Prevention of human trafficking through creation of awareness and mobilization of vigilance using theatre as a vehicle
Country: India
Organization: Contact Base, Kolkata, West Bengal, India
Innovation: This is an innovative strategy for prevention of trafficking through physically reaching out to build the awareness of largely uneducated & poor population segments through street theatre shows in local dialect and using local folk forms. Interactive theatre shows will create a public forum for discussion of sensitive issues which is otherwise not possible. Community capacity building workshops will be held to mobilize women and youth from vulnerable communities to take leadership in vigilance against trafficking thereby creating a safety net at the grassroots. Innovative non didactic approach using theatre in development methods will be used to awaken the potential and capacity of the participants through self- discovery.
 A theatre show engrosses direct attention of large audience. Depiction of local situation creates sense of identity and involvement. Messages are easily understood and retained.
Impact: It is a ground reality that vulnerability is increased by lack of information reach and ignorance. Reach of conventional media like newspaper, radio or television is very low because of barriers like illiteracy, geographical distance, lack of electricity and poverty. This strategy will actually address this gap by making people more aware of social, legal, human and workplace rights and they will be better able to see through the veneer of false promises made by the traffickers. The workshops will help in building an alert, responsible and responsive society and empower people with knowledge and skills to act against traffickers. Linkage of vulnerable population and local administration will also be strengthened through the program.
Tipping Point: Improved awareness will be a tipping point towards reducing vulnerability to trafficking. The participative approach will enable two way channels of communication between the vulnerable communities and administration. Incidents of community based action against trafficking, increased reporting of cases to authorities, improved knowledge of local push and pull factors will lead to better vigil and law enforcement and reducing this menacing crime. Contact Base has excellent local knowledge and linkages because of significant experience in social sector communication projects in 10,000+ villages in Eastern India. However funding support is needed to meet costs towards honorariums, payment to local theatre performers, logistics cost etc.
 Theatre based methodologies easily break shyness. Village women are playing a game which inculcates a sense of group feeling. This workshop was held with poor village women with whom self help groups had been formed but lack of group feeling and trust were becoming barriers to further development.
Replication: Replication is enabled by the strategy of empowering grass root resource groups through education on human, workplace, social and legal rights and skill development in effective community education and providing leadership. The peer groups trained in the workshop will be able to train groups of villagers in other Gram Panchayts. Cost of replication will also be low. Local theatre groups and folk performers trained in education through entertainment will be able to sustain the campaign. Replication in other states or regions may also be done through capacity development in community education and mobilization using the same model as culture works as a catalyst in improving social capital through building of trust, skills and linkages.
 Local women have been trained to mobilize slum dwellers to adopt hygienic habit through "Learning Conversation" sessions where role playing and story telling are used.
Sustainability: The suggested model is inherently sustainable as it is based on local manpower and organizations or institutions. Awareness and capacity development through inculcation of positive life skills and values will lead to participation in community based vigilance against trafficking. Strengthening of linkage with administration and other support providers will foster a safer environment. Local theatre groups and folk performers trained in education through entertainment will be able to sustain the campaign.This innovated model of overcoming barriers like illiteracy, ignorance, poverty, remoteness etc. and mobilizing community to improve their own situation has been successfully field tested by us in villages and urban slums.
 Street theatre helps to create a platform to promote dialogue on issues which are otherwise not openly discussed. Women in Kishanganj in Bihar are watching a play on HIV/AIDS.
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Position in the Human Trafficking Mosaic of Solutions:
- Factor: Vulnerability of High-Risk Populations
- Principle: Creating Value-Driven Communities
Contact Information:
Name: Ananya Bhattacharya - Project Manager
Organization: Contact Base, Kolkata, West Bengal, India
Mailing address: 58/114 Prince Anwar Shah Road, Mezzanine floor, Kolkata 700045
Country: India
Email: ananyabh@vsnl.net
Tel: +91-33-24178516
Fax: +91-33-24178518
Organization Size: Contact Base has a 1500 sq.ft office in Kolkata with a 60
member team including 12 employees, 5 consultants and 43
field coordinators. banglanatak.com is our implementation
partner.
 The workshops make participation fun. This is a workshop with slum dwellers to improve their communication skills. This game is being played to improve body language.
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