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Celebrating 10 Years |
Annual Report 07-08: Projects in Partnerships, Coalitions and Initiatives
< Administration & Fundraising Organization Snapshot >
Aasmaan
An initiative of Saathi and Committed Communities Development Trust (CCDT), project Aasmaan has focused its interventions very closely in improving the health status of the children in the community, as well as their access to basic right to education.
The community at large is facing a possibility of evacuation and re-settlement under Slum Rehabilitation Scheme (SRA) and a re-development initiative of Regional Authorities. Under these circumstances, a gradual phasing out of work with the community is inevitable. Efforts were directed in institutionalizing the existing services and programs managed as a joint venture. To this effect, three key programs of Aasmaan explored the possibilities of alignment with the existing programs of the Corporation or other Institutions. Our efforts yielded fruit as the Municipal School agreed to adopt the Support classes initiated under Aasmaan last year. Similarly, it was found that all the children attached to Balwadi (crèche) could easily get enrolled with similar programs within the jurisdiction of the community without any child left unattended. Lastly, the community has taken up the responsibility for their health needs and getting access to the health facilities of the Corporation.
Some of the indicators of change which have been observed over a period of time are as under:
 | all child deliveries are now taking place in the hospitals |
| birth registration of children is happening in almost all cases |
| treatment for any form of illness is sought either from a doctor or through a dispensary or a Corporation hospital |
| family planning methods are seen as an option to reduce pregnancies amongst mothers already having more than 2-3 children |
| almost 85% of the children from the community are enrolled in different crèches within the community jurisdiction |
| high enrollment rate of children, in private as well as in public schools |
| children identified as child laborers re-enrolled into school |
| increased involvement of parents in the activities pertaining to the welfare and development of their children |
| involvement of the community in addressing issues of their basic needs such as sanitation, water and electricity |
Some of the challenges to be faced while intervention is tapered down:
| sustainability of the process in terms of increased community support and participation |
| involvement of families in the decision making processes towards children’s health and education |
| retention of children in school beyond primary education |
| rescue and rehabilitation of children working as domestic help or as rag-pickers |
| continuous community participation to address the core issues of their survival and basic amenities |
Quality Institutional Care and Alternatives for Children (QIC&AC)
In the period between April to June 2007, all three regional Coordinators who were spearheading QIC&AC as a campaign, resigned due to better opportunities elsewhere. This triggered a sudden slide in the functioning of QIC&AC. The Resource Organization could not envisage a plan to sustain and continue the state-wide network and the members associated with the campaign started losing interest in working as a collective, on the issues of quality care for institutionalized children. Though subsequently, as an outcome of QIC&AC, a substantial number of groups emerged addressing the issues of quality institutional care and alternatives.
All throughout, Saathi has remained an active Core Group member, and probably one of the very few member organizations which never lost hope in this entire process. It would be too early to write off an initiative which has created a huge interest amongst hundreds of organizations in the area of quality institutional care and alternatives, maintained a vibrant face as a vigilant body, strived effectively towards policy change and advocated for and on behalf of over one hundred thousand children, for a just and equitable world.
An important milestone last year, has been its documentation, tracing down the growth of QIC&AC over a span of 5 years. The document also narrates the milestones achieved and the methodology adopted by QIC&AC as a campaign.
To sum up, it would be sad if an initiative of this statute and nature would be termed as ‘fast fading away’. We, at Saathi have learned tremendously being part of the process of QIC&AC, and we will put in all our efforts to revive the process.
Children's Commission Action Forum (CCAF)
The government of Maharashtra has made an announcement to set up a Commission to protect children’s rights in its own state and we, at Saathi, have welcomed the move with the hope that the specific Commission for children will have a dedicated team of people available to listen to the children and work as a mediator between the duty bearers and the children – the rights holders.
The Children’s Commission would be working towards the promotion of child rights, while, simultaneously taking up the responsibility as the highest authority at the State level in addressing the issues of violations and violence against children. A platform has thus been created under the umbrella of the Coordination Committee for Vulnerable Children (CCVC) and Quality Institutional Care & Alternatives for Children (QIC&AC) for the launch of such an initiative, which is now known and recognized at the State level as Children’s Commission Action Forum (CCAF).
Saathi is the convening organization for this campaign which is a little less than a year old. As a collective, the group is demanding for an effective implementation of the Commission at the State level as mandated. It is also creating a process of larger awareness and participation of various stake-holders to promote and protect children’s rights. The group sees itself moving as a collaborator and supporter to the initiatives carried out by the State Children’s Commission. Nonetheless, it will not hesitate in confronting the authorities and the members on the Commission for any omission of act endangering the life or violations of children’s rights in the State.
International Internship Program
Individuals from around the world have come to intern with Saathi through the International Internship Program. Hosted within a particular project, the intern is immersed in the organization’s work as well as the country and city culture. Acting as a full-fledged member of the team, interns take up responsibilities which create opportunities for their personal and professional growth while completing tasks and projects which are meaningful to Saathi’s work.
In this year, we hosted 3 interns – a Harvard Fellow pursuing research and understanding in trafficking for child labour or commercial sexual exploitation issues, a student from Austria gaining experience in international social work, and an intern referred through the American Jewish World Services to contribute towards group building skills.
Saathi responded to an enquiry by US-based Wake Forest University regarding a formal internship position for one of their students. The exploration of creating this particular annual internship acted as the impetus to also formally document the program, its growth, and what has become an in-depth and integrative orientation and immersion process for incoming interns. A series of Intern Guides is now in place, providing a wealth of information not only to the intern but to all those that are part of the facilitation team. The first of the Wake Forest interns, an MBA student from the Babcock School of Business within the university, is expected in the coming year.