Musical instruments for 17 slum children in India

Good mental health and building a safe space for kids where they can bare themselves open are still frowned upon by our society, and even by parents. These children are always at risk of exploitation if not given proper care and guidance. Several reports reveal that many students do not make it to school and are often seen running away.

The KEEN (Karimadom Education and Empowerment Network) initiative, implemented at Karimadom, aims at empowering women and children through education and skill development. As part of this initiative various community projects have been launched at Karimadom.

This project has been introduced so that children who are interested in learning are required to attend school, thus preventing school dropout. Don Bosco Veedu Society has initiated this project since 2 years and has trained 11 children from slum initially and they have done their arangettam (graduation ceremony) before the outbreak of COVID. Don Bosco Veedu Society has helped these children to form a troop so that they can perform infront of public which they have acquired through the professional training. Before pandemic the children were having hand full of stages for carrying out their performance. Inspired by the success of project, another set of children has approached us for acquiring training. Here we included drop outs aswellas school going children who are keenly interested for getting trained in Chendamelam.

 Don Bosco has identified 12 potential students from the Karimadom Slum and has hired a professional instructor to train them. Once training is done and the students are prepared for their Arangettam (graduation ceremony in music),Don Bosco will gift Chendas to each of  the students performing and by doing so, aim to empower and motivate the underprivileged children in the slums. Due to pandemic protocols the group is divided into two batcjes each consisting of 6 children and are practising alternate days. Once the graduation is done, children will be able to earn for themselves and their families by participating in festivals and cultural expos. They will also acquire various life skills such as comradeship and teamwork.

Currently  through mobilising funds from GlobalGiving donors, we were able to buy 3 chendas (Instrument for performing) to three children among the group where the rest are practising with the borrowed chendas from the former beneficiaries. We are in need of 9 more chendas for distributing to the children.