Create a Safe Space for Children and Youth

A Training on Public Speaking and Mobile addiction was held in VGTK with 185 boys as participants on 19^th November 2022. 
Today’s children are born into the social media world. So they play an inevitable role in their day to day lives. To create awareness on safe internet navigation concepts of online safety and cyber-attacks and data protection were discussed through the medium of role plays, drama, songs and presentations.

The art of public speaking was also trained through games and engaging activities that dealt with good communicative and listening skills

 On 24^th and 25^th December 2022, a training on child participation and protection with 30 from seven organisations and 50 children was organized as a precursor to Balsena’s annual day event. The participants received better conceptual clarity in right to protection and child participation, life skills by being involved in many activities that includes song., stories and games.

A two-day training was held with field staff and children at ATAPI Seva Foundation on 25^th and 26^th February 2023. The first day was engagement with nine field staffs of ATAPI Seva Foundation on effective session transactions in the community. They were taught various games, science experiments, creative challenges that they could replicate in their project areas. They also reflected on their planning and achievement of activities , especially on the challenges they had to face.

The second day was complete engagement with 64 children. Formation of an association and indicators of a good and inclusive association and ways to ensure its functioning was discussed amongst the children. Later they reflected their own Balsena groups with the learnt indicators and deliberated on it.

Also activities on building the aspiration of children, like a Dream tree wasexecuted that enhanced children’s morale and confidence.

Staff training at Shaishav. Bhavnagar 

Shaishav staff was trained for activities that need to be executed during the Child Rights Week from 14^th to 10^th November 2022. A total of 20 staffs (12 women and 8 men ) were involved in this training.

This year Shaishav decided to celebrate the week on the theme of mobile addiction and overall impact of technology in one’s lives.

Under the expert guidance of Kaushal and Falgun, a drama was prepared and was practised among the staffs.

The drama was scripted by involving all the field observations from staff which made the skit more relevant. The general impact of technology and ways of safe and useful navigation without getting addicted to it was communicated through the play.  

A poster exhibition was prepared by Charts on the impact of technology and accidents while taking selfies with mobile phones. A documentary film was also screened and discussed to understand why we get addicted to mobile phones. 

This play was presented in 30 schools of Bhavnagar, 6 localities, as well as three children's homes of Bhavnagar.

20^th anniversary of Balsena

On 15^th December 2022, with around 1000 Balsena children, the 20^th anniversary of Balsena was celebrated at Shamaldas Arts College.  Balsena , which started by 2002 , now has its network in  21 areas and 16 schools of Bhavnagar. Around 20 adults representing other social sector also came as guests to these annual programmes.

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The event flagged off with a meaningful children's rally.  Shri Arvind Trivedi came as gust to the rally and delivered a inspiring keynote address. Various fun and entertaining activities were then organized for the children. 

A though provoking human library was held by involving 34 of the Balsena children’s history and experience. This also included their learnings and growth process.

A comprehensive training for the Shaishav team was organized two days preceding the annual convention. Meetings and trainings were organized at various stages for smooth functioning of the programme.

The Shaishav team was trained intensively on January 6^th for proper execution of one day leadership camps of Balsena children. The training mainly focused on inculcating better governance structure in a Children Collective. The basic pointers for a good team and factors that ensure team work were the themes in focus that was transacted through activities and games. These one-day training give children a platform to reflect on their existing team and matters to improve and change.

The movie ‘Chak De India’ was enjoyed by children and indeed gave them a perspective on teamwork and coordination.

Documentation  works

Action Based reaearch 

Shaishav always believes in action-based research. So Balsena in its 20^th anniversary shine is the right opportunity to analyse the impacts and experience since its inception.

For a span of six months, around 130 children filled out the questionnaire that detailed on impacts on personal life, family, social life and work. Both quantitative and qualitative aspects are considered for the study and the report will launch in the month of April.   

Annual Function of Balsena: 

Me and my Balsena was the theme for this year's annual event. Around 1200 children made a exhilarating but reflective report that included their impact stories, opinions, takeaways and sectors of change. The name ’Balsena’ was also discussed as an exercise for revision and updating.

Visit of Enakshi:

Shaishav on its 30^th year has decided to chronicle the events right from its inception to its present day  

Renowned Child rights activist and cofounder of HAQ, a leading Child rights organization is involved in this documentation process. She visited various of the Shaishav’s new and old project areas, old and new stakeholders, children, friends and staffs, This is intended to be a Shaishav’s journey text combined with storytelling structure of Enakshi. The document is expected to release by May 2023.

Visit Of Ashaben: 

Asha, a well-known storyteller from Gujarat, visited Shaishav and interacted with Balsena old and present children. She will be creating around 30 short stories in Gujarati based on her interaction with these children. Through these stories, Shaishav and Balsena will have an increased audience.

Documenting History and Process of Balsena: 

A story on Balsena, its origin and its present functioning is in making since November 2022. Data from interviews, quantitative tools, research studies and annual reports are used for drafting the same. Balsena is the pioneer in a sustainable model of children collective, especially involving the marginalized children. The report will document on the activities process, impacts, changes during these 20 years,

Creation of an Online Database

The process of making a database of children involved in various of the projects are in pipeline. The online version is made, but due to persistent internet connectivity issues in out project areas, creating an offline version is also necessary,

The TATA Volunteers are assisting in this regard, The data will be of demographic, school, household and village details.

