S.T.O.P. India Boulder
Currently, the Solstice Institute is supporting people in the Denver-Boulder area to gather and help raise funds and awareness for the STOP India NGO, based in New Delhi, India.
Please give what you can to this very important cause. Thank you for your support. All funds are bundled by Solstice and batch-wired to STOP India in new Delhi. This saves money on wire fees and simplifies everybody's accounting. Your paypal receipt is your proof of your tax deductible charitable gift. If you need more formal documentation of your gift, or wish to direct funds without the paypal fee, that is welcome, in which case you should contact Riitta Ojala-Lipman at: riittao(AT)yahoo.com. Gifts over $100 for special handling please. For the tax deduction in USA, this is your pathway.
Below you will find links to more information, websites, etc.
Please give what you can to this very important cause. Thank you for your support. All funds are bundled by Solstice and batch-wired to STOP India in new Delhi. This saves money on wire fees and simplifies everybody's accounting. Your paypal receipt is your proof of your tax deductible charitable gift. If you need more formal documentation of your gift, or wish to direct funds without the paypal fee, that is welcome, in which case you should contact Riitta Ojala-Lipman at: riittao(AT)yahoo.com. Gifts over $100 for special handling please. For the tax deduction in USA, this is your pathway.
Below you will find links to more information, websites, etc.
STOP India is a Ray of Hope
This short film clip includes an interview with Roma Debabrata, the founder and president of STOP India (Stop Trafficking & Oppression of Children & Women). Roma is the "mother" of approximately 60 daughters who live in her safe house in New Delhi, India. STOP India has reached thousands of children and women in anti-trafficking raids, rescue, and reintegration. STOP India also provides legal aid to the survivors, takes legal action against perpetrators, and provides community education to raise awareness and prevent human trafficking.
News
UPDATE
NOVEMBER 2016 After last year’s visit to STOP India, the Solstice Institute Board has been working on implementing the changes that were assessed as important for STOP India as an organization. Education has been the area where a lot of support and planning happened this year. In addition to supporting the studies of STOP India’s girls we are in the process of hiring a Education Director that can help to support rescued girls to find appropriate career paths as well as to work with prevention of sex slavery in the slums by providing education in the slums. Education is the most important tool to empower these girls and women. Finding a profession will help them to become more independent and to feel more sense of purpose. Also by pursuing education, either college or vocational training, these girls become role models for the younger girls. Showing that girls can succeed will also help change the community around them. This will support the belief that all girls can be educated, all girls can succeed, and all girls can be part of the work force. With the BoldeReach fundraising money we are supporting 8 girls to get college and vocational education. Those funds also support the Koshish catering training program and the tailoring program. Solstice Institute has also supported a three month computer training that was conducted at Aashray and in the STOP offices. In addition to all of the education work happening through STOP, the anti-trafficking work continues in the slums: self help and vigilant groups as well as school groups. Several health programs in two slums are ongoing. Also microloans are given to some women in the slums, often this is in the form of cooperative business ventures.
FUNDRAISING EVENT WITH BOLDEREACH
SEPTEMBER 12, 2015 This year Solstice Institute was fortunate to partner with BoldeReach, a Boulder based non-profit . We are very honored and grateful that BoldeReach chose STOP India as their beneficiary this year. We are thankful for BoldeReach for all their hard work, support and amazing, exceptional talents. September 12th, 2015 was a day of the big fundraising Gala. About 150 wonderful people participated. It was a great mixture of people from different circles coming together to support STOP India. The program included a welcome from BoldeReach president Carol Batrus, an invocation dance by Punya Ramesh, a STOP India documentary introduced by Riitta Ojala-Lipman from Solstice, Mudra dance studio dancers, direct fundraising events, and a special monologue performed by Tarika Cefkin, written by Reggie Richardson and inspired by STOP India girls’ stories. Everyone enjoyed tasty indian food provided by Sage and Savory Catering. The Indian Bazaar showcased beautiful indian crafts , some of which had been made by STOP India girls. It was a wonderful evening, people had fun and we raised over $69,000. All that money is going directly to STOP India in New Delhi to support training and education of STOP India girls. Thank you everyone for your support. 
