Mokokchung, February 17 (MExN): In a society where education is seen as the benchmark of a successful person, the Naga society today sees a school dropout — especially a girl — as a total disappointment. Not so for the Women Department of the Ao Baptist Arogo Mungdang (ABAM) – Ao Baptist Church convention, which has taken on the noble task of imparting basic training of certain trades to dropout girls in the Ao areas, with the objective of making the dropout girls self-sufficient so they can lead a life of dignity.
Started last year in 2009, the Women department of ABAM have so far imparted basic training on tailoring, cutting and designing of clothes, cooking among others to 120 dropout girls from the different churches in the Ao villages. This year too, the Women department of ABAM has girls from 9 churches from two ranges in Mokokchung as the first batch and the girls are being given training on tailoring and cooking at Impur. The girls would be staying in Impur — the headquarters of ABAM — for three days and three nights learning basic skills by day and spiritual counseling during night and mornings. The ABAM is fully sponsoring food and lodgings of the girls while the respective village churches take care of the traveling expenses. Another batch of girls from 39 churches from two ranges of Mokokchung would be imparted training in the first week of April, 2009. Likewise, all the churches in the Ao areas would be covered in phases.
The secretary of the department, Temsula said that the girls are very enthusiastic learning. She expressed hope that they would be able to practice their trade in their villages or towns and earn their own livelihood. Asserting that dropping out of school is not the last option in a person’s life, Temsula asserted that though the girls might not have been able to study higher classes, yet they have an inherent talent in tailoring, cooking or cutting, which, if used properly, could ensure a decent livelihood.
The women promoter of WD-ABAM, Arenla Longkumer, while highlighting the importance of the training, said that the women department of ABAM is helping the girls in not only molding talent, but also helping them in their spiritual life through counseling. Besides, Arenla also asserted that giving the girls such training and counseling would help them to lead a life of dignity as they grow up. This is because most dropout girls are the most vulnerable to domestic violence, prostitution and various acts of crime. She disclosed that ABAM’s women department aims to reach out to helpless women at the grass root level. That way, the vulnerable sections of women can also live a life of dignity and escape exploitation.
However, the Women department is also facing some problems since it does not have a permanent shelter to house the girls or other equally vulnerable girls. Besides, it also has to manage the entire programme of imparting counseling and training to the girls from whatever fund it receives from the parent organization. However, secretary Temsula informed that the government’s Planning & Coordination department did provide some funds last year under the capacity-building programme initiated by the Nagaland government.
Nonetheless, Temsula confidently maintained that the women department would be initiating more programmes in the years to come with regards to girls’ welfare. She said that the current programme of imparting training to dropout girls is in the initial stage and that the women department is also learning a lot from past experiences. The department plans to bring about changes in its activities from the learning. Temsula also disclosed that the ABAM’s women department is planning to reach out to girls and women who have already fallen victims to domestic violence and prostitution, and rehabilitate them to a life of dignity.
Some of the girls who were being trained at Impur at present expressed their happiness at the women department of ABAM for organizing the initiative for them. One girl, Asenla, informed that she would start tailoring in her village once she gets back to her family.
Temsula informed that the Women department in association with the Watsu Mungdang (apex Ao women organization) would be organizing a programme in commemoration of International Women’s Day at Impur. The programme would be held under the theme “holistic Healing.” Dr Lanusashi Longkumer and Rev Awala will be the resource persons.
