Improved Care and Protection of Girl Children

Introduction

Arushi is the first girls’ shelter home started by Salaam Baalak Trust (SBT). It offers 24 hours shelter to 50 girls between the ages of 5 years to 18 years coming from the streets or other difficult circumstances. The centre is located in Gurgaon, Haryana. Arushi home is registered as a Child Care Institution under the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act 2015.

Number of children reached

In this period, there were 89 girls who availed the Arushi home facility.

Education

Education is an integral component of SBT programme and very important for children living or coming to shelters from difficult circumstances.

Non-Formal Education: All new children coming to the centre are initially linked with Non-Formal Education and only after a formal assessment, they are linked with formal education.

Formal Schooling: 28 children were admitted to regular private schools and they are attending the classes regularly. All the children are happy to be back to school after a long hiatus due to the pandemic.

National Institute of Open Schooling: 8 children were enrolled in the NIOS which is an open learning programme for the children who have either passed the age to be enrolled in a formal school or are pursuing a vocational training.

Computer Education: The home is equipped with a computer laboratory for children to learn computers, an integral part to today’s education curriculum. Most of the girls know the basics of computers such as word, excel etc.

Higher Education: 1 child is pursuing a course in Aviation, Hospitality,Travel and Management from Frankfinn Institute of Airhostess Training.

Life Skills education: Regular sessions on life skills such as anger management, improving interpersonal skills, team building etc were also held with the children.

Vocational Training: 8 children are in vocational training and the process of rehabilitation upon attaining adulthood is on. 3 girls are undergoing training in beauty culture and 5 are working in the kitchen of a cafeteria.

Children with special needs

There are 5 children with special needs in this home, with conditions of Autism, Schizophrenia, and Mild Intellectual difficulties and need individual attention and care. Regular therapy is being provided to them by the therapist.

 Provision & Nutrition

Nutritious food is vital for children’s growth and development, and very significant for children coming from vulnerable backgrounds. To meet the nutritional needs of children, nutritionally-balanced and hot-cooked meals are served in the shelter home. The meals are prepared in the kitchen space provided at the residential centre under the supervision of staff members to ensure safe and hygienic practices. In some cases, children have special nutritional requirements due to illness such as tuberculosis and malnutrition. Such children are provided with special nutrition including protein supplements, additional servings of fruits and milk as prescribed by the doctor.

Health Care

SBT medical team, including doctors, visit the shelter home regularly, conduct routine checkups children and prescribe medical treatment for children with health issues.

143 medical investigations were carried out, 65 children were referred to hospitals, 4 children were hospitalized and 9 children had to undergo long term treatment.

Eye and dental camps were organised in the shelter home in which around 40 children got themselves checked and received required treatment.

In this period here were 24 cases of COVID-19 in the Arushi home and all infected children were provided proper care and treatment and they recovered soon. The children were vaccinated against tetanus, hepatitis B and COVID-19.

 COVID-19 safety measures

SBT ensured proper safety protocols in all its shelters/ programmes. As part of this, RTPCR tests were conducted and infected children were given proper medical treatment, adolescents were given COVID prevention vaccines and health sessions were conducted with children and in the communities on the disease.

Mental health programme is important component of SBT health care and dedicated mental health professionals conduct group and individual sessions with the children. In this period, 8 girls were referred to the mental health programme and they were provided with the required treatment and counselling.  

Sports and recreational activities                                                                                     

A number of activities including educational games were organised for the children in the home and outside as well.

Celebration

Important events like festivals are celebrated in all homes and also in Arushi home by SBT.

Restoration to families/ Rehabilitation

In this period 30 children were restored to their families from this shelter home. Also, 16 children were transferred to other homes/ facilities based on need. And 2 children were rehabilitated (placed with aftercare) upon attaining adulthood.

Stories of Change

Story 1

Kareena (name changed) is now a nineteen year old girl who came to Arushi home of SBT through another NGO. Her father had died because of some terminal disease. Her mother was not keeping well and brother was also having several health issues. This year Kareena completed 12th standard through CBSE board examination. She is excellent in all activities. Kareena wanted to pursue an Airhostess training. So, with SBT’s support, Kareena has been enrolled in a course at Frankfinn Institute of Airhostess Training, New Delhi.

 Story 2

Mumtaz (name changed), is a seventeen year old girl who came to Arushi home in year 2020. She belongs to a village in Haryana. She was sent to Arushi home on the orders of a Child Welfare Committee as she was not safe at her home. She was brought to this home along with her siblings. Initially it was very difficult for Mumtaz to adjust in the institution. She was very upset because of the trauma she faced in her life. And she was unable to study which further added to her misery.

Mumtaz was provided with mental health support, non-formal education, medical care, good diet and opportunities to participate in sports and recreational activities. Gradually she started showing progress. Later she was enrolled in the 10^th standard in the National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS). At present Mumtaz is pursuing a hospitality training with the support of GMR.

 Challenges

1. A number of cases of pregnant adolescent girls were referred to Arushi home by the authorities. These are usually cases of sexual base (under PCSO Act) and are challenging to handle.

1. Rehabilitation of children with special needs, after they attain adulthood, since there are very few facilities for such young people.