Revision of TLMs

The Bharat and Gujarat Jodo map games were revised and updated by adding more information that would make geography more interesting to children.

Also, relevant updates were made in Organization and Life skills Gujarati manual.

CHILDLINE

Childline is the national emergency helpline that exists for 24/7. Being the implementing partner in Bhavnagar Shaishav always focus on improving the quality of outreach. During the last quarter, Childline covered 34.715 children (16519 boys and 18196 girls ) , 715 families by its 856 outreaching activities that consisted of Small outreach, Anganwadi center outreach, night outreach, open house, activities with children and other activities.

Through our awareness sessions at railway/ bus stations. Tuition centres, PHC, CHC we were able to reach out to 21,098 adults.

CPC Meetings

We focus on ensuring village to be child friendly. So, we focus more on strengthening the Child protection Committee meetings. So, a total of 100 CPC meetings were organized where 874 adults were engaged with. During these CPC meetings, child protection, online safety, child rights, Family care, Community responsiveness, Children health, Govt schemes for children of single parent/ both parents expired, disability, Parents attitude to children were the discussing points.

During November, Child Right Week was celebrated and around 10000 children, around 500 elders were engaged with in these activities. In addition to distribution of pamphlets street play on use and misuse of social media, technology , Bal melas at schools and college .A total of 30 schools , 3 children’s home, Shishu vihar, Tapibhai vikas ( girls hostel) were covered in these intensive program.

During these CPC meetings, cases of children in need of care comes up and the children are referred to shelter homes after due procedure. This was how Yagnik, Anjali and Vigyan was given accommodation at shelter homes, as there kids of single parents. Also Sheetal was addicted to social media and she was also given counselling on the use of social media.

Raghu (name changed) of 13 years was working in the stone factory. His matter came to a discussion in one of the CPC meetings. He studied till 8^th and was unable to continue his education. His parents were also ignorant on this matter. The school was also reluctant to join him in mid school. Later the ChildLine team consulted and advocated on his case with the DEO. After much deliberation the schools were ready to give him admission and at present Raghu attend schools.

The topics of menstruation, physical and mental changes during puberty, changes in shelter home policies, mood swings, dreams and aspirations are also discussed in detail with children and parents alike. Because when parents are sensitized on these matters, then they would make an conducive environment for holistic development of children.

Child Line:

Childline is a national emergency response Helpline for children who are in need of care and protection. It is run by Ministry of women and child welfare. It is run 24*7, 365 days. 

A 12 years old child’s parents had separated due to domestic violence on the mother. The father, kept the child with him and did not allow the mother to meet with her child. He was physically and emotionally abusive towards the child as well. The child did not want to stay with the father, so he called mother after borrowing someone’s phone on the street outside his school. He went to sit outside the police station. The police contacted Childline team. The childline team called both the parents to the police station, but after much discussion the parents couldn’t reach to a decision, so childline team put the child in a temporary shelter and presented the case to District Child Welfare Committee, who couldn’t reach to consensus among them and transferred the case to Family Court. Finally, family court ruled and gave the custody of the child to the mother. During this entire process, the childline team supported the child and did his counseling too. Now, the child is very happy and safe living with the mother. 

A 16 years old girl from Mumbai had run away from home after befriending a guy on Instagram. He called her to Bhavnagar saying that he has looked for a house for them here, so she told home that she was going to college and came to Bhavnagar by train from Mumbai. On the railway station, a police officer found her as she noticed the girl sitting in the railway station from few hours. The police officer called childline team and asked for their help. The childline team member went and spoke to the girl who revealed that she had run away from the home and was waiting for this guy who she met on Instagram. She also said that her parents have been divorced and both have partial custody of her so she has to go and live in both her parents’ houses every few days, and as they are still fighting with each other, they use her for their fight. She shared all these stories with the guy as well, and he suggested that they live together, so she ran away. She was temporarily put in a shelter home and her mother was called to Bhavnagar. The case was presented to District Child Welfare Committee and meanwhile through support and counseling of childline the girl agreed to go back to live with her mother. Her mother was also given counselling and she agreed to create better living environment for her daughter.

These two are not the only stories, over last four months, childline has helped around 100 children link to government schemes, provided counselling, found missing children and rehabilitated them with their families where possible, helped children affected by addiction, rescued child labours, helped children going through abuses, and many more things through their cases.

Through different outreach programs in communities, aaganwadis, schools, police stations, civil society organizations, factories, public places, etc. our team reached 12,489 boys and 13465 girls and 5973 men and 6576 women, reaching 38,501 people and spreading awareness about childline in last four months. They were made aware of childline’s work and services and there were also discussions, especially with the children about issues they are facing and how childline can support them.

We have created Child Protection committees in each area where Balsena- children’s collective works. These committees consist of leaders among children, leaders of communities, parents, youth, etc. During past four months, childline team conducted 81 meetings with 889children and adults. The committee discussed about several issues that children of their area are facing, and also registered cases in childline to solve them. They were also made aware about child right to protection, and about how to stay safe online, protection against abuses and discrimination based on gender, religion and caste, and they were taught practical tool of six alerts to teach children to be safe. Parents were also made aware about various government schemes related to children that they can avail or tell others in their communities about.

