From Child Labour to a Chance at School

QUARTERLY STATUS OF CFS (December, 2016 - February, 2017)

For overall development we conducted various learning activities for their physical and mental development and special care is taken on their nutrition and hygiene. Currently we have 10 centers 7 CFS classes at construction sites and 3 in slums. We have 5 more centers in pipeline

We inaugurated a new center at construction site.

Following are few of the activities conducted at the CFS sites:

1. A dance workshop was organized by aProCh Foundation at Parimal Garden where 17 children from two centres participated.
2. Usual art activity at the Sky Blue academy took place twice in the month of December.
3. Teachers’ monitoring meeting was conducted at Saath Head Office on December 8th. Teachers shared and discussed their class specific challenges and learnings. This becomes a platform for them to share the grievances as well.
4. On the 17th of December, 48 children were taken to Cinepolis at AlphaOne mall for the movie Jungle Book. This brought an immense joy as they usually do not get a chance to visit multiplexes. Children from construction site classes and slum classes, who assist their parents in economic generation activities, participated.
5. Three medical check-ups were organized at the two Labour Colonies of Godrej Garden City and Savvy Swaraaj site. As per the need of children, supplements were provided.
6. On the Christmas, 26 children from slum classes were taken for the movie Dangal.
7. A drawing competition was organized at Courtyard by Marriott for children on the 27th December. The selected paintings were then converted into New Year cards by the Marriott group as official greetings for their clients.
8. Sweaters were distributed among children of North One, Westgate Business Bay, Aryan Gloria, and Aryan Opulence. 50 children benefitted.
9. About 20 children participated in a yoga session that was conducted in a park.
10. A workshop for woollen work was conducted at Parimal Garden. 37 children from different centres participated.
11. As preparation of kite flying festival, kite making workshop was conducted by aProCh. The event was attended by 50 children.
12. Gujarat Vidyapeeth students who are interning with Saath took
13. 100+ children from Saath centres were invite to participate in a huge kite flying event organized by L D College of Engineering, as part of their National Service Scheme (NSS) activity.
14. On the 26 January, the Republic Day, 52 children were taken to National Institute of Design (NID), where students of Ankur School performed a play for the CFS children.
15. The same day students of Gujarat University organized a celebration at Godrej Garden City. Children took part in various games and fancy dress competition. They dressed as famous leaders and freedom fighter.
16. 48 children took a tour to a city based mega Flower Show conducted in January at the River Front.
17. Children from slum classes were taken to Parimal Garden and played various games.
18. Total 18 children took part in a craft workshop organized by aProCh Foundation.

Activities at Implementation Level:

1. Three teacher’s monitoring meetings were conducted for regular updates.
2. A new centre at Savvy Swaraaj site was started. About 75 children from 0 to 12 years attend the class regularly.
3. A new CFS centre at North One was set up and currently there are 15 children coming to the class.
4. Yet another new centre was set up in Hyderabad at P&T Labour Colony.

We have divided the children at the centers in three groups according to their age:

Group A: Children who very young, prayers, poems and basic body parts are taught here

Group B: Children are taught Alphabets and Numbers in English and Gujarati

Group C: Children are taught how to write and also they learn addition, subtraction, multiplication.

Given below is the brief of activities at each individual centre:

Fatewadi

Different activities were done with children according to their age groups. The children were taught English – Gujarati alphabets, names of fruits, animals, birds, colours and they learned about various shapes. Craft activities were also done with the children and they were taught to make various things out of paper and colouring them. They have been taught to make toys from waste material. They have also taught about glass painting and learned different colours names.

Ram – Raheem Tekro

During the 3 month period the children were taught English and Gujarati alphabets, names of vegetables and fruits, they learnt numbers from 1-100, stories were told, sang songs, learnt how to write simple words and draw basic shapes. Few out-door exercise sessions were done for the physical development.

 Vejalpur

 At this center the kids continue learning different letters in Gujarati and English. They learnt writing numbers from 50-100. They learnt new nursery rhymes and songs.  Children were taught about craft and painting. They have learned new techniques of drawing.

 Mahadev Residency – Naroda

Here children learned simple words, reading and writing the alphabets and small words in English. In Maths the children learned numbers from 1 to 20. The children learned about colours, learned from charts, played various interactive learning games and children songs.

