By Venkatesha Murthy | Joint Director
NELE, A Caring home for children
For destitute children, it’s a place to call as their own, where they learn the joy of living, the joy called home, the firm footing below our feet called NELE.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
This report provides a brief overview of the ‘vision, goals and objectives, organizational lineaments and process workflow, achievements and future plan of action’ of NELE, an organization, envisaged to strive for the rehabilitation of destitute children, envisioned as a harbinger of hope for the underprivileged children and ideated with the motto of SEVA(Service). The report attempts to chart the trajectory of NELE, its organizational evolution, some recent developments in Organizational processes, a summary of the 2014-15 progress report and some steps envisaged to better serve our children.
INTRODUCTION
NELE(Kannada: HOME) is envisioned as a refuge and ray of hope to many young lives with the twin objectives of rehabilitating destitute, underprivileged children and emerging as a hub for multifarious Community activities via different Vocational Training Centers empowering Women and youth in the neighborhood like Tailoring, Computer training etc.
NELE has touched many hearts and changed many lives, enabling, empowering and ennobling underprivileged children by equipping them with Formal Education, moral and cultural values with the express aim of transforming them into socially responsible and enlightened citizenry. Since its inception in 2000, NELE has rehabilitated around 1000 children. The Government of Karnataka, in recognition of the Service rendered by NELE, has conferred the “BEST CHILD CARE INSTITUTION” award on NELE for the years 2010 and 2011.
ORGANIZATIONAL OVERVIEW
ORGANIZATIONAL PHILOSOPHY
SEVA has been enshrined as the bedrock and Guiding Principle of NELE. At NELE, we strive to instill this idea within all personnel and it is sought to imbue every activity with the idea of SEVA.
The central focus of NELE is ‘The Child’, around which all activities are woven. NELE, as an organization, strives towards creation of an Organic Ecosystem which can facilitate Holistic Development of a Child which among other facets includes playing the role of a catalyst and a channel for the blossoming of the Innate Potentialities latent in the Child
ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE
NELE was started in the year 2000 with 15 kids. Today, there are altogether 8 NELE centers - 5 in Bengaluru and one each in Mysore, Tumkur and Shivamogga - housing over 250 children. Out of the 5 centers in Bengaluru, three cater to Male children and the remaining three are earmarked for Female children. The children are from the age group of 6-16 yrs. Some Undergraduate students too are housed at NELE centers. There are total of 151 boys and 108 girls studying from 1st grade up to Undergraduate level.
The following provides an overview of the STAFF at NELE:
Fulltime workers – 20(Women:14, Men:6)
In-house workers – 14
Home teaching –8
Workers who joined us this year -4
The locations of the various NELE Centers are as follows:
1. Nele Narendra: Laggere, Bengaluru
2. Nele Nivedita: Jnanabharati Post, Bengaluru
3. Nele Namma Mane: HBR Layout, Bengaluru
4. Nele Ashakirana: RT Nagar Main Road, Bengaluru
5. Nele Chandana: Nagarthpet, Bengaluru
6. Nele Ajitha: Bogadi 2nd stage, Mysore
7. Nele Dwaraka: Someshwarapuram, Tumkur
8. Nele Madhava: Kallahalli, Shivamogga
RATIONALE and MODUS OPERANDI
Before delving into the method of operations at NELE, it is important that we understand the background of the children at NELE.
CHILD TRAFFICKING has emerged as a menace afflicting the world in general and India in particular. Conservative estimates peg the number of children trafficked in India at 40000 every year (Source: NHRC report). Destitute children remain most vulnerable to Trafficking which necessitates immediate and sustained intervention from both the Governmental and Non-Governmental sectors.
Also, in the backdrop of the Right to Education being recognized as a universal entitlement to education both at the UN and in the Indian Constitution, all children should receive free, good quality education. The reality is that millions of the children are too poor to benefit from this declaration, unless there are special interventions that target their development. Unfortunately, such children do not form a special social category in Official poverty eradication intervention programs. There exists a glaring gap between the noble intentions of instituting Child Rights and steps taken in the direction of enforcement of such rights. This gap can only be bridged via Public-Private Partnership, Governmental and Non-Governmental Synergy.
Unless suitable steps are instituted to mitigate such glaring social shortcomings and ills, the opportunity cost on the Indian society would assume alarming proportions. Hence, NELE was conceived as a humble endeavor to alleviate the aforementioned social maladies and provide an environment for a holistic upbringing of such deprived children.
Children who belong here are:
Against the backdrop of the aforementioned information, it should be evident that the children who are inducted in to NELE have not experienced a Normal upbringing, have been witness to violence and trauma of different forms. Discipline, Dedication and Deference are sought to be instilled in the Children. The child, upon induction goes through the following stages:
REGISTRATION and COUNSELING: The children are registered by gathering appropriate information and conducting necessary Background checks, subsequent to which the children are counseled appropriately. Counseling as a process happens on a continuous Basis for which we have a Dedicated Team of Professionals which looks into this arena. Formal Surveys are done to assess Potential beneficiaries before induction.