SETU:

SETU means the Bridge. It’s our Child Rights Resource and Training Center. In 2008, Shaishav underwent an intensive impact assessment review. The reviewer strongly recommended that Shaishav has done several path-breaking innovations and these must be scaled up or expanded. We didn’t want to expand geographically but rather set up such a center and share our learning with other organizations. 

In SETU, we collect, adapt, and prepare the resource materials for and related children. We also provide participatory training to children and adults related to child rights, life skills, and other such subjects. We document our learning and share it with other organizations which might find it useful. From time to time, we conduct Action Research on child rights-related issues. 

We also actively participate in state, national and international level networking and advocate for more child-friendly policies. Thus SETU is the backbone of all our grassroots programs and we are also sharing our learning with other organizations working with children and young people. This way we are contributing to strengthening the child rights movement.

Training with MAVA Volunteers:

Men Against Violence and Abuse - MAVA has pioneered efforts in India to engage Boys and Men to address issues of gender inequality and discrimination and help stop and prevent gender-based violence against women. They worked in tribal areas of Central and Eastern Gujarat.

Training on effective communication and coming out of our own comfort zone and conditioning while facilitating was conducted by the SETU team on 22-23 August 2022 in collaboration with MAVA, Gujarat.

There was a different kind of Tools used during this training like role play, group work, PPT on effective communication, and good facilitation with local volunteers working with adolescents on masculinity, patriarchy, and gender. Young participants expressed their views openly through various games and activities.

Training and Children collective Formation at ATAPI Sewa Foundation:

Two Trainings wer eorganized during past four months in Aatapi Sewa Foundation, one with children and one with their facilitators. 

ATAPI Sewa Foundation and Shaishav organized training on 20^th-21^st August on How to create children's collective and leadership training with children. ATAPI Foundation is doing children's activities in the 11 villages of Jambusar taluka. Shaishav is working with them for the last five years.  

In this training 33 children and 6 Teachers/Workers from different villages participated. We started with an introduction with fun and creative activities to build rapport with children. We gradually moved to the activities on what is the importance of groups or collectives, what are the qualities of a good leader.

Children identified their needs and listed out the tasks which should be done at the village level as well as organization and children’s collective. At the end of the training, the President and Vice President of their children’s collective were elected.

Training of facilitators who work with children of Atapi Seva Foundation was conducted on October 14 and 15 at Gajera in Bharuch Distract by the Shaishav SETU Team. First, we evaluated the process of the last few years and also share feedback about the last training camp. There was a special talk about the purposes of various activities they do with children (why we do the activities). Apart from that, there was a detailed discussion about the process of the children's collective. We help them to understand the different purpose of the activities and how to share it with children. The facilitators presented their experiences with the activities done so far with Atapi Seva Foundation. The facilitators again discussed the activities which were difficult to perform. In which child rights, physical science, etc. were explained again. Activists also presented questions they encountered during their fieldwork. Issues like the quality of education of children, the demand for things by parents, etc. were discussed in detail. 9 facilitators participated in the training.

Activities with Tribal Children at Junapani:

The children's hostel run by Gramya Samiti and Aadhar Trust in Junapani village near Dahod, the Shaishva SETU team conducted various activities there. Dahod Is one of the aspirational districts of Gujarat. The highest migration of human labor in Gujarat. So, the parents are migrating for work. So, the children are living with their grandparents or they have to migrate with their family.  One of our friends with help of local community members started residential facilities for children. So that children can get proper and regular education.

We planned activities that help us to understand what children like to do or want to do. So we did different types of crafts, painting, and acting songs with more than 40 children from classes 1 to 5. 

Children in the village also took out a rally with the slogan of Right to Education. So, the village community also knows about the work and other children and parents also motivate to join this process.

The children enjoyed doing new activities. They have not done it before.

Along with this, a committee of elder children was formed, so that the children living in the hostel can also learn the impotence of taking up responsibility and doing work like helping younger children in their studies, doing some clean work to maintain their residential facility clean, helping in serving food, etc.

Training of Trainers for Adolescent Protection and Empowerment

Participants: 23 Women and 9 Men Total: 32.

Date: 12 to 17 September 2022

Shaishav is working with adolescent children and young adults for almost twenty years. Over the last few years, we organized adolescent TOT with different themes to gender equality, right to protection, and the importance of empowerment during this age. By organizing TOT, we wanted to share our knowledge as well as learn about new trends and skills.

In this TOT 13 Different organizations from across the country participated. This being a national TOT pushed us to become better facilitators in non-native languages as well as the sessions and materials were needed to be prepared in English and Hindi.

We include some topics from our self-defence training and activities like how to make your boundaries and respect others, how to say NO, how to take safe decisions, Body Image, bystanders, how to identify fake news, Online Safety, Child rights and Child protection institutions, Healthy Friendship, Love and Romantic Relationships, Conflict with Family, and Violence in intimate relationships and counselling with children is one of the most interesting topics for participants. We invited Neetaben who is the counsellor in the government setup counselling centre. She shared her experiences as well as different technics to do counselling Children.

These topics were related to understanding one’s own self, helping to use their strength best possible way, and overcome from their weaknesses. 

