The major initiatives taken by Nesakkaram can be broadly classified under the following heads . . .
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The major initiatives taken by Nesakkaram can be broadly classified under the following heads . . . |
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| Awareness Campaigns | ||
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Nesakkaram strongly believes that social awareness must spread to all sections of our society, which would go a long way in creating a humane society for everyone to live in peace and harmony. Thus, we spread public awareness by means of street plays, puppetry shows, cultural shows etc. Periodically Nesakkaram takes up campaigns on the rights of children and urban poor. Some of the topics taken up included 'Education for All' , 'Police: Our Friends', 'Abolition of Child Labour', 'Child Rights' and 'Basic Needs of the Poor'. |
| Child Link | ||
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Nesakkaram has Child Help booths at Egmore & Tambaram Railway Stations with an Intervention Officer monitoring the booth and similar facilities at major railway station and bus stations in Chennai. Volunteers keep a sharp look out for runaway children. When identified, the child is taken to Nesakkaram with his/her consent, after which they are protected and taken back home wherever there is a conducive family environment. Others are counselled, given emotional support and cared for at Nesakkaram or referred to other child care institutes. Child Link is networked to Child Line with toll free No. 1098. |
| Disaster Relief | ||
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Nesakkaram swung quickly into action to reach the coastal villages of Chennai during the tsunami. Relief measures in the form of food, medical assistance; psycho-socio care, boats, motors and fishing nets were given. The follow-up work goes continuesly to bring them back to the normal life, many who are below the poverty line. In numbers, Nesakkaram has reached out to around 9,000 people that include children, women and men. Six villages are still under our care where normal life is returning back and activities to develop the Tsunami affected community of IRULAS (a tribal group) is in full swing. Man made calamities like fire which occur due to sheer negligence are also treated and addressed in a similar manner. |
| Education | ||
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Nesakkaram has Contact Centers in 20 areas in the city, where street based slum children are given non-formal or supplementary education, by 20 Street Educators. To ensure access to education for all children, Nesakkaram takes up Enrollment Drive every year through camps and Campaigns. In the past four years, 874 children have been enrolled. Three of our contact centers have reached 100% literacy among school going children. Children are given educational materials through the support of our friends and well-wishers. |
| Health Camps | ||
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Nesakkaram has established a close network with leading hospitals like Vijaya Health Center, Sankara Nethralaya, Apollo Hospitals, Government Hospital, Sterling Hospital. With the assistance of these hospitals Medical camps are conducted periodically in target areas to assess the health condition of the children and identify their health needs. Appropriate follow up is done in terms of further treatment, if necessary. NALAM, an exclusive Street Child Medical Aid Center, run by Shahisnatha Trust in the premises of our Short-Stay-Home. Children are given health education during the camps. |
| Women Groups | ||
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Women of very low strata of the society who are below the poverty line are encouraged to come together as small viable Self Help Groups to make them economically stronger. They are made to realize their own skills and strengths and the changes they can bring to their family and the society. Nesakkaram currently has over 200 such groups spread all over Chennai city. One Self Help Group “Annapoorna” is successfully running a Departmental Store of the same name at Teynampet in Chennai City . This is besides many others who are engaged in various entrepreneurial activities. |
| Skill Training | ||
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The children above fifteen years of age, not willing to pursue further studies, are given vocational skills to become self-dependent and to supplement their family income. Generally boys learn two wheeler mechanisms and driving; girls are given training in tailoring and embroidery. In collaboration with St.Sebastian's Technical Institute boys are trained as carpenters, fitters, electricians, turners and plumbers. According to the age groups and gender, the children are led through various games, simulations in a camp environment to understand themselves and society; to acquire leadership skills like motivation, goal-setting, time management, communication skills; to dream dreams and aspire for greater things in life. Nesakkaram focuses in a special way on girl children and organizes camps for them to give a deeper understanding of themselves - physically and psychologically and empower them to face life, in all its nuances. |
| Shelter | ||
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Nesakkaram runs two Short-Stay-Homes at Nungambakkam and T.Nagar for the children who are away from their homes because of loss of parent(s), abandonment by the parents, child abuse, child labor, dislike for school, attraction to the city etc. The children are given food and shelter to begin with. They are made to feel safe, secure and confident through care and counseling. After ascertaining the home situation and ensuring a conducive environment, Nesakkaram tries to home-place the child, with his/her consent. If unwilling, the children stay back at Nesakkaram and pursue their studies. If they are too old, they are given some vocational training. They are also given all-round training in performing arts, self-defense, games etc. |
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