Mumbai: Ameesha is brand ambassador for NGO run by beau Kanav's mom, supporting girl child

It's not just her beau Kanav Puri but his family, too, who has taken a shine to Ameesha Patel. The actress has tied up with Kanav's mother, Angeli Kapoor Puri's NGO The Angel Foundation and the Savera Social Welfare Society in New Delhi to organise street plays in aid of the girl child.

Godsend

Angeli Kapoor Puri says, "I am impressed with Ameesha and what she has done with her life. She's a successful actress and feels deeply for the cause of the girl child.

She's been working with the UNO against human trafficking for some time. It's great to have her as our brand ambassador.

Ameesha has a lovely heart. She has lived her life with dignity and on her own terms. She is a godsend for us."

Involved

Ameesha will be involved in spreading a message on the girl child through street plays. Says Ameesha, "From April 20, The Angel Foundation and Savera will be going to one of Delhi's biggest slums (next to the Akshardham temple) and stage street plays.

As I am The Angel Foundation's brand ambassador, I will be involved in the foundation's activities and will be present at all their charity events and fundraisers like going for the street plays once in a while, attending tea parties for the women in the slums, giving out Rs 5,000 for the girl child and generally creating awareness."

Independence first

Adds Angeli, "The foundation works for the upliftment of women and the girl child. For raising issues against female foeticide, we have tied up with the UNO office in New Delhi. Punjab has the worst case of female foeticide.

It's so bad that now they don't have girls of marriagable age, so they buy girls from Kerala and sell them to families.

And since these families are so poor that they can't afford to buy more than one girl per family, four brothers end up sharing one girl.

I believe that to lead a life of dignity and stop domestic abuse, we need to empower women through education. Women can't live with dignity unless they're financially independent."

Bolein unki boli

From April 20, Angeli will start staging street plays in the slums of Delhi. She says, "We will get mothers from the Anganwadi to act in these plays and send out strong messages for the girl child.

No one listens to lectures but through street theatre, they will get entertained and listen to the message. We will also host tea parties to attract them to come.

We will also inform everyone that every girl child born into a poor family gets Rs 5000 per month in their name and when they grow up, this amount becomes Rs 1 lakh. We want to send out the message that the girl child is not a burden but an asset."

Global fundraisers

TAF also plans to hold fund raising events in Monte Carlo and USA along with another NGO, for the foundation.

Says Angeli, "We are planning to host the Miss India World in London on October 3 and all the funds will go towards the foundation.

We will be having Indian girls from all over the world who have become successful in life talking about their success story."

Proud of 'mum'!

Ameesha says proudly, "Mum (Angeli) has a jewellery business called AngelLondon as she's a jewelry designer and whatever money she gets, she gives to the TAF.

Whatever money she makes she reinvests in the foundation to buy books etc for the girl child.

We have also tied up with a law firm where our lawyer will handle legal aspects, make women aware of their legal rights and represent their case for free. There will be a 24-hour helpline for abused women."

- Mid-Day