We used different kinds of tools and methods to deliver these topics like Different kinds of Role play-also prepared by participants, PPT, Feature films, Documentary films, Debate, Open Discussion, and Group Discussion.

Pre-test and Post-Test:  We did a pre-test when participants join the training before the training started and we also did a post-test after the training. The result shows that after the training the participants have greater knowledge about what is adolescent age, different types of harassment, how and where one can find help, etc. Before training some of them do not even know the adolescent age. Some participants have also shared that they are working with adolescents for many years but some of the topics and activities were new for them and they learned new methods to deliver the same topic.

Field Exposure: Practical Field exposure was also included with the training. All participants are given time to prepare themselves to interact with adolescent boys-girls on the Second last day of the training. More than four Group has been formed. They selected topics from this training and they practiced with each other. All participants were given a manual for activities or topics. In each group, there were two observers, who observed their process and write feedback. After this field exposure, we did share the feedback with each other. All participants had a very positive approach to feedback.

By the end of the training, we all felt like one big happy family, some participant even cried with the thought of going back home.

Feedback from Participants:

• We also went into our childhood-adolescent days. The section on Counselling with children helps the most.
• Longest training participated. learn some skills, reinforced some practices also chance apply them in the field while training.  Activities and processes are developed in children friendly manner.
• Able to reinforce that training is important to learn new techniques.
• Interpersonal learning is also possible because participants are from the same field. Deeply learn about topics with fun.
• Practical field experience is very helpful to know more about how to work with the community.
• We learn how to behave with children not only in the field or while working with the community but also with children in our family.
• Every day in training came with some new activities and new learnings.
• Love and Attraction, Self-love, how to make friends, Childe protection, and real and Scientific name of sexual organs were new topics for learning and practice.
• Training has also helped us with self-visualization and self-reflection, how to deal with real-life issues at a personal level.
• Personal connection developed during training. Learn that we should work to become strong and sensitive at the same time.

Games for Peace and Non-Violence (Maitrini Ramato):

Participants: 04 Women and 22 Men Total: 26.

Date: 2-3 April 2022

Vishvagram at Mahesana North of Gujarat organized this training. The participants are mostly working with Children and Youth. Some of Them were also going to Jammu and Kashmir during summer vacation. This training would help children to express their feelings and connect with each other. So, that is why this training was especially important. All participated with great energy and enthusiasm. We started with different Ice breaking activities for introduction and Acting songs. This helped them to know each other and make them feel to share their ideas freely. We also facilitated games which facilitated discussion, on different topics such as communication, team building, problem solving, etc.

The participants learnt the importance of Communication, Continuous consciousness, what are the challenges they are facing while working together and how their prejudice-conditioning affect their behaviour. They also learnt what qualities help us to work together and to act non-violently in our daily lives. Our games are without any competition, Win or lose. But if the person is ‘Out,’ she/he will take lead in the game.

Last day, the feedback session participant said that some of the games we have played for many years but do not know that we can relate it with non-violence. They also said that some minor changes in regular playing games change into games of peace and cooperation. Participants also reflect that they must unlearn many things because they felt that in one game we discuss cooperation, playing to gather without any competition, but after some games, they do the same things which they think not to repeat after earlier games.

Vacation Camp Training for Trainers:

Participants: 22 Women and 07 Men Total: 29.

Date: 26-29 April 2022

Vacation is an especially valuable time for children as well as for us who work with children. During these time children have more time for learning and doing things without any pressure or exams. So, we planned a special training for Trainers.

Science in home & kitchen, Science Experiment, Human Body Models, scientific toys, Geography models, Environment awareness Activity, how to tell the story and diverse types of stories for different age groups, Paper craft, and making artefacts from available materials in the surrounding environment. One most important training was how to do Participatory Rural Appraisal with the children. Participants found it remarkably interesting, and they have done it in various places during the Vacation.

Participants have learned new Activities and Games, not only that they have learned new ways to investigate things and Surroundings. For Example, one participant shared that we regularly do kitchen work but do not know how to relate science in it. Another person said that many games do not require any equipment or tool, so this we can use in the field even if we went there without any preparation. Some participants have shared their experiences and Activities, this way they developed collective learning, and These also helped to do realistic planning of on field activities.

Activities at Khadaki with Tribal Children:

Participants: Adults: 01 Women and 03 Men Total: 04.

Children: 38 Girls and 40 Girls Total: 78.

Date: 30 April and 1-2 May 2022

Khadaki is a very interior tribal area of Valsad District. It has very less connectivity because village is at Gujarat-Maharashtra Border. The children are coming from local tribe. The organization there is running residential facility for these students.

We organized this Training cum activities with children so that children can feel free to share their feelings and emotions, they are living far from their family, so these kind of activities make them happy and create friendly environment there. These would also help children to express their creativity. Play for peace activities-gamesstrengthen their interpersonal relationships and learn different values with fun and corporations.

The children work collectively, most of the time elder students helped younger ones in their work. They also loved to play together in different games. Children love to learn new things, and have good observation skills.

The local teachers learned various paper craft activities, new stories, and games. They also invited us to go there after two months when the new academic year starts. They enjoyed participating in activities with the children.

