Daily Archives: June 14, 2016

Daddy’s Girl: 9 My Father Illustrations on Father’s Day

Remember, they can take everything from you, except your knowledge,” Shabana Basij recollected her father’s words as she narrated her life and experiences as a woman in Afghanistan under the Taliban regime. Against all odds, Shabana used her father’s advice and got herself an education in the US and returned to Afghanistan to set up a school. That day, Debasmita Dasgupta was part of the audience at the TED talk where the world listened to Shabana’s powerful story. It reminded her of her father’s ironclad adherence to his ideals and his role in shaping her life. There must be many other fathers, in different corners of the world, who fearlessly stand for the rights of their daughters. Why aren’t enough people talking about these stories? There should be a way to showcase and share such untold stories because every positive story can create another. What can I do? she thought.

Debasmita went on to make an illustration of Shabana. She traced Shabana online and emailed her the illustration. Overwhelmed by this, Shabana shared her illustrated story with her students as well! What started as reaction to an inspiring story, in 2013, turned into an illustrated storybook of fathers and daughters all across the world – Myfatherillustrations

With over 150 stories from across 37 countries in the world, Debasmita emphasises the positive impact of a father-daughter relationship. In countries where girls are vulnerable to a patriarchal society, love, strength and mutual admiration between a father and daughter can change the world dramatically.

My Father Illustrations had partnered with us on an initiative titled Doodle with Dad, where fathers and daughters in communities, came together to create a part of their life stories. This Father’s Day, sit back and take a look at her beautifully illustrated stories and thank your father for being a source of inspiration in your life. 

If you have a father-daughter story to tell please write to Debasmita!

Little Dipa wanted to give up gymnastics because she was scared of falling down. However her father convinced her to continue. Today, at 22, Dipa Karmakar is the first female Indian gymnast ever to secure an Olympic berth. Her father, Dulal gives full credit to Dipa’s hardwork. But she knows, without her father this journey couldn’t be possible.

Daddy’s Girl: 9 My Father Illustrations on Father’s Day | Leher NGO in India | Child Rights Organization

A mother, a model, an actor and an entrepreneur…Tara Sharma Saluja plays every role with full integrity. Her father, Pratap Sharma, is an author and a playwright who unleashed the world of creativity in front of her eyes.

Daddy’s Girl: 9 My Father Illustrations on Father’s Day | Leher NGO in India | Child Rights Organization

Harmanpreet scored a 31-ball 46 against Australia in January 2016 that brought home a record victory for India. Growing up in a remote village in Punjab, she says, “We (girls) would often have to play on the corner pitches because the boys got the main pitches”. It is not easy to become a cricketer in India if you’re a woman. Many were against her. But one man who stood tall by her side was her father. He continues to be her lifeline.

Daddy’s Girl: 9 My Father Illustrations on Father’s Day | Leher NGO in India | Child Rights Organization

How many of us use our resources to help others? Well, Anuradha Koirala is one of them. She was born in a Gurung family. Her father was a Colonel in Indian Army. Despite all social ills & taboos that girls are not to be sent to school, she was fortunate. Because her father used to say, “My dowry to you is your education”. Today Anuradha is a Nepalese social activist & founder of Maiti Nepal, a non-profit dedicated to help survivors of sex trafficking. Between 1993-2011 they have rescued & rehabilitated more than 12,000 women & girls.

Daddy’s Girl: 9 My Father Illustrations on Father’s Day | Leher NGO in India | Child Rights Organization

I can make tea and I can fix a bulb. All because of my father. Growing up with him I learnt that my brother and I are equal. He is a man of strong principles with an open mind and a soft heart.”—Sampada Wagde is blessed to have a father like him.

Daddy’s Girl: 9 My Father Illustrations on Father’s Day | Leher NGO in India | Child Rights Organization

Reshma (name with held) was in her teens when she was trafficked from a village in West Bengal and sold in a brothel in Mumbai. Her father, Rezwan Kazi (name withheld) tried all his means to find her out and bring her back. Most of the time families don’t want to take back the survivors because of societal taboos. So when the Kolkata-based organization, Sanjog, approached me and shared this story, I was touched. Sanjog told me that Rezwan is also fighting the case for Reshma and he always says, “Reshma had a beautiful smile and I will stand by her until I see her smiling again.

Daddy’s Girl: 9 My Father Illustrations on Father’s Day | Leher NGO in India | Child Rights Organization

Vrinda is the daughter of Shekhar Javarikar, a farmer from Maharashtra. Shekhar has seen many hardships in life. But one thing that Vrinda learnt by heart seeing her father is that no success comes without hard work. She can see her father working day & night on the field, taking care of the seeds that grow into crops. Like her father she has learnt not to give up until she finds the light in darkness.

Daddy’s Girl: 9 My Father Illustrations on Father’s Day | Leher NGO in India | Child Rights Organization

Do you know Nungshi and Tashi Malik? They are the World’s First Twins atop Mt.Everest. They climb from peak to peak to fight for the rights of the Indian girl children. And they owe their passion for mountaineering and love for the country to their father, Col. Virender Singh Malik.

Daddy’s Girl: 9 My Father Illustrations on Father’s Day | Leher NGO in India | Child Rights Organization

This is the story of Pinki and her father. Today Pinki works as the Help Desk Officer with Educate Girls, a non-profit in India. Her father stood against all odds to give her education.

#everydayrefugees: life as a child refugee

Like we are seeing across the world almost every day, hoards of people leave their homes and native lands to escape human rights violations, conflict and extreme poverty. They come to be called refugees. Refugees take on perilous journeys, face hostility at borders, feel defeated and vulnerable without any support structures and fearful of what lies ahead. Their worries mount as they take their children along, away from home, into the life of a refugee. From living in makeshift homes, going to temporary schools, seeking access to the most basic rights of food and shelter, creating play spaces to lending a helping hand to make ends meet, children remain the most affected when families have no choice but to flee. Today, the refugees of Syria and Afghanistan struggle to seek asylum in neighbouring countries, as they flee conflict and war in the hope for a better life. Here’s a selection of moving images from everydayrefugees, an instagram feed that highlights the lives of children on the move, living each day with the hope to find a place they can call home.

 

LEAVING HOME WITH FAMILY

 

CROSSING BORDERS AND TAKING ON DANGEROUS JOURNEYS

 

SEEKING BASIC SAFETY AND PROTECTION

 

BUILDING FROM SCRATCH

 

 

STRUGGLING TO GET ACCESS TO THE MOST BASIC RIGHTS

Afghan refugee boys in a slum on the outskirts of Islamabad, Photo by @mmuheisen #everydayrefugees #muhammedmuheisen

A post shared by Everyday Refugees (@everydayrefugees) on

 

LEARNING IN MAKESHIFT SCHOOLS

 

 

CREATING SAFE PLAY SPACES

 

FINDING PLACES TO SLEEP

 

 

LENDING A HELPING HAND TO MAKE ENDS MEET

 

FINDING JOY IN SIMPLE THINGS

An Afghan refugee runs after a goat in an alley of a slum near Islamabad. Photo by @mmuheisen #everydayrefugees #muhammedmuheisen

A post shared by Everyday Refugees (@everydayrefugees) on

Afghan refugee girls play in a slum on the outskirts of Islamabad. Photo by @mmuheisen #everydayrefugees #muhammedmuheisen

A post shared by Everyday Refugees (@everydayrefugees) on

 

 

GROWING UP TOO YOUNG

 

 

LIVING WITH UNCERTAINTY AND FEAR OF THE FUTURE

 

AND FINALLY…MAKING A HOME AWAY FROM HOME