Provide a Safe Haven for Indian Children

Children are the future of a nation. For an emerging and developing country like India, development of underprivileged children holds the key to the progress of the nation itself.

The educational initiatives of Ashraya for underprivileged children include Crèche facilities “A safe haven for children”. This initiative was started with the objectives to provide the children from most vulnerable section of the society with basic care and safety, learning skills and academic progress, awareness about health and hygiene, and social skills.

Ashraya Crèche’s are blessings in disguise for the poor working population in our city. They act as support system for working mothers who are working as domestic helpers to earn daily wages to support their family financially and for better education for their children. Their mothers did not have an education but wish to educate their children to the best of their ability.

The crèche children come from below poverty line / migratory population, daily supplementary nutrition/mid day meal and evening snacks is given. They stay from 9 am to 4 pm, when their mothers are busy working without any worry, knowing that their children are in good and safe hands. The average attendance is 30-35 students per day, per creche. Regular assessment is done to know their learning capacity and further improvement. Regular Doctor visit is scheduled to evaluate children’s health.

The early years of a child's life are normally a period of maximum growth, maximum vulnerability and maximum dependence on adults. So in our crèches interventions like- care by a trained, nurturing, responsible adult, in a clean, secure and stimulating environment is provided for laying the foundations for health, learning capacities and personality.

The Ashraya crèches are functioning well- seven in all -  located at Avalahalli, Siddapura (Whitefield), Shivajinagar, Indiranagar,Banaswadi, Nelamangla and Yelhanka. We have regular staff and volunteers who help with the teaching and the extracurricular activities. The total number of children we reach through crèches is around 220.

This quarter has been a great quarter filled with fun and frolic. All the children were invited to Ashraya’s Head Office for their Annual New Year Celebration Party on 11th January 2013. The kids were excited and participated in most of the cultural activities.

 Ms. Sudha from Jumporee volunteered to set up bouncing castle for the kids. It was truly a memorable experience for most of the kids has they do not have access to such luxuries in their everyday life. A delicious lunch, chocolates and individual gifts for all was organized.  

A sports day was organized to cultivate a healthy spirit of competition among children, followed by which they also had a photo shoot session. Overall it was a memorable experience for all of us.

As the dawn of the new academic year is nearing, the older kids move on to formal schools to continue their education. So a parent-teacher meeting is organized to sensitize parents about the “Right to Education” and emphasis on the importance of continued education for their children.

Some of the feedback received is:

1. “After joining the school my child has learnt discipline, started to eat food by himself, studies by himself and is obedient. Appreciate the teachers for being so supportive. It is dream come true, generally we cannot afford to provide such facilities to our kids, in any other crèche it would cost all our earnings for the month.

2. “The teachers take care of our children like their own children. They provide very good education and healthy food.”

3. “All teachers here provide individual attention to kids to ensure that they learn and also build interest in continuing their studies”

What we have achieved is very little ….with the help of our donors. You too can support this wonderful cause and uplift a child in need today. So donate now and help us reach more less fortunate children this Academic Year.