Leadership Camp with Balsena Children:

Participants: Children: 33 Girls and 49 Girls Total: 82.

Date: 4 to 6 May 2022

Every year we organize leadership camps with our Balsena children. This year during vacation we organized one camp at Maidhar, Bhavnagar. More than eighty students participated in this camp, along with some volunteers from the community. This year the theme of the camp was to develop leadership among children. We planned activities and games which help them to understand importance of working together. Children identified the qualities of great leader, and what are the criteria to help us to identify a good leader. Children also learnt brief History of child rights and different child rights. Children also made annual plan for different samitis(groups). Children have formed seven samitis Like Education, health, Environment, Security, Management etc. at team level.. They have planned activities for whole year for these samitis. Children also figured out that what are the challenges they are facing from planning to implementation level. They try to point out these things and planned accordingly for the upcoming year.

One night we also did sky gazing with help of two experts who helped children learn about stars, planets and different constellations. Our host organization is doing various community activities with children. There are different type of Science and Maths Laboratories at their camps. So, children spent some time with them and learnt may experiments and principles by doing experiments by themselves. The director of that organization is very much involved in child education and is an experienced trainer. She did various action songs with children. Many of them are very new and interesting to learn for our team also.

Other camp activities helped them to develop new relationship among them, making new friends and helping each other in daily routine also. Some children and Balsena leader took active role in different type of process during camp like maintain discipline, coordination seasons, initiatives in Group process, helping other to express their and helping young children.

Children enjoyed their leadership camp with full enthusiasm.

Gujarat Bal Manch:

Participants: Adults: 13 Women and 13 Men Total: 26.

Children: 26 Girls and 27 Girls Total: 53.

Date: 16 to 20 May 2022

Gujarat Bal Manch is initiative run by Child Rights Collectives of Gujarat (CRCG). Gujarat Bal Manch is a federation of children collectives across Gujarat. Thanks to the effort of Shaishav through CRCG, there are now 17 children’s collective across Gujarat. Much of background work is done by Shaishav team like contacting different organization, planning of activities during camp and educational tour after camp.

In the past, we used to organize 3 camps of Gujarat Bal Manch, but due to covid-19 we couldn’t organize it for last couple of years. This year the camp was organized in the month of May at Ahmedabad. Children and team members from more than 11 different organization participated in this camp.

This year the theme of Gujarat Bal Manch was learning child rights and strengthening children’s collectives, getting to know each other and making friends with children from different gender, caste, religion etc. Difference between wants and needs, what is the rights, right to life, right to Participation, right to Development, right to Protection against Child Labour etc. were discussed in Bal Manch. Falgunbhai pointed out the importance of Children’s collective. Children identified qualities of a good leader and good collectives by doing group activities. So, they can go back to their organization and initiate the process to form child collective or strengthen the existing ones.

The trainers have used Stories, Games, and group Activities to discuss these serious topics with children. So, they can participate actively in process and enjoy the process.

Adolescent Training for Trainers:

Participants: 18 Women and 10 Men Total: 28.

Date: 9 to 14 May 2022

Nine Different organizations participated in this training. Training Started with Introduction and Ice breaking activities. We also formed families for doing regular work, check ins etc. The training started by understanding adolescent age and the changes that occur during this age.

Every day in the morning we did check-in activities which help participants to be present, Revision of last day, Prayer and Reading-Related to adolescent age. We also did some games and songs in the afternoon that were cooperatives. We included some topics from our self-defence training topics and activities like How to Make your boundaries and respect others, how to say NO, how to take safe decisions, Body Image, bystanders, etc. These topics were related to understanding one’s own self, helping to use their strength best possible way, and overcome from their weaknesses. How to identify Fake News, Online Safety, Child rights and Child protection institutions, etc. These are some of the topics which we include new in this Training. Some topics are not directly seeming to be adolescent TOT topics. But because of Technology and Smartphone, Media literacy, fake news, and online safety is very much useful during this age and very much relevant in coming times. We developed various materials related to this topic, collected some short films, and developed various age-appropriate activities on This Topic. We also screened one web series Men’s World and one film The Great Indian Kitchen. Both are addressing gender dynamics in Indian society. Some participants took part in the screening very actively and also did discussion based on that.

We used different kinds of tools and methods to deliver these topics like Different kinds of Role play-also prepared by participants, PPT, Feature films, Documentary films, Debate, Open Discussion, and Group Discussion.

Field Exposer: As this was training of trainers’ practical field exposer was also included with the training. All participants are given time to prepare themselves to interact with adolescent boys-girls on the second last day of the training. More than four Group has been formed. They selected topics from recent training and they first prepared and practiced among each other. All participants were given a manual for activity or topics. In each group, there were two observers, who observed their process and wrote feedback. After this Field exposure, we did share the feedback with each other. All participants had a positive approach to feedback, where they learnt how to deliver these topics more effectively and also learnt tips about it.

After the End of the training, everyone felt like a big new family. Some even got emotional and cried for having to leave the trainings on the last day.

Wenlido Training of Trainers:

Date: 23/5/2022- 9/6/2022

Participants: 16 Women

Wenlido is a personal safety tool for self-defence, especially designed for women and girls and is facilitated by women. We have been in process of training of trainers from past one and half year, but due to covid-19, we had to postpone the process.

