Don Bosco Veedu Society, Trivandrum, is an Indian charity offering a diverse range of services to vulnerable and disadvantaged children, youth and women. The Don Bosco Veedu Society is offering free Chenda (an Indian percussion instrument) tuitions to a group of 17 children living in slum areas, aged 12 to 15. Through this project the Don Bosco Veedu Society is planning to provide free Chendas to the children. Each Chenda costs around 18000 INR.
Don Bosco Veedu Society has introduced the Chenda classes as a way of empowering underprivileged children in slum areas who are deprived of parental care and formal education. Children who are interested in attending these classes are required to attend school, thus preventing school dropout, which is a common problem among the participants. The Don Bosco Veedu Society has hired a professional instructor, but due to lack of resources the children are currently practicing on makeshift rocks.
By providing Chendas the Don Bosco Veedu Society aims to empower and motivate the underprivileged children in slums. By participating in temple festivals, Catholic feasts, school festivals, and other cultural expo, the children will be able to earn for themselves and their families. The Don Bosco Veedu Society is planning to create bank accounts for these children so that they can deposit their earnings which they receive through various group Chenda performances.
By preventing school dropout, these classes make sure these children are getting the formal education they deserve. By playing Chenda the children will imbibe various life skills such as comradeship and teamwork. These classes will aid them in choosing Chenda playing as a career option. In the future these instruments will be used to tutor youth and women in slums so that they can earn for themselves, which will improve their economic situation thus breaking the cycle of poverty.
