Foster Care for 100 Orphan Children in India

Summary:

During the coronavirus pandemic, caring for children in foster care can be even more challenging than the usual day given by foster parents and kinship caregivers. Children in foster care have often survived a lifetime of uncertainty and change, both before entering foster care and during foster care. Many of these children have experienced adversity and trauma, leaving them more vulnerable to the changes that come with school closings, lack of daily contact with peer groups /friends, Use of mask and other forms of social /physical distancing.

Despite the practical and emotional challenges that corona virus is bringing. Our foster parents continue to provide support, love, caring and stability to the children. All 200 children in Foster care & Kinship care arrangements are safe at home.

Creating a sense of normalcy for children in foster care can be critical to their well-being. The exposure to the wide variety of normal activities for children is thought to have numerous developmental benefits that reduce the stigma of foster care involvement, and potentially leads to both connections and development.

Key progress during the period:

Provide learning kits & Helping children in learning:

During this period, YCDA has been provided the education study materials, black boards, school bags & tuition fees as per the needs of the supported children. During the lockdown, the children have asked to stay at home & away from classroom, school learning and advised for online learning’s but due to in assessable of internet facility in the areas the children are not availing the support and deprived of right to education. Taking this as major concerns & continuing education through alternative learning pathways, we support the volunteer teachers, caregivers & parents to provide education through small group learning approachand ensure the learning of children with maintaining social distancing During the time being we maintain the access of education to children and help them to rejoin in their schooling and engage the children in creative writings, drawing, reading story books, storytelling etc and continue our mental health and Psychosocial support for the children. 

Making Handwash Practice:

We continue the campaigns on hand washing practices to prevent the spread of covid-19. Our team has been engaged in celebrating hand washing day & creating awareness on demonstrating hand washing with soap & clean water & use of mask in families and children groups. Adolescents & Children groups came forward and taught their peers for practicing hand washing & use of mask. They also help their caregivers & parents.

Visit to Families:

During the period, we staffs are stay connected with 200 children and provide them the basic information on the COVID-19, encouraged to stay at home & express the feeling, fears of the children through art therapy, storytelling & creative writings.  In the time being, daily routines help children feel safe and secure. All the children create their daily schedule that includes learning, play, leisure times, mealtime to eat together & story telling time. All the children are continuing their studies and education classes at home. The parents are taking care of the children, enjoy & spend their time with their children. Apart from that, we are doing regular visit & counseling to the children & foster parents with the support of the CWC & DCPU in the districts. All supported children are in family based care.These families are nurturning through love ,affection & caring .

Foster Carer’s Meet:

During the period, we have organized a Foster Carer Meet for foster parents & children. All our supported foster parents & children get together & spend time together with joy and happiness. During the programme we have created a child-friendly atmosphere where children can enjoy to the fullest, provide a platform where children can showcase their potentiality, talents, and inner skills. In this platform, the foster parents come together to shared their learning & challenges in providing caring and parenting and learnt from each other. This is useful and effective in bringing out some positive changes intheir knowledge and attitudes toward child nurturing through this event children enjoyed a lot by taking part in song, dance, and different games & learnt from each other’s by sharing their stories.

Hi…i am 14 years old reading in class 9^th.   I love to play with my friends. Dolls are my favorite toy. My grandmother is taking care of me. During this pandemic, icontinue my studies at home taking the help of my local teachers who are living near to our home. I spent time together with my aunty & grandmother and also help them in their household works.

Thank You!!!

Supporters & GlobalGiving for supporting us in the crucial period

• YCDA Progress Report_Children in Foster Care (PDF)