Children India Project #18386

Education and Protection Center for 200 Children

by Joint Women's Programme

Summary

2007, after the mass murder,disappearance of children of migrant labor from Nithari village, Noida, UP, India, parents from poor, backward communities were frightened about the safety of their children. MERA SAHARA Centre for non formal Education; Skill formation, Protection was started by us with local community support. It functions as a preparatory school, a bridge between non-formal and formal education. It sucessfully prevents child trafficking, labor & marriage, and needs financial support

$1,700
total raised

11
donors

0
monthly donors

5
years

Challenge

In 2007, after the mass murder and disappearance of children from Nithari village in Noida, Uttar Pradesh, India, had been reported, the Joint Women's Programme (JWP) conducted a survey in this area consisting of marginalized backward migrant families. Children roam the streets and lanes unprotected and fall easy prey to kidnapping, sexual abuse, trafficking for prostitution and labor and victimized by illegal employers, pushed into drug peddling and begging. We found parents wanting to protect

Solution

JWP started MERA SAHARA Centre for non formal Education; Skill formation and Protection with small donations from friends and relatives and community support. It functions as a preparatory school, a bridge between non-formal and formal education. It thus follows the government syllabus and educational material prescribed, to help admit both girls and boys into mainstream schools after their learning period. For school dropout adolescents, we have skill training to enable them sustain themselves.

Long-Term Impact

There will be a marked improvement in the development of the children both in their educational abilities, skill development and health. Each year children will be prepared to take part in examinations for entry into local mainline schools. It will stop children and adolescent girls from being sent into domestic labour, as well as prevent trafficking and exploitation. JWP trains community mothers, fathers and leaders to form a Watch Group who will oversee the Centre and community programme.