South Asian Council for Community and Children in Crisis

Night Shelter

The South Asia Council for Community and Children in Crisis since its inception in 1993 has been concerned with the life and development of street children. This concern has become stronger and stronger because of the number, the life, and the appalling conditions of street children in the city of Bangalore. There are not many Organizations- governmental or non governmental- that are involved in the life and development of children. The SAC-CCC has taken this as a challenge to serve and develop the street children in a most appropriate way. The SAC-CCC also recognizes that one of the Organizations involved in the care of street children; it cannot serve all but SAC-CCC can involve deeply in the lives of street kids with available sources to change the life of a few, which is the right way to do.

In the year 1995 the SAC-CCC developed concepts of care and developments of street children and for practical and infrastructural reasons the SAC-CCC joined hands with Bangalore YMCA to take up the programme for street children. Under the Chairmanship of SAC-CCC’s Executive Director, Dr. D. Samuel Issmer the first ever National Consultation of the groups work with the street children all over India was held in Bangalore, and various perspectives were evolved during this conference and for the first time in the history of India, the SAC-CCC-Bangalore YMCA brought to the notice of Government of India the need for and mode of caring, educating, and rehabilitating the street children. As a result of this awarness Government of India has been encouraging the Non Governmental Organizations (NGOs) to involve themselves in the care of street children.

Daily life of a street child before entering in to the program: The life of street child on the street of Bangalore is pathetic, miserable and cannot be imagined by adult world. The street child collects papers, plastics, broken bottles and other hazarded materials found on the street and dustbins and sort out these materials and sells them. The street child uses this money to buy food, mostly sold on the street, which is not hygienic and visits movie halls and indulges in unhealthy life on the street. The street child also faces sexual harassment. The street child is picked up by the police for the reasons of vandalism and are often brutalized and even remanded under custody. The life of a street child is a reproach to the society and the street child is considered a rascal, a nuisance, and an outcaste. The life of street child gets complicated by ill health due to unhealthy food that is either bought or collected from the dustbin near restaurants. The street child not only fights with the adults to protect himself but more often will have to fight even with dogs to claim the waste food found in the dustbins. The street child leads a life with fear and stress; grows with no purpose in mind and no defined goals to pursue and very little hope for a better future.

The SAC-CCC right from the year 1995 has been working with street children in the following areas:

a.Night shelter
b.Rehabilitation oriented training program
c.De drug addiction and de alcohol program.

We have initiated Home of Hope Project for street children in Bangalore since March 2004.

Residential Program:

There are 25boys staying in Home of Hope. Our Social worker visits railway station, slum areas, bus stands where usually street children land and speak with them and bring them to Home of Hope. We totally care for them. We try to trace out their native place and parents and reunite the child with his family. If the boy hesitates to return to his house or if his parents refused to take him back with the acceptance of the Parents we allow the child to continue academic or vocational courses as per his interest. We will not allow any child to do child labor. Our staff are promoting values for their personal lives and also direct the street children to develop interest for a vocation.

We are constructing a new building for these children with all necessary amenities.

Rehabilitation:

At present out of 25 18 children are attending local Elementary/High school and 6 of them are undergoing tailoring course. Children are attending their schools/training centre regularly.

De drug addiction and de alcohol Camps:

The SAC-CCC ,Bangalore organized de drug addiction camps every year to take care of behavior pattern of child who are addicted to drug and alcohol. The repeated training camps to these children have helped maximum number of children to come out of addicted behaviour. The addiction is from the consumption of alcohol, cigarette bits, (tobacco) thinner, diesel and household cleaning liquids, left over strong tea powders and other classified drugs obtained by vandalism.

Through the activities of SAC-CCC a street child is redeemed from their street life, which includes rag picking, getting addicted and leading unhealthy, unstable and aimless life. The night shelter provides safe and secure environment; the training program sets a stage for a meaningful intervention and rehabilitation and the de drug addiction program relieves them from unhealthy environment.

Budget:

A contribution of, say $25 per child can do lot of things, say miracles in the life of street child. This money can shelter, clothe, feed three times, provide health care and assist in the initiation of training program. With certain additional money the child can pursue the vocational training according to their talents and interests. The street child can also go on a trip with this contribution and can have fun and participation in the festivals of India.

To meet all these expenses we require $300per year per child

Please give liberally. All contributions are tax-deductible.