Rainbow Homes Response to Covid-19 Crisis and Lockdown
From mid-March 2020, the Rainbow Foundation of India took the decision to lock down each of their 54 homes across the country. While several government officials pressurized the Foundation and the staff of individual homes to return our children to their parents or guardians, the decision was taken to retain as many of our children within our homes, where they would receive better nutrition and care than they might if they had returned to their parents. Despite explaining the benefits of allowing their children to remain within the homes, some parents did choose to remove their children from the home in these worrying times.
Once the homes were placed under lock-down, the educational situation was affected in the following ways:
Therefore, in light of these constraints, the home education component during the lockdown has had to create alternative ways to engage our children so as to address their social, emotional, cognitive, and physical development requirements. Some of the initiatives are listed below:
These initiatives have been successful up until a certain point but several challenges and constraints remain.
There is a sustained effort being made by all the education teams to keep children engaged through this challenging time despite the constraints that must be worked around. It is an evolving process and slowly the focus is returning to every children’s academic, emotional and social development, as well as the nutritional and health needs which were the focus in the initial period of the lockdown. Your continued support will help us provide for the children to upkeep a balanced diet where food rations aren’t readily available, digital infrastructure – laptops, projector screens, and equipment to build live classrooms, teachers, and home staff salaries, our children other basic necessities.
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Dear friend of the Rainbows
We hope you're well and keeping safe.
While the world fights its worst pandemic to date, countries are combating it by going in a lockdown of people, businesses, shops, institutions, and livelihoods bringing the world to a standstill. But Child care is a service, which cannot be stopped, put on hold, or ignored. We at Rainbow Homes Program are doing every possible bit to ensure the children both young and older remain safe, protected, and cared for mentally and physically.
In this bit we share with you the new normal - adapting to the new routine wherein, we try to break that chain on the anxiety of being locked in and ensuring the quality education does not stop. We aimed at various innovative online virtual spaces of learning for young adults.
1. Life exposure and Life education - Josh - motivational videos were showcased. Live talks where people from various social, educational, career backgrounds shared their inspiring stories and journeys of facing struggle and overcoming the same. Key highlights out of the expert's life sessions were -
2. Personal grooming/personality enhancement/ Job readiness training - Live interactive sessions with videos were shared to help Young adults understand the various aspects of personality enhancement. Key takeaways -
3. Career guidance - Young adults took part in weekly webinars on various careers, first-hand information directly from the professionals on what it takes to make a career in a particular sector, the various options available, and the details of the involved options. Following careers options were discussed:
With further support from you and other patrons, we hope to start a digital literacy program to help reach the homes, where we are unable to provide for electronic gadgets and other necessary interventions to virtually conduct the sessions. One of the children undergoing these sessions exclaims " I absolutely loved the sessions, getting to know my favorite choreographer, learning his life tale made me realize they're in every way the same as me and my friends, and that it's alright to not feel happy all the time. With pressure and responsibility and a constant willingness to prove myself I too can fulfill my life's passions. " - Polomi
(All the names discussed above are changed to respect the privacy of the individuals)
#stopthespread #spreadkindness instead
Rainbow Homes Program
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The importance of education for street children cannot be overstated. It is a catalyst out of poverty and a path to independence. The education plan is, therefore, a central facet of the Rainbow Homes Program. It is unique in its holistic approach as it overcomes gaps in education, supports children with personal and psychological demands as well as catering to unique learning difficulties. As such, Rainbow Homes cater to the unique needs of every child, supporting them through the most important years of education to lead happy, healthy, fulfilled lives.
Last year, all 4120 Rainbow Home’s children were enrolled in age, grade-appropriate education. Children with a disability or learning difficultly were all provided with special interventions. This is an impressive achievement since 51% of our children had never enrolled in formal education prior to Rainbow Homes. Child-specific education plans and bridge courses taught by specialized teachers help our children begin their journey in education. Children then go on to access our vast support network that assists them through to completing their board exams. Last year, volunteers donated their time as role models and tutors, part-time teachers were appointed to offer remedial education support, in house Education Committees consisting of fellow children acted as stewards and confidants in times of need and finally, house mothers continued to create an environment of love and care that is vital for children when faced with the ups and downs of education.
We strive to make education more stimulating, exciting and effective. The following notable
initiatives were implemented last year:
1. The Delhi Rainbow Homes and Sneh Ghar has inducted dedicated, specialized English and
computer teachers. These teachers make use of the newly equipped computer lab and library to
ensure every child from 4th class is provided with basic computer and English skills. This has been
made possible with the help from institutes such as Inlingua, who provide child-centric English
lessons.
2. Bridge courses are central to the success of our education program. In this regard, homes in Patna
and Pune implemented training sessions with the help from Prayas in Patna and Sarva Shiksha
Abhiyan, MSCERT and Quest in Pune to teach participatory and interactive methods. These methods
have been actively implemented with noticeable increased participation and understanding from
children.
3. Hyderabad homes have implemented new education techniques with the help from Learning
Space. These new techniques promote equity and equal opportunities in the classroom through
democratic, secular values that incorporate inclusive, transparent and sustainable learning practices.
By engaging, the children in real-world issues children form a greater understanding and can relate to
the topics.
4. In an attempt to introduce more arts and crafts into our children’s lives, homes in Patna have received help from retired volunteers from renowned art institutes to teach children local crafts and art. Furthermore, every Sunday, children from all Patna homes are attending “Kilkari Bihar Baal Bhawan”, by the Dept. of Education, to take part in arts and crafts and various other activities. They are learning photography, skating, dance, singing and statue making among others.