Improved Care and Protection of Girl Children

Background

 Inspired by Mira Nair's film 'Salaam Bombay' in 1988, Salaam Baalak Trust (SBT) grew out of Nukkad – a street-based intervention programme that began working with street children in and around New Delhi Railway Station.

A sense of security – be it a safe sleeping place, a small cupboard to store their personal belongings, a somewhat set pattern to life (e.g. regulated timings for food, study, play, roll call and going to bed etc.) gives the children an environment to be creative and grow naturally, yet instills in them the idea of discipline and hard work to achieve their dreams. Once the sheer struggle for survival is over, only then can they begin to articulate and work towards their future.

Understanding their need for security, nutrition, and opportunities, SBT started a full-care residential program called Arushi in Gurgaon. This Home was specially designed to cater to all aspects of a child friendly Home- ventilation, amphitheatre, open space around the building for playing, classrooms, dormitories. Arushi is an initiative to offer 24 hour shelter to girls between the ages of 5 years to 18 years living on the streets. The children Home consists of 56 beds for children in 4 dormitories. Each dormitory has 14 beds. Each dormitory is attached with toilet and bathroom. There is kitchen and dining space. There is a medical Van for children in need of medical service.

 Review of 2016-17 

The girls at Arushi are provided a comprehensive package of services for their development, care, protection and well-being. The services include education, physical and mental health care, performing arts and sports, life skills and vocational training and job placement. The details on each of these services have been elaborated below.

In 2015-16, the girls at Arushi shelter Home continued their academic and skill development activities. A key achievement of the staff at Arushi was to trace the families of the girls who went missing and were admitted to the shelter on the orders of the Child Welfare Committee. With an explicit understanding that Home and family is the best milieu for a child, the staff members restored a total 41 girls in the reporting period. Apart from this, children are focusing on their education through different modes including formal, non-formal and open schooling.

After counseling from a trained career counselor, girls are being empowered to develop a goal oriented understanding about their skill and required training.

Manisha Love preet Sofiya Monika Madhu Priyanka Rani Pinki Ritu Heena Rani Asha

 Future Plan

In the year 2016, the staff members are consistently working towards preparing the supported girls for higher education and are encouraging them to learn supplementary skills such as computers and typing to prepare them for vocational training and job placements.

Introduction

SBT Mobile School continues to provide education to children residing in marginalised areas of Delhi and serves the purpose of a learning centre of Salaam Baalak Trust (SBT). The main objective of the School is to directly meet the educational needs of marginalised populations with low access to school education. The School has been functioning from December 2011. Equipped by age appropriate learning materials and run by a skilled team of social workers and teachers, So far, the School has covered six different spots in north east areas of NCT of Delhi. SBT Mobile School team has strived to prepare and link underprivileged children to formal schooling

SBT Mobile school team works towards meeting the educational needs of children from impoverished communities and inculcate moral values, basic etiquettes and good habits pertaining to sanitation and hygiene among them. The children and their families often report that the two hours spent at the Mobile School help children to learn important lessons of life including, respect for elders, discipline and above all benefits of education

Progress Update of Mobile School
Cumulative achievement of SBT Mobile School after combining the outreach at three spots
Total Outreach: 200
New Enrolment: 7
Average Daily Attendance: 155- 160
New School Admissions : 25
Parents Meeting during the Reporting Period: 3 times
School visit on children issues: 3 times
School Visits for admissions: 5 times
Health Checkup – 738 times
Health Checkups: 1010 times

Overview of Activities
The details on various activities conducted at the SBT Mobile School have been presented below.

Regular classes: Two hour classes are being conducted at all the three spots regularly. The school-going children attend their schools and come to Mobile School spots for additional help and assistance in studies. A distinguishing feature of Mobile School classes is the use of activity-based learning to facilitate strong conceptual learning among children. The non formal education kit is given to the children for systematic learning and monitored by teachers. 

Academic Progress: All school going children appeared for their final examination in March 2017, and their results and educational feedback with school report cards are received and they are promoted to next classes. There are 5 children from different classes from 2nd to 5th who secured position in their classes, marks ranging from 97% to
75%. As majority of them are first generation learner, they have to struggle at their home setting too. The continuous efforts of mobile school teachers / staff make it possible for their regularity in school. But the overall progress of children and their enthusiasm to attend school indicate positive

Parents meeting: As a follow-up to school meetings the Mobile School team organised three parents meetings, one at each spot to motivate parents to send their children school daily on time in neat and clean school uniforms. In addition, significance of maintaining personal hygiene among children was also stressed upon. The team reiterated the importance of education and role of SBT Mobile School in preparing children for admission in regular schools and encouraged parents to make most out of the resources and support provided by the SBT Mobile School.

Outing: Children from the SBT Mobile School went to Delhi Zoo and National Museum as local outing. It was one day outing program to keep children in a different environment they live in and learn discipline, cleanliness and group work etc.

Health checkups: In order to minimize the incidence of infectious diseases specifically chicken pox and dangue, the SBT doctor regularly visited the SBT Mobile School spots and conducted a thorough primary health check up of all the children and provided medicines in case of need. As per
the planned schedule the doctor visited Children visited National Museum, Delhi each spot once in a week. In addition, children were explained how cleanliness is directly affected to their health and their well being during the session that followed by cleanliness drive.

Spot Cleanliness Drive: During summer vacation the session importance of cleanliness conducted with children from Usmanpur spot and Shastri Park spot. The session was followed by the cleaning of the study and its surrounding areas with the help of children. The elders of the community were also conveyed to maintain cleanliness and use dustbins for throwing waste materials.

Teacher’s Workshop – The teachers of the mobile school attended the teacher’s training workshop organized by SBT on classroom etiquette and parenting.

School Bus: The front mirror of the mobile school bus had broken. It was approached to the company and by using the insurance facility, the glass was replaced.

Future Plan
In the next quarter, the CHI-SBT Mobile School team will continue doing new admissions to children in formal schools. It will try to enroll the maximum number of children in formal school. Simultaneously, the school going children will also be covered who need regular assistance to continue education.