Finally, last May, we were able to finish this process with the TOT. 16 women from all over the country participated in this TOT, 4 of them were from Shaishav as well. They learnt different age appropriate modules of the training of girls, wrote notes on how to give the trainings, practiced among themselves and got the feedback from the trainers as well. Incorporating that feedback, they gave trainings to the girls as well in front of the trainers, and got final feedback on that.

It was quite an intense TOT, we used to start at 6:45 am and finish at 10:00 pm. But, we were very happy that 4 of our Balsena and child line participants got ready as apprentices and 2 of our certified trainers can now co-facilitate for advance level process and TOT process.

Visit of Gujarat Vidyapeeth: Mahatma Gandhi established Gujarat Vidyapeeth. It is the premier institute of Nayi Talim (Gandhian Philosophy of Education). The children visited Tribal Museum where they learnt about Gujarat’s tribal culture and their practices. They Visited Morarji Desai Memorial Museum and Vidyapeeth Library. This visit helped the children to understand rich Socio-cultural heritage of Gujarat and get some information on some historic personality.

Leaflet Distribution in Community: During the camp, children and facilitators from different organization also planned to do leaflet distribution on child helpline: 1098 in community for awareness. They also identified some child labour in community nearby. Children have also observed that people who are less educate pays more attention to them rather than the Educated. Some shop keepers and community members also appreciated children’s work.

Visit to Vikram Sarabhai Community Science centre:     

Children visited science centre at the last day of the camp. Science Centre is very well-known place for children to learn about science by doing practical experiments and maths Activities. Children get information about centre’s activities and saw experiments and experienced different activities and models.

We are looking forward to hosting another camp in near future to take the process further.

Interaction with Nanny (Aya) Sisters:

Participants: 60 Women and Total: 60.

Date: 16 May and 20 May 2022

Miracle Foundation and UNISEF organized one day trainings with Anganwadi Ayas. Falgunbhai and Alpeshbhai were invited to interact with them. First, they played a couple of simple game with them, so they feel comfortable and feel free to share openly. We discussed about how to work with children in early ages and what are the challenges they are facing what they could do for it. Total sixty women participated in these trainings.

Need Assessment at Atul Valsad:

Date: 12-13 April 2022

Atul is old industrial region in south of Gujarat near Valsad. They also invited us for do activities with their children, Pre-school helpers and teachers. We visited their different schools and different staff members who are working with children or teaching them, we planned their need-based activities. (Mostly on How to form children’s collective at School level)

Meeting with Ashramshala Sanchalak:

Date: 14 April 2022

We met with Bhikhubhai Vyas and Kokilaben at Vedachi. They are running various Ashramshalas in very interior tribal area of south of Gujarat. Training with their team and teachers help us to reach more children, who are vulnerable and get less opportunities to get exposure with these kind of learning methods. We have planned for future intervention at their Ashramshalas.

Interaction-Field visit with Gayatri & Lalon:

Date: 15 to 18 April 2022

We continuously develop and update our TLM and other resource material as need of children evolve with time. We started one interaction cum initiative to develop new activities-games for child rights and child protection. Gayatriben whi is a professor at National institute of Design and Lalonbhai has also developed various activities for children, visited our Aaranyak, project at Narmada. They met with children on field and facilitated activities with them for understanding the socio-cultural life of community and needs of children. They also interacted with Shaishav team and where the team shared their experience collaborating with community and children. We also shared our gams and various resource materials. This year we also plan their visit at Bhavangar. Then we will plan to develop some new activites-games or material together.

Child labour consultation at Delhi

Participants: 1 Woman and 1 Man Total: 2.

Children: 1 Girl and 1 boys Total: 2.

Date: 10 to 12 June 2022

Jai( name changed) and Riddhi (name changed) were selected as the representatives of Gujarat in the anti-child labor program organized by CACL. These children are associated with the Balsena and are studying and working at the same time due to situation at home. As many as 18 states participated in the event. These children got a stage by CACL to speak for themselves. The children were distributed in different groups. About 40 children were grouped into 5 groups. Drama, song, dance, writing, etc. activities were done so that the children could share their experiences. The children presented their works and ideas in the press conference.

The children of the Balsena also presented their own ideas. There was a beautiful presentation of the work. There was a National Consultation for The Children, in which the children expressed their situation and their own difficulties in front of a panel of experts. The panel was attended by people from the field of education to the court judges. They listened to the ideas of the children, they also discussed the solutions to overcome the difficulties. The fact that the menace of child labor is not limited to any one state is an incomprehensible aspect touching every state of India. The children of Balsena talked about why they have to work an d what possible solutions are needed so they don’t have to work.

In this whole discussion, education, its virtue and its merits was brought as one of the center point. Issues like the mindset of the society also came up a lot. Children became friends with children from other states. They had come to understand each other without any discrimination, there was an atmosphere beyond the discrimination of language, caste, caste, and creed. In which every child was suffering from child labor and had similar struggle.

CRTRC:

Many new learnings were shared and learnt during past four months through our Child Rights Training and Resource Centre.

Women Safety Workshops:

On 18^th November, our founder director Parulben gave training on women’s safety and sexual harassment at workplace to 80 officers from District Collector Office, Bhavnagar.

