Shaishav is an organisation working alongside the most marginalised children in the town of Bhavnagar. Our approach is unique in that children have full ownership of the process of change. We use innovative teaching methods based on group activities and discussion to enable children to make sense of the world around them, reach their own conclusions about how they should treat others, and ask for the things they have a right to.
Everyone here knows education is important, but the pressure to earn is greater and children end up labouring in diamond polishing, plastic recycling, baking, sari weaving. It has never occurred to these children that they might have choices, or the potential to one day shape society around them.
Our objective is much broader than just getting child labourers into education. Indeed we recognise that education forms only one part of a child's development; it needs to be reinforced with a moral element too. We engage children in learning activities that equip them to bring about change in matters affecting their lives, and ultimately become responsible citizens who go on to improve their communities. Our approach is unique in that children have full ownership of the process of change.
At Shaishav you'll find children unlike many you'll have met. Children who are without judgement, considerate, democratic and empowered. They're able to have rational conversations with their families and communities about issues like going to school, being friends with the opposite sex and other castes, marrying young. These children are changing long-entrenched attitudes all over their community. This work will directly benefit 2,500 children directly and 18,000 community children indirectly.
This project has provided additional documentation in a PDF file (projdoc.pdf).
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