 SW Park – Shahwadi

At this center, younger kids were taught alphabets in two languages English and Gujarati, the older kids were taught to read and write the alphabets. In Maths, kids learned basic examples of addition. Apart from these children were taught basic disciplinary manners. They were taught general knowledge. Mythological stories were narrated.

Aaryan Opulence - Ambali

In this center children were taught to write numbers 1-50 in English and 1-100 in Gujarati. Songs in Gujarati were taught. We had a volunteer who taught these kids different body parts in English language and few songs and poems in English. They also had regular sports activities at this center. Children also learnt basic manners. They learnt how to greet and meet in English. 

Rajyesh Revanta                                     

In the class the children were taught prayer songs, reading alphabets (English and Gujarati) and reading from 1 to 100 numbers. With the help of interactive games the children were taught about how to give their introduction, identify various colours and counting digits. Children were taught season names and importance of cleanliness.

Aakruti Aangan - Lamba

This is the new center that was inaugurated in this quarter. Parents were invited so that they can come and see what activities are conducted here. First month only went in registrations, Children played with toys and few games were played every day so that children get comfortable with teachers. Second month songs and poems were taught.

 Makarba

This is the new center that was inaugurated in this quarter. Parents were invited so that they can come and see what activities are conducted here. First month only went in registrations, Children played with toys and few games were played every day so that children get comfortable with teachers. Second month songs and poems were taught.

Siblings enjoying and learning at Child Friendly Spaces –

Manisha & Chetan (Names Changed)

Manisha, an 11-year-old and Chetan, an 8-year-old, were found to be playing on the site where their parents work as labourers. When the CFS teacher approached them at the site and asked to join the class, they refused. She then told them if they did not want to work as their parents did when they grew up, they should study to find a better workplace. Parents then showed the willingness to enrol the siblings to the CFS class.

Now, the teachers do not have to go to bring the children to class. Their parents drop them regularly on time. Initially they did not like to study since they had never been educated. All other children would read the charts and Manisha and Chetan would get curious as they knew nothing about reading and writing. They would share their concern with the teacher. She consoled them that they would learn gradually.

Once, the children were to taken to US Pizza for a treat. Both of them were excited to join for the outing. However, their parents refused to send them. They revealed that Manisha and Chetan had three more siblings and all have lost their lives. They are still insecure and fear that they would lose these two, too. Hence, they would not leave them alone. But teacher informed them that they were going with the entire class. Also, she assured that she would take care of the two personally and would remain with them throughout. The enjoyed the lunch and were very happy. When the parents saw happiness on children’s face, their belief that they need to study further for better life grew stronger. The parents are willing to enrol their children to a school on returning to their hometown.

Their mother regularly drops them to school and tell them that they need to study to avoid wondering around in order to find work and that too labour work. Manisha and Chetan are now so disciplined that unlike other children, they understand and follow the instructions immediately without having to remind them over and over again. Manisha used to come untidy. When she was taught the importance of hygiene and cleanliness, she started coming neat and clean in class. She comes regularly with her brother and brings newly enrolled students with them.

CHALLENGES

ü  The attrition rates of students is high

ü  Parents don’t think it’s important for their child to attend such activity classes

ü  They think they are losing household income if children go to school

As the children are from Migrant families, it becomes difficult track the kids once they move to different sites

ü  Stationary, Toys, Teacher Expenses, Snacks are becoming costlier.

ü  Regular funding is not there for this program

STATUS OF CFS

Child Friendly Spaces- Status in February, 2017

Sr. No.                 Name of the Centre                                        No. of Children

                                                                                            Boy           Girl            Total

1                                 Fatehwadi                                          14             18             30

2                          Ram rahim no tekro                                  16             21             37

3                                   Vejalpur                                            21             19            40

4                       Rajyash Riverium- Vasna                             18            15            33

5                        Aakruti Aangan- Lambha                               7             6            13

6                          Le Jardin- Law garden                                 4             5              9

7                          Aaryan Opulence- Ambli                              2              3             5

8                  Westgate Business Bay- Makarba                       6            12           18

9                          Divya Jivan city- Naroda                              4              6            10

10                           Aryan Gloria- Bopal                                   4              1             5

11                    Gujarat Housing Board- Surat                         11              4           10

                                           Total                                           107           110         210

• CFS Progress Report December'16-February'17 (PDF)