On 27^th and 28^th December, we organized Wenlido Training – a personal safety training for self-defense. 26 women from Shaishav and other organizations participated in this training.

Currently, we are in process of training more trainers on Wenlido, who can give this training to other women or girls. Two of our team members cofacilitated this advance level workshop in Udaipur, Rajasthan. 14 women had participated in this advance workshop which was organized from 7^th -17^th January. One of Shaishav team member joined as a participant as well. In upcoming months, we will be organizing more advance level workshops to train more women to become trainers. 

Wenlido training with 21 girls of 12- 13 years was organized at a government primary school in Dediapada block of Narmada district on 12^th an 13^th March.

41 Balsena girls from 8-12 years age group participated in 2 Wenlido trainings on 30^th December and 3^rd March.

46 girls from Palitana Mahila college were given introductory training of Wenlido. They were very enthusiastic to learn and even expressed their interest to participate in a full training.

On 17^th and 18^th February, our team members facilitated the Wenlido training with 20 girls of age 16-18 from Centre for Community Economics and Development Consultants Society in Jaipur.

28 girls of age 15-18 participated in Wenlido training from Swati organization in Surendranagar on 14^th-16^th March. 3 team members from Shaishav facilitated this training.

One of our team members facilitated training with women of Sewa Organization in Ahemdabad on 11^th-12^th March.

Traning on Child Safety Laws:

On 20^th November, Falgunbhai, our founder director gave training on laws such as Juvenile Justice Act, POCSO- Protection of children from Sexual Offence, Child Marriage law, and other government’s schemes for child protection. This training was given to 101 Juvenile Police officers and Police Inspectors. Falgunbhai also shared about these laws through framework of Child Rights.

NACG-EVAC:

National Action and Coordination Group for Eradicating Violence Against Children, India (NACG-EVAC) is constellation of a multitude of individuals, organizations, and institutions singularly committed to ensure the realization of children’s rights as stated in the UNCRC. They hosted an online National Consultation of children on ending child sexual abuse and exploitation in India. 11 Balsena children and 8 children from Aaranyak project participated in this consultation. They learnt about child sexual abuse, and discussed about present situation of children and work done by the government and NGOs, they also discussed about what needs to be done in the future.

Our team members Parulben and Ishaben facilitated a session with children on which are the situation that could potentially turn unsafe and what to do in that case. They also took a session with children on Asking for help and making safe decisions. More than 120 children from all over country had participated in this consultation.

Training on Street Plays:

On 23^rd and 24^th November, our team members Alpeshbhai, Mansiben and Falgunbhai went to Swati organization in Surendranagar to train their team on how to prepare a street play and street play as a medium to bring social change and awareness. With the help of our team, 21 Swati Facilitators prepared a street play on the theme of girls’ right to play.

Training with Aataapi Sewa Foundation:

On 16^th-18^th December, our team members Alpeshbhai, Dakshaben and Hetalben went to Aataapi Sewa Foundation to give training to their children and facilitators about Child rights and learning child rights through games and activities. They facilitated a Balmela on child rights and around 120 children and 10 facilitators participated in this.

On 2^nd and 3^rd March, our team members Alpeshbhai and Parthbhai facilitated a training with Aataapi’s facilitators on Languages and Maths, and basic activities for sensory development of young children of age 5-7 years. The facilitators participated in this training with active and positive energy. They learnt about hows and whys on language learnings, especially how children learn and express. The facilitators also shared their experiences and learnings from their field to help us for planning sour trainings for the next year.

Training at Sewa Rural:

On 4^th and 16^th March, our team member Falgunbhai and Isha gave training on Life skills to government health educators who work with adolescent girls and boys. They shared about why life skills education for adolescents is important and what each life skill is about through stories, activities and example. 52 government health educators participated in this training.

Training at Oasis Valley:

As part of our training to future leaders of Shaishav, Ashishbhia, Alpeshbhai and Ishaben participated in a 3 days training at Oasis Vallely by Oasis Movement. These training was part of the four years course that has been organized for future leaders of different NGOs. These trainings are on self-development.

CHILD HELPLINE:

Child Helpline is an emergency helpline run by Ministry of women and child development for children who are in need of care and protection.

During the past four months Child line team received around 100 cases for different issues such as missing children, child labour, child marriage, emotional support and guidance, protection from abuse, children in need for shelter home and helping children to link with government schemes, etc.

Childline team does a lot of Outreach work to bring awareness about their work with children, so that if a child needs help, they know that they can get it from child line. During the past four months, child line team went to aaganwadis, schools, colleges, Panchayats, communities, etc. They met with students, children, parents, panchayat members, aaganwadi workers, teachers, professors, street children and families living on streets, etc. Through their outreach they met around 16800 people and spread awareness about ChildLine.

In all the areas where we have Balsena teams, we have Child Protection Samitis who meet each month. During these months, Child line team facilitated more than 50 Child protection committee meetings and more than 125 children and 320 adults participated in these meetings. During these meetings child rights overview, right to survival, right to protection from abuse and discrimination were discussed. Apart from that child line team also gave information about different schemes about children to the members. They also discussed about different misbehaviour and violence that children face, etc. Parents and children also discussed about the issues children face in their communities and together how can we solve them.

