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Ravichandran wakes up early in the morning only to toil in silence for the rest of the day. All through the day, he and his siblings would sit in crouched position making matchboxes with the help of cardboard and glue. Altogether, they earn not more than Rs. 80 to 100 per day.
Friends, Ravichandran is just one among the many children in Gudiyattam, whose childhood had been snatched by industries such as tanneries, leather goods unit, country cigarette (Beedi) and match production units which generate a demand for human labour.
Ravichandran too has big dreams in life. He would have given up all his dreams of childhood had it not been for kind-hearted donors who were willing to help children in need through World Vision India.
Ravichandran and his siblings were put back in school – a thing that he kept longing for. World Vision provides them with school fees, uniforms and books. To help their uncle overcome the increased financial stress, we provided him with a loan to purchase goats. Rearing goats is a very profitable trade in these parts of the country. Today, Ravichandran is in 9th std. and his uncle has sufficient income to sustain the family.
Through consistent efforts, World Vision has been able to effectively address the issue of bonded labour. Today, bonded labour has been completely eliminated in the target villages of the Gudiyattam project. The parents of child labourers are provided economic development assistance to provide for their children and send them to school.
Chetna staff member conducts an awareness training for a self-help group. Women are given training on everything from basic health and sanitation to community organization and activism.
Heidi McKenzie, Designer with Lexington Fashion Collaborative. Community Development Society (CDS) 2015 Conference held in Lexington, Kentucky on July 19 - July 22, 2015
As the city of Vishakapatnam begins to wake up, 13-year-old Puvalamma hurries to finish her job. If life had been different, the bag slung around her shoulder might have carried books and Puvalamma might have been on her way to school.
But in reality, all that it carries are 'valuable' scraps, the result of at least 4 hours of hard work, scavenging the dustbins of her city. It is not a job that Puvala looks forward to, but she knows that unless she brings in her share of the ‘booty', her parents will not allow her to go to school. So, she wakes up at dawn and sets out to scourge the dustbins. She returns at 9 a.m., cleans up and goes to 'school'. The ‘school', which is World Vision's Non-Formal Education centre, is a haven for children from Puvala's community.
Functioning as a bridge school and a vocational skills training center, it offers the children something they have never ever experienced-a sense of belonging. Adolescent girls like Puvala are taught embroidery, handicrafts and painting. Some of them will be taught tailoring, depending on their aptitude. "The idea is to create a generation of children who will leave the streets and move a few rungs up the social ladder,” says a community worker.
"I hate picking rags," says Puvala."I cannot go back and live the rest of my life picking through dustbins. I want to be respected by people. I don't want them to turn away when they see me. I am interested in flower making and if I learn to do it well. I can earn better than rag-picking and begging. It is more respectable."
Along with the vocational training, Puvala is also taught the basics of reading, writing and arithmetic. "It is impractical to send children of her age to primary school. But at the same time, we want to give them the knowledge and information they need to lead normal, healthy lives," notes a community worker.
Puvala's parents were first unwilling to send her to school, as she is the eldest of 7 children and there are many responsibilities at home. Because they are faced with pressing needs, it is difficult to persuade parents to make a long-term investment and send the children to school. But World Vision community workers have been relentless in persuading parents and creating awareness.
"A few months back when we entered the community, parents were angry with us," says a community worker. "But now they come forward and ask us if we will admit their children too. That's because the change in the behavior of children attending classes is very evident!"
Step by step, transformation is on its way in Puvala's community.
World Vision started a football team (players wearing white jersey) many years back for children in slums. Many of the players have faced child labour in some form – from cleaning drainages to working in tea shops, hotels and mechanic shops.
Now that their life has changed tide with help from World Vision India, they came together to raise awareness for children who are bound by the chains of child labour in sports goods industry...especially stitching of footballs in places like Meerut and Jalandar.
They played a passionate game on the World Day Against Child Labour to send the message loud and clear – END CHILD LABOUR
Madhu and one of the villagers he's built a relationship with. Chetna staff's work all happens through the persuasion and understanding that comes through relationships.
The interventions are primarily among street children, working children (engaged in different forms of child labour: rag picking, polishing shoes, car cleaning, helping caterers in parties, mechanic and tea shops), children of sex workers, children of construction workers and children begging at traffic lights
Anjuman school is a picture of neglect with badly maintained classrooms, no safe drinking water and damaged auditorium. School children including 325 sponsored children had to bear the
brunt of this.The conflict between the two local trusts had put the school in
this pathetic condition. The school authorities requested World Vision Mumbai East ADP to help the school. We renovated classrooms & laboratories and also fit the water filters within the school premises so that children will have access to clean and safe drinking water.
This motivated both the trusts to work towards the welfare of the children. They came together and cleared the differences within them. Now they have renovated 8 classrooms, one auditorium and the school entrance. Today, both the staff and children are very happy. Ms. Shaikh Akhtari, Head Master, Primary Section, said “World Vision has done a good job. They have helped build peace between the two trusts and have also extended support to our school"
World Vision started a football team (players wearing white jersey) many years back for children in slums. Many of the players have faced child labour in some form – from cleaning drainages to working in tea shops, hotels and mechanic shops.
Now that their life has changed tide with help from World Vision India, they came together to raise awareness for children who are bound by the chains of child labour in sports goods industry...especially stitching of footballs in places like Meerut and Jalandar.
They played a passionate game on the World Day Against Child Labour to send the message loud and clear – END CHILD LABOUR