SCHOOL ENROLLMENT and MONITORING: The children are enrolled to near-by Schools and their progress is monitored. NELE Staff attend the PARENTS-TEACHERS meetings to assess and monitor the progress of the wards.
HEALTH and HYGIENE: Every year, all children undergo ANNUAL HEALTH SCRUTINY. In addition, NELE arranges MONTHLY DOCTOR visits to each Center to monitor the Health of children. Special attention is given to the Health of FEMALE children with Gynecologists attending to the same. Hygiene is an aspect which is given significant attention. Hygiene Committees have been formed which monitor The Hygiene Levels at each Center and reports are scrutinized. Children are imparted YOGA lessons.
SPORTS: Children at NELE are encouraged to participate in various Sporting Events which take place at various Levels of District and State. They are also provided appropriate facilities at the NELE Centers.
EXTRA-CURRICULAR and CO-CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES: Children are encouraged to participate in various activities like DRAMA, DEBATES, MUSIC and DANCE. Training is imparted to them in Traditional Art forms like YAKSHAGANA and MUSIC. They have participated in many competitions and won Laurels.
STORY TELLING SESSIONS: Every week, Story-Telling Sessions are held wherein accomplished Raconteurs visit each Center and narrate Inspiring Stories to Children. The feedback from the Children has been very encouraging. VALUE EDUCATION is sought to be imparted via such an initiative.
VOCATIONAL TRAINING:
One of the objectives of NELE is to emerge as an Enabler and Anchor to the Neighborhood Community. In order to further this objective, Vocational Training Courses have been undertaken based on the requirements of the Surrounding Community. WOMEN have been particularly benefited from such overtures.
Tailoring and Computer Skills are imparted to the surrounding Community at various NELEs. At Narendra Nele, around 50 people are undergoing Training. People who have graduated out of these Vocational Programs have joined the Industry, some have turned Entrepreneurs and started their own enterprises.
MANAGEMENT:
We have a Central Committee which co-ordinates different functions like Child Development, Staff Appointments and Development, Operations, Fund Raising, Corporate Relations and Finance across all NELE Centers. Each NELE has a Local Committee which oversees the Activities of Each Center and co-ordinates with the Central Committee. Staff Meetings are held regularly at different NELE Centers. Regular Visits by Central Committee members take place for better Appraisal of mandated Activities.
MISCELLANEOUS:
Periodic reports and interactions happen between NELE and the CWC(Child Welfare Committee) of the Government. Requisite Documentation is maintained at NELE. Our Accounts are regularly audited and requisite documents are maintained.
We strive to maintain Cordial and robust Community Relations at each Center by Inviting the Neighborhood during Festivities, Celebratory Occasions. NELE Children are invited to participate during festivities and Community Gatherings regularly.
STAFF:
A dedicated and highly motivated work-force is a huge asset to any organization. Periodic assessments and appraisals are undertaken to keep the staff motivated and up to speed. Workshops are conducted every month to train the Staff on different aspects like Donor Management, Operations, Counseling, Digitization Initiatives, Organizational Management etc.
ACHIEVEMENTS
RECENT DEVELOPMENTS
A brief overview of the recent developments has been compiled, enumerating developments encompassing Academic, Co-Curricular and Extra-Curricular accomplishments of Children as also augmentation of Organizational Capacity to support the various activities.
A Memorandum of Understanding was signed between NELE and UNNATI in 2015 paving the way for the establishment of a Brand New VOCATIONAL TRAINING CENTER at Nele Narendra in addition to the one which is being run by NELE. UNNATI has made a name for itself in the Skill Development Arena and we hope that this partnership would greatly benefit a lot of people and emerge as a Center of Excellence serving the Society.
2014-15 PROGRESS REPORT
CULTURAL ACTIVITIES
HEALTH CAMP 2015
Health Camps were organized at different NELE centers in the month of March which benefited not only the children but the neighbourhood communities. The camps were organised under the aegis of Doctors For Seva. The camps were attended by well over 5000 people who were provided free consultations and treatments. The Health Camp proved to be a significant Community bridging exercise for NELE in addition to benefiting scores of poor and needy.
SUMMER CAMP 2015
Upon the culmination of the yearly Academic cycle, a Summer Camp was organized for NELE kids at NELE Narendra. The kids participated with gusto in a variety of activities filled with fun and educational import. Spread over a month, the Summer Camp was attended by around 200 kids and involved the following activity schedule:
By Venkatesh Murthy | Joint Director
By Venkatesha Murthy | Joint Director
Project reports on GlobalGiving are posted directly to globalgiving.org by Project Leaders as they are completed, generally every 3-4 months. To protect the integrity of these documents, GlobalGiving does not alter them; therefore you may find some language or formatting issues.
If you donate to this project or have donated to this project, you can receive an email when this project posts a report. You can also subscribe for reports without donating.