Case Studies:

During one of the Outreach in the school, the principal shared with the child line team that many girls have either dropped out or are not coming to school after the lockdown. The child line team asked for detail of these girls to find out about the issue. When the team visited their homes, many girls shared that they did not have access to smart phone or internet to study, so during the lockdown they couldn’t study, and some who had access shared that they did not understand online studies and videos. Hence, they dropped down. The child line team gave assurances to girls that the teachers would help them learn what they missed, and regularly visited their homes did counselling of them and their parents to continue their studies. At last, the girls agreed and started going regularly to the school and focus on learning.

Child line team received a call that a woman had found a boy who was about 7 years old. He wouldn’t talk with anyone. The team went to the child and patiently waited with him, and the child started speaking. He shared that his father sold alcohol and consumed it also, and used to hit this child a lot. The child line team took the child for medical examination and found the impacts of many beatings the child had received. The child was presented in front of the Child Welfare Committee and was given to shelter home for his protection. After couple of days, the father came with the lawyer to take back the child, but with intervention of child line team, the child remains protected in the shelter home and further case and investigation is on.

Childline:

Childline is an emergency helpline for children who are in need of care and protection. It is supported by Ministry of Women and Child Development. Shaishav has been running Childline in Bhavnagar district for past 10 years.

During the Covid period many children lost their mother or father or both, especially during the second wave. Childline team members went through newspaper obituaries and identified people who died and were under 50 years, and followed up at their houses and found 317 children who lost both or one parent to Covid and Comorbidities. With help of District Child Protection Unit child line team was able to get these children monthly support under Chief Minister Balsewa scheme and we are delighted that all the children received their first check under the same.

In these past four months Childline registered 110 cases about linking children with schemes, missing children, child labour, child marriage, protection from abuse, emotional support and guidance, child beggar, needing shelter, etc.

Childline team also does regular outreach programs to create an awareness about their work and to reach to more children who might be in need of care or protection. ChildLine team did outreach programs and went to 16 schools and 62 Aanganwadis and met 1255 children in school and 336 teachers and Aanganwadis workers.

Open houses are organized for children and adults in the community to tell them about Childline and listen to their issues and challenges regarding child safety. Childline team organized more than 14 open houses in different community with more than 305 people.

We have created Child Protection Committees in each area where Balsena (our children’s collective) is working. Children representatives, Parents along with some leaders of the area are part of these committees. Child Protection Committees meet every two months. Childline team conducts these meetings. They discuss problem that children are facing in the area, and together find appropriate solutions for the same.  Child Protection Committees discussed issues around schemes for differently abled children and orphan children who live with their relatives, no sanitation facility in their area or open drainage system and how it is dangerous, Collection of waste from their area, etc. Members also brought up the issues about toilets not being cleaned properly in the school. The Childline team then contacted the principal of the school, who then gave assurance that he would look into it and make sure that they are cleaned regularly. Along with this, Childline team also conducted a small training about child rights, right to survival, emotional safety and how to take care and help children who are passing through stress.  The team organized 30 C.P.C. meetings and 151 adults and 124 children participated in these meetings.

 

Case Study:
Child line team received a call that there is a child who is working in a hotel and is only 17 years old. When child line team went there and tried to get more information, they found out that his older brother also works there and when his uncle and grandmother went to meet him and bring him home, the owner had refused the meeting and did not allow them to take him home. He told them that the person who brought this child here owes him money so until he receives the money, he will not let the child go. After finding out this, Child line team contacted the uncle and got him to write an official complain, and then with the help of DCPU officer, Assistant labour commissioner, Assistant Police Inspector, and police constable they raided the hotel at 8 pm and rescued the child and his older brother. Child lien team did counselling of the child and the labour department gave the owner official warning and he was made to give promise in writing that he would not employ children as labour. The child was brought to the Child welfare committee and rehabilitated with his family in Dahod district in east Gujarat. The family was very thankful of child line for their efforts.

Child Rights Training and Resource Centre:

Adolescent Empowerment and Protection Training of Trainers:

Shaishav organized a second phase of Adolescent empowerment and protection training. The topics covered in this training were online safety, patriarchy, power and oppression, healthy masculinity, healthy friendship, love and attraction, healthy body image, gali bandh abhiyaan, what is a consent and respecting no and boundary, and topics related to protection of the children. The participants then also went to the field area and practised what they learnt and gave feedback to each other and got feedback from mentors. 33 participants from different organization participated in this TOT.

Life skills Training:

Falgunbhai facilitated a training on life skills for around 60 frontline workers of different organizations that are part of Child Rights Collective- Gujarat

Aattapi Foundation:

Continuing our partnership with Aataapi foundation, our team went to Jambusar for training with children on life skills and child rights. 80 children and 7 facilitators joined this training.

Training on creating street play:

Shaishav team members gave training on creating street plays to facilitators of Swati organization. Swati team members created a play on girl’s right to occupy and be in public spaces and their right to play with the help of Shaishav team.

Training of Women Safety:

Parulben trained 80 women from Bhavnagar Collectorate on women safety and sexual harassment and what to do in case they face it.

Training on POCSO Act, JJ Act and child rights

Falgunbhai, along with District Child Welfare Committee members gave training to __ on POCSO Act, JJ Act and Child rights as well as different government schemes for children.