Transform childhoods of 300 slum children in India

The Safe Communities for Children in Rehabilitation and Resettlement Sites, Lallu Bhai Compound, YUVA organised a ‘Child Friendly’ summer camp from 13th May 2017 to 19th May 2017 with an objective of creating a ‘With the Children for a Safe and Violence Free Community’.

The summer camp was inaugurated on 13th May by Mr.  Dattatray Shinde, Senior Inspector of Police at Deonar Police Station. Later the children organized a rally throughout Lallubhai Compound, giving slogans of bal Shakti ai hai nai roshni ai hai. The rally concluded in a street play on Child Labour performed by the Childline team of YUVA.

Focusing on the taboo in talking about gender issues in the community, day two of the camp organised two activities; ‘Maa-Beti Milan’ and screening of the Documentary Zor se bol that was followed by discussion on eve-teasing. Through dance movement therapy facilitated by Ms. Ayushi Chaturvedi, Maa-Beti Milan aimed at initiating dialogue between mothers and daughters. Simultaneously, with the boys, discussion was initiated on eve teasing through the movie ‘Jor se bol’.

Introducing puppet show as a medium of communicating with the mass, ‘Puppet-making ’ was the theme of the day. Mr. Ravindra Pedanekar, taught the students to make puppets. At the end of the session, children decided to perform a puppet show using the puppets they made that day at the end of the camp.  

Through documentaries and short films based on violation of rights such as right to education, right to protection, right to play, right to development and right to participation, day three focused on violation of child rights.   

Apart from words written or spoken, art can also be a great way to express oneself and at the same time a recreational activity. ‘Drawing Festival’ was organized with the same objective on  17th May 2017. The same method was used to bring out the feelings of the kids and make them express whatever they feel about the society they live in and the ways in which they would contribute to the creation of such a community.

With an objective of team building and coordination within the existing BASS groups, outdoor games like cricket, kho-kho were organised for the children. Post lunch session  was a on gender sex and manhood that was facilitated by Ms. Deepa Pawar. Both girls and boys spoke their minds about the myths around gender roles and patriarchy in the society that not only restricts the female but also imposes certain mandatory behavioural attributes for males.

The same day, a craft making session was facilitated by Childline associate Mrs. Anita. She taught the kids to make a piggy bank with balloon and paper. Last activity for the day was a session on Judo techniques for self defence which was facilitated by Ms. Nidhi and Mrs. Neha.

The summer camp concluded with cultural program hosted by BASS coordinators Saurabh and Jyoti. Mrs. Samruddhi Kante, honourable Nagarsevak of ward  146 and ex- chairman of M. Purva Vibhag along with the Police Inspector Mr. Chandekar attended the event as Chief Guest. The children coloured the evening with dance, music, puppet show, play and poetries, each one to spread a message.