From Child Labour to a Chance at School

CHILD FRIENDLY SPACES

SAATH CHARITABLE TRUST

SAATH is a non-government organization registered as a Public Charitable Trust in Gujarat, India. In Gujarati the word SAATH means, “Together, Co-operation, a Collective or Support.” SAATH’s one-stop, integrated services reach over 4,00,000 individuals in Gujarat and Rajasthan. Since 1989, SAATH has facilitated participatory process that improves the quality of life for the urban and rural poor. SAATH caters to multiple needs of the poor by providing them with one-stop centres, through which they have access to services such as health, education, employment, micro finance and affordable housing. SAATH engages institutions, corporate and individuals throughout the world as partners and supporters for the integrated development of India.

• Vision: Saath envisions inclusive and empowered communities and individuals. 
• Mission: To make human settlements equitable living environments where all residents and vulnerable people have access to health, education, essential infrastructure services and livelihood options, irrespective of their economic and social status.

CHILD FRIENDLY SPACES

SAATH designed Child-Friendly Spaces- a unique, informal education course with an aim to later enroll the child labourers, children of construction labourers in formal education. With a steady influx of migrating families to urban settlements and poor quality of education, creating alternative education spaces for quality education has become important.

OBJECTIVE OF THE PROGRAMME

The main objective of this programme is to reach children of labourers and help them gain formal education eventually and there after making them skilled and self-sufficient. Children of labourers on construction sites require a strong base in education and access to quality education. Dropouts from school need to be continuously counselled and encouraged to go back to school. The education programs designed at Saath recognize this need and aims to bridge this gap.

 Art & Craft Workshops:

• Origami workshop was held by Approach foundation. Where children of 10 years and above from our two centers attended. Children loved making different things. These kids were so excited to learn this craft that they requested teachers of their centers to make some more things and also taught younger children. They decorated their classrooms with various products they made from origami.
• Students from GLS University came to celebrate birthday of their friend with our children. They bought cake and decorated the classroom with balloons and streamers.
• Marriott Hotel, Ahmedabad took 15 children to Ahmedabad Zoo. Children had fun time there and enjoyed the lunch provided by Marriott
• In association with approach Foundation, children experienced shopping experience. An exhibition was set up, where children were given fake money and they were asked to shop for them and their families in that budget.

Visits:

 Health and Hygiene

• Every quarter health check-ups are done and growth record is maintained. Their height and weight are measured and maintained on monthly basis.
• A health check-up was conducted in March, 2019 for the children of construction workers. The malnourished children are given supplements to bring their health to normal level.
• Hand washing is a practice that is stressed upon and followed daily. Teacher ensure that each and every child when enter the class and before eating wash his/her hands

 Interns and Volunteers

• We had an interns from Nirma University. They came whole month of April. They taught children Alphabets in English and educate them on hygiene. They also distributed sweets and did lot of art and craft activities.

Donation

• Mr. Shyam Singh celebrated his son’s birthday at Godrej Garden City center. He donated school kits to the children.
• The developer of Makarba site celebrated his birthday with the children and cut the cake with them.
• Employees of Marriott Hotel distributed lunch at CFS centers to celebrate their Associates Week.

 Festival Celebration

• Volunteers celebrated festival of colours with the children of Bakeri City Center. Volunteers got different colours to play with and also told the story behind this festival.

SUCCESS STORY

Education spreads the smiles

Krishna (name changed) a 6 year old boy, came to our Bakeri Center in December last year. His mother works as a domestic maid and his father is a labourer at construction site. When he came to class he used to cry a lot and the teacher immediately noticed that he was very thin and was suffering from malnutrition.

The teachers first focused on his health. He only used to play with toys in the class and would immediately start crying when asked to study. With constant care and attention, the teachers improved his attention towards learning and her health started improving as well. Now, in a few months there has been a lot of change in him. His weight has increased and he is much healthier now. He now sings in the class, writes on his own slate, counts from 1 to 20, reads charts and takes part in all the other activities.

His teacher says, “The biggest change has been that he now helps other children as well in the class and is always happy to study”.

• Report February - April, 2019 (PDF)