From Child Labour to a Chance at School

CHILD FRIENDLY SPACES

SAATH designed Child-Friendly Spaces- a unique, 4-hour 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 and objective of this programme is to reach the child labourers and children of labourers and help them gain formal education eventually and there after making them skilled and self-sufficient. Children from the slums, child labourers as well as children of labourers on construction sites all 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.

Interns and Volunteers:

• We had 9 interns in the month of June and July from Duke University, USA. They did various activities with the children. Taught them nursery rhymes, alphabets in English, Dental Hygiene
• Employees from Tata Capital came and spend some time with kids at the center. They did some craft activities and played lots of games.

Donations:

• Mrs. Khanna celebrated her birthday with these children. They cut cake and had yummy lunch with return gifts.
• Mr. Ketaan celebrated his daughter’s birthday with these kids, she said this was one of the best birthday she has every celebrated. She donated food and school kits to the children at Godrej Center.
• Employees of Marriott, Ahmedabad took children for movie screening. Children had fun at the screening and enjoyed popcorns
• Saath Charitable Trust in association with Approach foundation, conducted the workshop on pot painting in one of the park’s of Ahmedabd. There children were taught how to paint pots. .
• 20+ children were invited by Marriott Hotel Children relished upon cuisines, which would be rare for them. They learnt table etiquettes including how to use spoon and forks. They felt special for the day for the special treatment and attention they received from the staff.
• Children of Saath were invited to an event organized by the Traffic Department of the city. They were transported in the department’s bus to the venue, GMDC Ground. The aim was to make children aware of traffic rules. The demonstration was followed by painting activity. All the children were then awarded with a certificate for participation. It ended with tummy full of snacks.

Exposure Visits:

Teachers – Parents Meeting:

• Parents’ meeting takes place every month. Parents were apprehensive at one of the centres about their children’s progress and had pessimist thoughts about education. The program coordinator then shared progress of all the children in parents meeting.

Health and Hygiene:

• Interns from Duke University took sessions on Dental Hygiene, they raised funds and distributed dental hygiene kits to 200 kids at various centers.
• Every quarter health check-ups are done and growth record is maintained. Their height and 0weight are measured and maintained on monthly basis.
• A health check-up was conducted in July, 2018 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

Festival Celebration

• Raksha-bandhan festival of bond between brothers and sisters was celebrated. The employees of Sew Services LLP came to celebrate the festival at our Bakeri Center. Girls from center tied rakhis to the male employees and in return they gave them gifts, sweet meats. All the children were tread with lunch and both employees and children played various games and dance

• Indian Independence Day was celebrated on 15^th August, Children celebrated the day with flag hoisting in the morning at the centers and they say many patriotic songs.

SUCCESS STORY

Success Story

Name                          Jaya Vanabhai (Name Changed)
Admission Date           01-07-2018

In what manner student came into contact?

During the community visit, teacher found that Jaya was playing in the community instead of getting education. At the time of the visit, the parents were given the information about the benefits that are provided in the centres such as education, nutrition and health and hygiene is also taken care. Also, the importance of safety measures while the parents are working at the site are also taken care.

Members in the family

-       Vanab hai (Father, Labour Work)

-       Fanusben (Mother, Labour Work)

-       Prakash (Elder Brother)

-       Jaya (Herself)

-       Vikas (Younger Brother)

Family Background

The financial condition of the family is very difficult to sustain. In the search of job, both the parents have to move from one place to other or one can add one site to another to make sure the daily wages are atleast earned which allows the family to get the required things for the day to survive. Even the basic needs are not meet due to lack of finances.

Current Situation

Before moving to the city, they had too much of difficulties in sustaining the daily needs. Also, too much of loans and money which was taken from others was just rising. After moving to Ahmedabad, both the parents got the work at the Bakeri City site earning 600 Rupees daily wages.

Through the earned money, they are able to save certain amount and it is allowing them to pay the dues and loans which they had taken from the native people. Before heading to the site, parents make sure they’re able to get ready, cook food and also dress up children to send them to the centre. They do make send the money to the relatives as another children is staying with them at the native.

Change:

It is said, good and healthy food keeps the children fit and fine. It was seen, initially when the children entered the centre, he was having diarrhea and was too much dirty (was not even having his daily bath and neither the clothes were changed by the parents). With the understanding and the support by the teachers from the centre child has become much better.

He was taken alongwith her mother to the nearest clinic and check-up was done, due to unhygienic and improper food, child was going through malnutrition and parents were not able to understand the reason. After the doctor’s visit, 15 days medicinal course was done and slowly and steadily child has become strong.

At centre, with the help of good, healthy and nutritious food child has grown and even he has started to concentrate on studies and participates in the daily activities. He also plays and enjoys his time with other students

It is just one needs to have the footprints to walk on, rest children can easily cross the obstacles and ladders to keep moving on heights.

• Progress Report June - August, 2019 (PDF)