the VATSALYA foundation ENDEAVORS TO REHABILITATE CHILDREN AND BRING THEM BACK TO MAINSTREAM SOCIETY WITH NO DISCRIMINATION AND EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES
Target Groups
TVF reaches out to street boys and girls between the age group of 7 – 17 years: Street youth ranging in the age group from 18 – 25 years: and children of ‘at–risk’ families. Vatsalya works closely with the children and youth to understand their issues and their aspirations. The evolution of the organization and its programmes are a testimony to its belief that children are at the core of all its strategies.
INTERVENTION STRATEGIES
OutreachOur outreach workers reach out to children living on the streets/pavements/slums areas of Mumbai and encourage to enroll them for education.
RURAL PROJECTSVatsalya has made another beginning to reach out to children who have lost their childhood. Learning centres that would serve the purpose of preventing children from running away, and giving those who runaway an opportunity to live meaningfully.
OPEN SHELTER HOMEAn open shelter home is provided to those children who are in dire need of a safe haven away from the streets and dysfunctional families. The child’s right to participation and child development and be part of the mainstream Society
WORK AT THE PREVENTIVE LEVELSWork with children of pavement families. Work with girls children with a focus on protection and schooling. Reuniting children with the families. Work with street drug addicts: motivation to give up the habit and referrals for detoxification.
DAY CARE CENTRESThose children who do not have a conducive environment to attend the contact centres, which helps them enroll in school/college admissions/ and network with other NGOS for training facilities along with various skill development programmes.
NETWORKING AND ADVOCACYPublic education about the situation of street children through awareness programmes in schools, colleges, clubs, police, BMC, hospitals. Collaborating with government and other NGOs at the local and national level to facilitate the work with street children and to bring policy level changes towards the betterment of these children through the Coordination Committee for Vulnerable Children (CCVC), a network of NGO’s working with street children in Mumbai. TVF has been an active member of many networks in order to catalyse policy changes for the betterment of the children. As part of its health, education, protection and shelter communities, Vatsalya has taken part in police training programmes and dialogues with municipal authorities in relation to children’s education and health. As a result of such dialogues, the birth certificate/ affidavit requirements for admission in municipal schools have been waived for street children. Through its various activities, TVF has been effective in reaching out and making a difference to a large number of children in Mumbai.
