Rehabilitation of 360 Trafficked Child Laborers

Bal Ashram children in the international film festival,14 November 2009 Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh – 10 Rescued bonded child labourers who are currently under going rehabilitation at Bal Ashram, Virat Nagar , would participated in 16th International Children’s Film Festival which was held in Hyderabad from November 14, 2009 .Creativity and personality development among children is the supreme importance of Children's Film Society of India. In their relentless effort to foster the same, the Society is organizing a film fest in the city from the 14th of November. Awards for the best will be given away to films screened at the fest in 8 categories. In the past, films that were recognized at forums and events of international importance gained good market when they were released into the market. Speaking on this joyful occasion, founder of the movement and recipient of recent Defender of Democracy award, Mr. Kailash satyarthi said, “It’s a matter of great pride and happiness for BBA family that Master Manan Ansari, a rescued child labourer from Bal Ashram has been selected as one of the jury members in the Children’s film festival. This is for the first time that any child has been included in the team that decides on the best cinematic works from an international platform.” The 14 year old Manan is jubilant with honor, rising from an obscure village in Jharkhand’s poverty Stricken Koderma, has also addressed the gathering at the International Labour Conference in Geneva, 2009. Manan recalled that, “Working in the mica mines was a tough work and inspite of that, the residents of my village cling to it tenaciously because that was their source of livelihood. I was fortunate enough to get rescued and reach to Bal Ashram and to get a new life. I am a different person today and I owe all my success to Bal Ashram”. Nandita Das, Chairperson, Children Film Society of India, who has been associated with BBA for many years now said, “I have worked with BBA on many occasions before and have been in constant touch with the children of Bal Ashram. I congratulateall the Bal Ashram children and Bachpan Bachao Andolan on this outstanding achievement”. The festival, which was jointly organised by the Andhra Pradesh Government and Children’s Film Society of India (CSFI), would be inaugurated by Chief Minister K Rosaiah at Lalita Kala Thoranam. Union Minister for Information & Broadcasting Ambika Soni was chief guest and other noted filmmakers, writers, poets, lyricist Gulzar were presented on the occasion among other prominent personalities. The movies would be screened at eight venues including Imax theatre in the twin cities of Hyderabad and Secunderabad.

From car cleaners to class toppers

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/From-car-cleaners-to-class-toppers-/articleshow/5253173.cms

Give us a chance! We will prove we are the best! (Kinshu Kumar, Former child labour)

25 children, mainly first generation school learners, aged between 8 and 15 years, under going rehabilitation in Bal Ashram, excelled in the annual examination of 2009, conducted by the Rajasthan State Board of Examination. Kinshu Kumar former child labour rescued by Bachpan Bachao Andolan in 2002 from Mirzapur, UP, stood first in the entire school in the third consecutive year, with a percentage of 90.6.

Sothana government school is the nearby school of Bal Ashram where the children of government officials, teachers, business people and other well established people are getting education. Bal Ashram Children also study in the same school. But the children of Bal Ashram present impressive results and thus proved their strong will to achieve education and a strapping determination to excel in academics.

Out of several students who achieved distinction, one of the students, Manan Ansari, who was rescued from mica mines, Kodarma, Jharkhand by Bachpan Bachao Andolan (BBA, in 2007 and brought to bal Ashram for rehabilitation) has scored 80.27% in 7th Standard Final Exams.

“First position in my class is my sweet revenge to the trafficker and my former employer who put me in the slavery and darkness” Manan Ansari.

Like Manan, there are students who, despite past circumstances, proved their spirit and will to excel in life, their names are as follows:

Student Name Class Percentage Rank/position Kinshu Kumar 8th 90.6 1st Amarlal 8th 84.22% 2nd Manan Ansari 7th 80.50% 1st Virendra Singh 6th 76.05% 2nd Sandeep Kumar 6th 75% 2nd Banti Kumar 8th 71.11% 4th Dhara Singh 9th 72% 3rd Kailash kumar 7th 72% 2nd Billu Kumar 5th 66.28% 1st Mukesh Kumar 5th 65.71% 2nd

Puran kumar Banjara, Omprakash Gurjjar, Suman kumar, Abdulsalam, Nittu kumar, Pradeepsen, Abdul Malik, Mo. Samsur, Rakesh Sada, Suresh Kumar, Rahul dube, Pradeep Mehata, Shankar Kumar, Bhupati Kumar, Vishal Kumar,

The Head master of the Sothana Public School said that Kinshu, Amarlal, Manan and all the Bal Ashram children did extremely well in the examination and the school is hoping that these children will perform better in the future. He also added that “we are very proud of these children and have increased the prestige of the school with their results and raised the bar higher”.

Bal Ashram Director Mrs. Sumedha Kailash appreciated all the above children with awards and gifts. During the award ceremony she said that “Bal Ashram is proud to have these children in the Ashram and I am confident enough that theses children will do much better in the future”. She also valued the efforts of Bal Ashram staff who helped the children to achieve such good result.

All the above children had a traumatic past and have a terrible story of humiliation, torture and bondage to share the world. The aura of Bal Ashram gives them back their childhood without a burden but with a lightness of freedom and this resulted a better academic performance.

Mini Olympics -2009

Bal Ashram Children recently went through an exercise to create the local version of the Olympics, the international and largest sports event -Mini Olympics in Bal Ashram as a part of the annual day celebrations.

65 children along with Bal Ashram staffs participated in the various sporting events. Bal Ashram children were alienated into four groups namely Red, White, Green & Orange and they themselves selected the captain and a vice-captain of their team. All the four houses participated in all the events.

Events

The events were started with the marching of the four various groups. There were 18 events organized for children at Bal Ashram. Some of the events as follow;

There were 18 events organized for children at Bal Ashram. Some of the events as follows: Marching, Sack Race, Tug of war, banana eating context, 50m sprint race, long jump, endurance Race, Cricket throw, Relay, Musical Chair and so on. Children participated with enthusiasm and energy. There was a new competitive spirit observed in them and all the children wanted their group to win.

Some of the children came with outstanding performances and shown their talents in endurance race, sprint, long jump etc. namely Bajrang in endurance race and 50m race, Puran, Billu, Samsur, Kinsu, Ajai.

Through this event children could experience the beauty of unity and team spirit. The division of children in to four groups generated we feeling in the group as well as the good understanding and effort among group members. This event also leads the children to have better understanding about the various sporting events and its rules and regulations.

The objectives of the events • To build up the competitive spirit and enthusiasm among children • Endow with an opportunities to each child and participation of all children in each event • To have better idea and understanding about various Olympic events • To provide the opportunity to team work and cohesiveness and effort among groups • To build up self confidence and courage among children and to know their talents. • To provide child friendly atmosphere among children • To increase the spirit of participation and homely environment.

The Ashram staff also participated in various events along with the children and which gave the children some sort of inspiration to participate in all events. Overall the entire event was very successful. The children showed their interests and enthusiasm and were very active and dynamic in all the events. At the end of the events the prizes were distributed on the basis of individual as well as group performances.

Future Activities

Annual Cultural Fest for all children, which would be organized in the month of June 2009.