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Celebrating 10 Years |
Annual Report 07-08: Youth Initiative Project
The Youth Initiative works with the youth (16 to 24 years) among the homeless population of the city, who are trying to rebuild their lives. Most of them came to the city with dreams of a better future. But with the daily wages they could earn, renting even a room turned out to be impossible, forcing them onto the streets. The initiative works on the issues of shelter, economic alternatives and creating a more positive identity for this section of society. It also addresses the issue of denial of rights, especially access to health services. Psycho-social support and a range of facilities are offered, including physical (food & bathrooms), occupational (non-formal education and vocational training as well as sponsorship for formal education and vocational training offered by others), social (camaraderie and interaction with their peers in a non-threatening environment) and emotional (counseling, therapy) support. The initiative also hosts a full Shelter Program including Group Homes.
In 2007-08, the initiative went back to its roots – the streets. In previous years, much of the efforts were focused in the Day Centre with contact being made through Outreach. In this year, the paradigm was shifted with most of the work focused on the streets themselves. The emphasis was on empowerment of the individual and facilitating formation of cohesive groups. This will in turn form the foundation of the Movement to reclaim guaranteed rights, dignity, and raise public awareness about issues that lead to and perpetuate homelessness.
Milestones
 | Sensitization sessions about issues of youth living on the streets for city police in C,D & E Wards |
| Started work in Beggars' Home towards rehabilitation of youth wrongfully/mistakenly arrested under beggary law in partnership with Koshish, field action project of Tata Institute of Social Sciences |
| Started short term shelter for Youth |
| Analysis of referral data led to introspection of past efforts as well as overhaul of recording and documentation methods after recognizing recurrent gaps in data |
| Health awareness sessions for youth started with the help of BMC hospitals |
| Shelter Program redesigned based on responses to survey conducted with youth living on the streets on what they understand to be the meaning or description of “Home” |
Concerns & Challenges
| Lack of availability of people willing to work in the field with youth living on the streets |
| Misconceptions about this group and stereotypes about them |
Future Plans
| Policy interventions for housing for homeless youth |
| Awareness and sensitization campaigns to break the stereotypes about this group |
| Starting skill centers to upgrade soft skills of these youth and improve their employability |
| Networking nationally with organizations working on shelter issues |
| Research, documentation and dissemination on issues of youth living on the streets |
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One of the catalysts for Saathi being started over a decade ago was the number of youth living on the street who are there because they “aged out” of another system – NGO shelter or government residential institution. Samarth, 18 years old, is one such individual. After being asked to leave the NGO shelter where he’d resided since he was 11, he had nowhere to go and was still without any support system. And so he found himself once again homeless and struggling just for survival. After meeting a few other youth who are familiar with Saathi, Samarth met our Outreach workers and joined the Midway Shelter, earning through the Kria Income Generation Program, and pursuing his studies. While at the centre, his talent in drawing was noticed and he shared that he’d already taken a basic drawing course and would like to pursue art formally. He is now aspiring to take the 12th standard exams, having scored 52% in the 10th standard exams and is eventually wants to attend the J.J. School of Art to pursue a B.A. in Fine Arts. He is living in Saathi’s Group Home and working in a stationery store to cover his living expenses. Saathi’s focus on the adolescent and young adult provides a bridge between a childhood spent in shelters and institutions and living a life of dignity through adulthood. Without this segue between life phases, young men like Samarth who are fully capable citizens fall through the cracks, desperately trying to reach their potential while striving for their next meal.
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Aslam works and lives on the streets of Mumbai. He was referred to Saathi by another youth in Saathi’s contact. He was suffering from extreme gastric problem and swelling in his legs, his condition deteriorating day by day. He was hospitalised where tests revealed that he suffers from several complications, including a damaged liver and kidneys that have stopped functioning. At the same time he was also diagnosed as being HIV positive. A couple of days into treatment, he went missing from the hospital. He was found back at Mahim Beach. It came to light that he was ill-treated by the staff at the hospital with the staff also taunting him as being a waste and burden. He could not tolerate it and left. Such ill-treatment to homeless poor groups by hospital staff is a common problem in the city due to which this group seldom goes to government hospitals. Saathi is attempting to address it through facilitated group interactions between youth and hospital staff as well as other approaches. Meanwhile, Aslam cannot be persuaded to return to the hospital. It is a sad situation as his health will deteriorate rapidly without medical aid
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