Udayan Care

Mission Appalled by the stark reality of 31 million orphans in India and shocked by the condition of institutions housing them, a few like- minded individuals got together to take serious action. This obsession was the seed which sprouted as Udayan Care, - which was registered in 1994, as a Public Charitable Trust. While our first initiative was the Udayan Ghar programme for orphaned and abandoned children, we gradually worked towards ensuring higher education for girls through the Udayan Shalini Fellowship. In 2004, Udayan Care also initiated an Outreach programme for children affected by HIV, as well as the Udayan Information and Technology Centres to improve employability of under-served ... read more Mission Appalled by the stark reality of 31 million orphans in India and shocked by the condition of institutions housing them, a few like- minded individuals got together to take serious action. This obsession was the seed which sprouted as Udayan Care, - which was registered in 1994, as a Public Charitable Trust. While our first initiative was the Udayan Ghar programme for orphaned and abandoned children, we gradually worked towards ensuring higher education for girls through the Udayan Shalini Fellowship. In 2004, Udayan Care also initiated an Outreach programme for children affected by HIV, as well as the Udayan Information and Technology Centres to improve employability of under-served communities. We began with a thorough research on existing models for children in need of care & protection and opportunities that existed for young girls, women and disadvantaged youth. What our research threw up was an eye-opener and a driving force for us to develop innovative models across all our initiatives. Needless to say, the journey had many hurdles but it is Udayan Care's dynamism that has sustained it and enabled us to expand our intervention. Our Vision: Making Young Lives Shine Our Mission: By engaging individuals, committed to human rights, under the framework of SDGs, Udayan Care enables nurturing homes for vulnerable children; empowers girls to aspire for and pursue higher education and gain employability; offers communities digital and vocational training to become self-reliant. Through research, training, conferences, and advocacy, Udayan Care influences policies and practices on the Standards of Alternative Care in the South Asian region. Our Theory of Change - India has about 20 million orphaned and abandoned children, who are denied their basic rights of growing up and developing in a family. Improving standards of care for such children in Alternative Care is a low priority in country planning. Gender discrimination prevents millions of girls from weaker sections of society to get an equal opportunity to continue their education, and technical, vocational and professional skills are lacking among disadvantaged communities to become economically self-reliant. By engaging individuals committed to rights of the disadvantaged, Udayan Care is able to provide nurturing homes to children in need care and protection; empower girls to aspire and pursue higher education; offer communities digital and vocational training to become self-reliant; through research, training and creating platforms through conferences, it generates the discourse on the standard for Alternative Care in South Asia region. Strategic Objectives in line with Mission and vision: 1. Provide protection and holistic growth to children in difficult circumstances. 2. Increase professional skills and employability of financially and socially disadvantaged communities. 3. Establish dynamic processes/models of Care and Protection. 4. Influence Policy Reform and decision making processes. 5. Promote Voluntarism to engage in Child Care and Development processes 6. Work towards inculcating a new world view and practice towards children in vulnerable situations 7. Develop a structured research and documentation process that can be shared with other stakeholders at national and international levels. 8. Organize adequate resources for all the programs, maintain the financial health of the organization and ensure that we work effectively as well as be cost effective. Vision 2020: 1. Set up and sustain 21 Udayan Ghars to reach out to 400 children for long-term care and support. 2. Aftercare: Sustain and develop further a very effective Aftercare programme and 'continuum of Care' for our children and youth. 3. Support 8500 Udayan Shalini Fellows in 19 chapters. 4. Develop and sustain 16 Information Technology and Skill Centres to enhance employability and knowledge under-served communities. 5. Acquire adequate number of Mentor Parents for Udayan Ghars and Mentors for Udayan Shalini Fellowships in keeping with expansion. 6. Involve more interns from prestigious universities and experienced corporate volunteers. 7. Set up a Resource Centre for training of Caregivers & roll out Advocacy Programmes on Child Rights, particularly for those in alternative care. 8. Promote the replication of Standard Operating Procedures derived from Udayan Care's best practices for sharing with other similar NGOs and for application across all Udayan Care programmes