From the past decade or so we have been working with children and women. It has been a constant feature of our work that, all our programmes and activities thereof are the results of the spelt out needs of our beneficiaries.

We intend to continue to work on similar lines and infact look forward to reach out much larger numbers. Without diluting the impact and maintaining the quality of our work through out. Our success cannot just be measured through the numbers reached but can be felt through the expressive smile in the eyes of our beneficiaries. Our major anchor programme entitled Rights. Rehabilitation and Reintegration of Children consists of four sub-programmes and one annual mega event.

This programme envisages actions and interventions that provide a means to rehabilitate and reintegrate children back with their families and society at large. The efforts are towards helping children to develop and grow into respectable citizens of the society.

Working with Children directly on Streets through Contact Points and Drop-in-Centres

Through the Contact Points (common places for the children such as railway platforms, bus stands, parks etc. Where they gather and spend time with our street educators each of Streets Educators met on an average 6-8 new children per day, apart from the regular beneficiaries.

The Street educators build rapport with the children; they play games and provide non-formal education to the children. Further, as a result of regular counseling and trust building the children open up and indicate their willingness to either go back to their families, join the child development centers of HCHW or opt for other rehabilitation options.

This year we have started two fully functional Drop-In-Centres located nearby to the railway stations of Hyderabad and Secunderabad in order to serve Children living on streets and in other difficult circumstances in these areas. Children are provided non-formal education, recreation, counseling facilities throughout the day from 8.00 am to 7.00 pm.

The center also enables effective bonding and trust building between our staff and the child, ensuring adequate opportunities and suitable environment for understanding and counseling the children.

All these efforts results in repatriation, referrals for child development center, Vocational training, job placement and self-employment opportunities for these children. During this year, we have reached 3807 children through Contact Points and Drop-in-Centres.

Rehabilitation towards overall Development

In continuation to Drop-in-Centres, there are two shelter homes for these children called Child Development Centres. Which provide round-the-clock care and rehabilitation services. The Child Development Centre provides the children care and protection along with facilities like food, shelter, health care, recreation, nonformal education and vocational training through skill building.

HCHW gives first priority to the repatriation (rejoining children back with their families) of children as we firmly believe that home is the safest and best place for any child to be. However, it has been observed that all children may not respond positively to repatriation immediately and would actually indicate that the reasons for him to leave home were either in pursuit of education or a job. Thus, it is very important to strategize an individual careplan for each child and execute the same.

Instilling the pursuit of Education

The possibilities of rehabilitation of children from streets always remain a big question. Our work has again and again proved that children are children no matter they live on streets or in brothels, who can be moulded in any desired manner be it good or bad as usually distinguished. The performance of our children during the academic year and results obtained for SSC and VII standards confirm that children need only opportunities of excel.

HIGHLIGHTS

Secondary School Certificate

A total of eight children appeared for SSC examination. Out of that six children got first division and rest two passes in second division. Congratulations children! You have really made us proud with your consistent academic performance.

VII Standard

Another eight children appeared for VII class common examination. Out of that six children got first class and rest two passes in second division. Master Md. Omer is the topper bearing hall ticket no.78071 and securing with a distinction marks of 444 (74 percent).

Repatriation

Repatriation or Re-integration with families is the most important objective of HCHW. A total of 237 children were repatriated with their families. Another, 234 children were helped in developing contacts with their families.

The twist that unfold the trauma

Master Syed Mohammed is a ten year child, hails from Charminar, Hyderabad. His mother who got remarried after his father’s death had left him with grandparents. He used to work in a hotel. His elder sister used to harass him on petty issues. Thus, he left home and landed on the streets. He was traced by one of our street educators and referred to Child Development Centre – Secunderabad. After constant counseling, the child agreed to go back to his aunty.

The real twist in the story is… after reaching the address and meeting guardians, our caretaker came to know that the boy was not a boy!!! But to his astonishment a girl!!! In an interactive counseling, the girl revealed with dripping tears in her eyes “since, I am not able to withstand the ill treatment at my house, I came on the street. But, I know as a girl it is very difficult to survive on street, facing other people. So, in disguise of boy, I want to protect myself. I even changed my name from Tasleem to Syed Mohammed. All that I need in my life is love and care.” Hence, the guardians were counseled and suggested to give attention towards her emotional needs.

Health Care

Our concern towards ensuring good health status of our children is reflected by the number of health camps organized in the year for their Dental Check up, General Health Checkup. Eye Checkup, Cancer Detection, Leprosy Detection, ENT Checkup and so on.

Vocational Training

The elder children, above 15 years who are not inclined towards education have the facility to learn vocational skills as per their need and interest like screen printing, tailoring, beautician course, electrical house wiring, plumbing, car driving and so on. Presently we run a full fledged screen printing unit and support the other courses financially. We intend to start an exclusive residential vocational rehabilitation center for the benefit of many more children. A total of 47 children were provided vocational training and 13 children were helped through Self Employment opportunities. A total of 31 children were helped to get Job Placements.

Other Programmes

Special Meditation and Yoga Programmes were conducted for mental and physical well being of the children. Open Houses were organized to involve them in brainstorming on the issues related to them. A number of competitions on painting, singing, drawing etc were a regular feature.

Children’s Carnival

Childhood is a transitional phase of life meant to be happy-go-lucky and secure, safe and joyous, enjoying and playing. Period of learning and discovery. Unfortunately, there is an alarming rise in the number of children on streets and in other difficult circumstances. These children are unaware of their childhood, and are in turn compelled to take up the responsibilities of premature adulthood.

HCHW has carved a niche for child development activities and designed an exclusive programme – Children’s Carnival. In fact it is first of its kind in India as well as across globe, as a unique weeklong programme for the restoration of childhood among children in a fun and frolic manner. This year it was organized at Majestic Gardens, and on an average we catered to around 1200 children everyday through out the week.

I wish we could have more such Carnivals, the week seem to fly off so soon – Adhom, a child from Child Development Centre – Hyderabad.

This time I have participated in all the competitions, and also won in the drawing competition – Naresh, a child from Child Development Centre – Secunderabad.

I was very happy to see so many movie stars and I also got to talk to them, my favourite was Suman – Venkatesh, a child from the streets.

“I just wanted to drop in for few minutes for the Inaugural and move on to my next appointment but after meeting the children here I just did not feel like leaving the place”. Amala Akineni, Social Activist and Cine Star, at the Children’s Carnival.