FUNDRAISING EVENT 2014 About 200 people came to our fundraiser event "Dance for Freedom" on the evening of April 26, 2014, at Unity Church in Boulder, Colorado. We raised approximately $13,000 for STOP India! Additionally many people had the chance to meet and listen to Roma Debabrata who made a personal visit from Delhi. We also enjoyed a wonderful dance piece by Melissa Michaels and Namita Khanna Nariani. Also Mudra Dance Studio presented a wonderful dance performance, and inspired the audience to dance with them. 
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VISIT TO STOP INDIA 2015UPDATE: NOVEMBER 2015
Varadaan is in Delhi with colleague George Laws, conducting a needs assessment and trickling initial funds, in preparation for distributing funds from the BoldeReach Grant. Additionally, much work is being done with staff training, Ayurvedic treatments for staff, input into the exciting remodel of the new offices, work on organizational structure, and work with computer systems. We have been able to to meet with our German counterparts (AZAD), the wife of the Austrian Ambassador who has been providing tremendous volunteer support and help with the remodel project, and just last week, with the Denver based nonprofit Shadika, which is helping bring the girls' clothing production unit up to the next level. As of December, Varadaan will be joined by Secretary of the Board of Solstice, Eric Kloor, who will see what is happening in Delhi for the first time, and will no doubt be making substantial contributions here, given his expertise doing business in India. VISIT TO STOP INDIA 2013In August 2013, Solstice Institute President Varadaan Lipman and his wife (Solstice Board Member) Riitta Ojala-Lipman visited STOP India in New Delhi, India. Riitta stayed for 9 days and Varadaan for three weeks.
It was an opportunity to spend time with Roma Debabrata and her team to understand more fully all the different aspects that STOP India works with. Varadaan came originally to shoot video footage for STOP fundraising, but was able to extend the visit and do some work in the office helping with computers and organizational development. Varadaan and Riitta visited Aashray, the children’s home, where over 50 girls currently have their home. There was special time dancing and singing together, and Riitta facilitated some art therapy with the girls. The girls have a safe home, support, education and much love from Roma. Varadaan and Riitta visited STOP India’s two prevention programs in the slums of New Delhi. In Bawana slum, STOP has had a strong presence for a long time with medical services, educational activities and a women’s self help group. In this group, STOP workers support women to fight against oppression and violence that is so common there. Also, over 200 women are involved in income generating enterprise. Varadaan was able to catch a children’s theatrical performance about trafficking, in Hindi, and then voiceover with Roma in English- stay tuned, TV Bawana is coming soon! In another Delhi slum, Tughkalabad, STOP India is starting similar programs. Education, medical help and support groups are effective ways to build networks which can prevent trafficking. Varadaan gave Ayurvedic assessments and remedies for 55 people in six hours, during STOP’s first Free Ayurvedic Clinic – something that might become a regular event. Varadaan and Riitta also spent time at STOP office in Delhi, meeting all the team members of STOP. Varadaan help to set up a new Mac computer and a new laser printer/copier that Solstice donated, and trained staff. This computer will be directly supporting Roma and STOP with graphics, web development, etc. The most astonishing thing of all was to watch the tireless and passionate work of Roma Debabrata. With integrity and deep commitment she leads the organization. Roma works all the time to help her “daughters” and to save more girls from sex slavery. She states “If I hear about a young girl in a brothel I have to go there and get her out. If I don’t go right away, I might never find her again, she might be lost forever.” Her care and involvement is extraordinary, and touches everyone’s hearts. Even the police and government officials who she works with are impressed, and support this important work. |
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Here is the beautiful flier we used to promote our April event in 2014. . .
