA supports two projects in India, Nishtha and Nirman — has helped lift lives out of a cycle of despair.
So please give generously this week — donations received between 11th-18th October will be doubled through matched funding from the Big Give. £2500 raised during this time will translate into £5000 for PAWA and will help us renew our commitment to keep many more girls at school. Just £30 covers one girl at our projects for a year.
You can donate at
https://donate.biggive.org/campaign/a056900002RXsUgAAL to double the impact
Some of the commitments/events being planned to raise funds include:
Ticketed Dinners
Tea Parties hosted for a donation
Car boot sales
Book Club gatherings
18th October- an exclusive cocktail reception hosted by one of our Charter members
20th October: Piano Recital organised by The Japanese Women’s Association with Ticket sales donated to PAWA (details below)
One of our younger supporters, aged 9, has asked people to donate to the campaign in lieu of presents. We are thrilled and humbled by her gesture.
We’d love to know what you are planning so share it with us at bookings@pawa-london.org.
Thank you.
Clare Muhiudeen
Vice Chair of PAWA Trustees
PAWA Projects
The following reports have come to us from Karuna Trust
Nishtha Project:
A young woman in trouble was able to turn her life around due to the PAWA-supported Nishtha project in West Bengal and we wanted to share her story. Divya (not her real name) was a young aspiring student who hoped to continue her education and lead a successful life, but her studies were cut short by her father who considered her a burden and forced her as a young teenager to marry a man who was 16 years her senior. Divya was physically and mentally abused by her husband and his family who were disappointed when her first and subsequent babies were girls. She became very malnourished and contracted tuberculosis and was in and out of hospital, eventually attempting suicide. Fortunately she came to the notice of the Nishtha project and the women’s group gave Divya immediate care and protection. They arranged for her eldest daughters to go to school and supported Divya to start her own business, making food to sell. In a safe and nurturing environment for the first time for her and her daughters, Divya has flourished tremendously and is now an active group leader herself as seen in the photos.
Nirman Project:
This is our first year supporting a second project in India through the Karuna Trust, working with local partner Nirman with adolescent girls from Nomadic and Denotified Tribes (NT/DNT), selected by need and the desire to stay in education, from 11 hamlets in Maharasthra. These communities are among the most marginalised and vulnerable in India as caste and class discrimination and high levels of migration and landlessness mean that families are often unregistered with local authorities and unable to access entitlements.
Due to their intense marginalisation the Pardhi tribe have the worst educational and child marriage outcomes of all the communities Karuna Trust work with but in the development work for the project things have changed. Many parents are now supportive of children’s education and understand the dangers of girls marrying young. As a result, many parents donated towards the construction of a support school – a place where the children and adolescents can study, and where the project’s educational support classes take place in a safe and positive environment.
The Pardhi have been heavily stigmatised as ‘criminal’ since the Criminal Tribes Act 1871 with a very difficult relationship with the authorities. It was therefore a real landmark that at the official opening of the school (pictured below) a local police sub-inspector was invited and took part in an event in a Pardhi community.
Past Events
As part of City Giving Day, The Women in the Livery Section held a panel discussion at the Guildhall Club on September 26, hosted by MeiSim Lai, Founder and Chair, on “The Importance of Educating Teenage Girls”. The guests were treated to a welcome by Alderman Emma Edhem followed by an informative talk by Caroline Haines, Member of the Court of Common Council and Chair of the Education Board of the City of London, Dr. Yvonne A Byrne, OBE, Education Consultant and Former Headmistress of City of London Girls School, Dr. Mukdarut Bangpan, Associate Professor at Social Research Institution at UCL and Zehan Albakri, Founding Trustee of PAWA and President of FIWAL.
The event was well received with guests more aware of the many obstacles girls face on a daily basis just to get access to education. The panellists spoke about the difficulties but also provided examples of the positive work their organisations are doing to help disadvantaged girls succeed. The talk was followed by a lovely reception with drinks and canapés.
All money raised will go towards PAWA and 2023 British Red Cross Guildhall Christmas Market.
PAWA Partners
PAWA is grateful to The Japanese Women’s Association for supporting the Gather for Girls campaign by donating the proceeds of their charity concert on October 20. Featuring renowned pianist Yuki Negishi, this lunchtime concert at the lovely Lansdowne Club in Mayfair is a wonderful way to spend an afternoon and make a difference in a girl’s life.
Tickets £40 including wine
Please book by 13th Oct on
https://forms.gle/V8yQFAC5ePk1PxTz5
Yuki has already performed in over 600 concerts in the UK alone, including at many of the most important halls and festivals, and regularly performs in about 30 concerts a year around the world as a recitalist, concerto soloist and chamber musician.
Upcoming Events
Our Big Give Christmas Challenge week is coming up from the 29th of November to the 5th of December and includes a musical recital on November 30th. Details to follow.
The PAWA Arts Jam is also back during that week with a great lineup of talent. Date TBC