Improved Care and Protection of Girl Children

IntroductionWith the valuable grants of Select City Walk, Salaam Baalak Trust has brought a transformation in the lives of girls rescued from streets and difficult circumstances. Living in the child-friendly environment of Arushi residential centre, these girls have shown immense progress in academics and extra-curricular activities in the year 2016. The girls’ have improved their personalities and are excelling in various latent talent development and vocational training courses.Progress Update

A detailed overall progress update of various activities and performance of girls is provided below.

Education

The girls at the residential centre are being supported through a pliable education programme to cater to individual needs of the girls. The different modes of education offered at the centre include formal schooling, non-formal education and open schooling. Teachers with the support of the volunteers took regular classes for children. The academic performance of each child at the centre is mapped by the in-house teachers. Additionally a monthly education report is being sent to the Executive Council to show the progress of the children.

To improve children’s general knowledge quiz and debates were organised. Career counseling workshops were conducted to streamline children’s higher education choices and guide them on the possible avenues for vocational training.

Food and Nutrition

The girls were provided three hot cooked and nutritious meals at the centre. Elder girls were involved in preparation of evening nutrition which includes buying groceries (under staff assistance) along with monitoring and distribution of utensils to create a sense of responsibility and discipline. Further, sessions were organised on the importance of choosing nutritious food for school tiffin. These sessions improved girls’ understanding of food, nutrition and balanced diet and resulted in visible changes in their dietary behavior. 

Health

To ensure holistic understanding of health and its components, awareness sessionsongood hygiene and sanitation practicesincludingtooth cleaning and hand wash techniques were held. Dental check and tetanus vaccination camps were organised at the centre to cover all children.

Skill Development and Job Placement

The girls who are above 18 and/or have passed Class 10 opt for vocational training. Presently the girls are pursuing beauty culture training, guitar classes, piano classes, classical singing & dancing, sketching classes, photoshop editing, English speaking classes

Rehabilitation

In the last year three girls have been rehabilitated, one of the girlsis working in a beauty parlor while another girl is an employee in Aurobindo Ashram and the third girlis working in aboutique.

The centre team organised a lunch party for the rehabilitated girls to bid them farewell and assure them of extended support from the team.The staff members also ensure regular follow up of the children. The details of various girls who have been rehabilitated are as follows.

• Ritu 1- Sent For Higher Studies On July 24, 2016.
• Nirmali- Rehabilitated On August 4, 2016.
• Jyoti 1- Sent For Higher Studies On September 5, 2016.
• Pinky1- Rehabilitated On October 1, 2016.
• Meena- Rehabilitated On October 3, 2016.

Extra-Curricular Activities and Celebrations

The children engaged in following extracurricular activities in the last year.

• Monthly birthday celebration  of the girls
• Rakhi making by the girls
• Girls visited Vistara Airlines to observe their catering unit and learn about the importance of maintaining hygiene while preparing the food.
• Movie outings
• Poetry recitation by the girls to overcome the fear of stage phobia
• Visit to Kiran Nadar museum and farm house of Sleepwell owner
• Three girls won bronze and silver medals at Delhi Karate Championship
• Inter SBT girls’ badminton tournament won by Arushi girls in both senior and junior categories
• Two girls won medals in the inter SBT chess competition.
• Girls went for different activities during the summer camp
• Girls Celebrated all the festivals with great fun and enthusiasm
• Ford India gifted beautiful dresses and sweets to the girls
• Christmas gifts were presented by a corporate donor
• A play was prepared by the girls on the occasion of Christmas
• Girls went to Manali, Himachal Pradesh for a trip. The girls went for natural trails, they enjoyed and learnt a lot during the trip.

Stakeholder meetings were organised to sensitise shop keepers, community members and other duty bearers on the problems and challenges faced by the girls rescued from the streets

Challenges

While working with the girls rescued from streets and managing the centre, the team faces the following challenges.

• Communication gap with the Child Welfare Committee overseeing the enrollment and transfer of girls rescued to residential centres. Detailed legal discussions on provisions on various juvenile legislations is done to ensure that the rights of the girls rescued are protected and they get an opportunity to stay in safe shelter home.
• In the context of education of girls, many girls find it difficult to cope up with the curriculum of age appropriate classes for this the team is planning to provide proper bridge course to these girls.

Future Plans

The centre team has envisioned following plans to improve the functioning of the centre.

• Providing quality education to all children
• Sending maximum number of children to formal schools
• Developing care plan for all children with focus on those above 15years
• Developing ownership of the centre among children through strengthening children’s committee
• Making adequate rehabilitation arrangement of girls who are above 18 years
• Ensuring follow ups of restored and rehabilitated girls
• Optimal networking with corporate and individual donors to enable cost cutting