Campaign Towards Development of Unsheltered Children and Improving Their Conditions

POPULAR EDUCATION AND ACTION CENTRE

A-126/6 (2nd Floor), Katwaria Sarai, New Delhi 110 016

Telefax # +91 11 26968121 & 26858940

E-mail #

Annual Activity Report

Project Period:April 2009 to March 2010

Project Title:Campaign towards Development of Unsheltered Children and Improving their Conditions (Navjagriti Collective)

Background

‘Navjagriti Collective’ have been executing a non-formal education programme for slum children, street kids and those kids who have run away from their home and living at Nizammudin Railway platforms. ‘Navjagriti Collective’ admitted 13 slums children in St. Michael’s Primary School and 4 railway children in Govt. Boys Senior Secondary School, Jangpura, Bhogal in the last session of 2009-2010. Out of 13 children from St. Michael’s Primary School 12 children have passed their examination and got admission in next class and out of 4 railway children from Govt. Senior Secondary School 3 children have passed and got admission in next class. Goonj have been very active in supporting our organization for last 3 years by donating clothes for children, electrical equipments such as computer, stationary items and etc.

In the current session of 2010-2011 ‘Navjagriti Collective’ have admitted 26 new children in the school, likewise we expect a good donation of same items and one working computer system for the use of official works.

Activities

The activities carries out with the children during the period are as follows:

Diwali: Diwali is the festival of lights. The festival was celebrated by all the members of Nav-Jagriti with great joy and fun. All the children were given new clothes before a day of Diwali. On the occasion of Diwali, the shelter home was decorated so nicely with lights, candles and diyas. The new volunteers Jess, Erin and Peter had been with us the whole day and be a part of our celebration and enjoyment. The festive day was made beautiful with music, dance and with sweets too. After the whole day of party and masti, our kids burn crackers and make the ending wonderful.

Eid: Eid is the main festival of Muslims and as most of our kids are belonging to the Muslim community, we had an excellent celebrating circumstance. Eid was also celebrated in the same way as Diwali which is followed by the distribution of sweets, gifts etc. the ‘Topi’ which is wore by a Muslim on his head were also distributed among all the members of Nav Jagriti and this gave and extra-ordinary look to the Eid celebration. The decoration was good and after the food, we made the day enjoyable with music and dance and it was really fun!!

Bal Mela Participation: All the children of Nav Jagriti were invited to take part in the Bal Mela organized by Nehru Memorial at Teen Murti Bhawan. Our children performed a small skit at Teen Murti Bhawan. The play gives a message of unity and sharing sprits. The organizing members put up many stalls for children; our children visited all those stalls and had fun. Even, our kids interact with all the members of organizing team of Bal Mela. There were many activities too and those were really enjoyable. So, the conclusion is that our children like to be a part of this Bal Mela.

International Volunteer’s Day: Nav Jagriti had received another invitation from Gandhi Smriti and Darshan Samiti to perform a small skit in the inauguration ceremony of street play competition on the occasion of International Volunteer’s Day. Our kids get an overwhelming response by the audience and also the performance received a great standing ovation. Our kids met many people there and were so much loved by them.

A prize distribution ceremony was held the next day and our kids got the first prize in the competition. The prize motivated and sensitized our children deeply to take part in such activities and to believe in their own talent. It is truly said, that every children has talent.

Zoo and India Gate Visit: Nav Jagriti had planned to conduct a picnic for the children. More than forty children were accompanied by us. During the bus journey, the children were taught of the importance of animals and even about the importance of conservation of animals. On arriving at the zoo, we all went inside and had so much fun, though the tour was quite tiring but we all gathered so many sweet memories. After the visit, we had lunch altogether in the nearby park. After having such a great food, we continue our journey and reached India Gate, we spend some of our time in the Children’s Park. Our kids had so much fun while riding swings and other rides in the Children’s Park. This was only an effort to comfort them in a new environment. Our volunteers Peter, Jess and Erin were also with us during the whole tour and had enjoyed so much.

Christmas Celebration: Christmas was also celebrated with great joy and fun. We all had celebrates Christmas altogether. We had organized a small programme including poetry recitation, singing, dancing etc. in this event, our small girls surprised us so much, they took more interest in the activities and also were received appreciation from all others. Some of the visitors came to attend the event and followed by the distribution of sweets, cakes, etc. the programme winded up very late. But in the end, we all sang Christmas carols altogether with great joy and happiness.

Workshop at National Scholl of Drama: The workshop organized by the National School of Drama focused on women empower. The workshop was organized in the nearby slum of Nizamuddin area. Around twenty five ladies came to take part in the workshop and the workshop lasts for about twenty days. Basically most of them were mothers of our kids (Nav Jagriti). The workshop covers a discussion on the living style of these women including how they survive with their drug addicted husbands, with their poverty, and in their disastorous work conditions. The members of NSD conducted the workshop and spend around two hours a day in the workshop. The workshop highlighted the condition of women in slums and underdeveloped areas.

Lady Irwin College: Some B.Ed. students of Lady Irwin College, visited the Nav Jagriti Centre and proposed to give individual attention to the children by teaching them. More than 70 B.Ed. students and one of their teacher came forward to give a concrete from to this activity. They even provide us the convince. Every Monday, the bus came to pick our kids from the centre to the college and them drop them back too. The main motive of the programme was to pay individual attention to the kids to help them in their studies. At the last day, the college students planned a small get-together with our all kids. They provide our kids a nice atmosphere. They presented our kids so many study material and gifts too. Our kids enjoyed so much there. The programme was so memorable. The memories will lasts in our hearts for so long.

Smart Group’s Celebration: A group of professionals called Smart Group who has been active in taking up the financial responsibility of Nav Jagriti. They help us financially as well as morally. They were really supportive; they invited us to celebrating their annual say at Salwan Public School. Our kids perform skit, song etc. and showed their talent. Our kids got nice appreciation from the audience. Our kids tried to enact in order to imbue everyone with the color of motivational and inspiring force. We also performed nine pay which rejected the non violence and more the environment free of threats and attacks. Self composed songs were much appreciated by all.

Smart Group provided an excellent and interesting platform for our kids to open up. The event was so memorable and nice. We all had a very good time there.