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Dec'06 - May'07 - Dec'07
Urban Micro credit
Under the project “ sampurna’ a loan of Rs. 1 lakh was disbursed among 14 guardians of the Rainbows of Loreto Sealdah for various purposes in March 2007, like starting business, expansion of business, change of business- construction of their house, repair of roof etc. Women who took loans for businesses are running them now successfully. 1/4th of the loan is already being repaid.
Homelink
Homelink is a programme whereby a number of NGOs including us are linked through computer so that if a child is lost anywhere in India we get the information and can look for him or her. We have children appointed to search for such children. They are called peer leaders. The center we run is called a node and the entire operation in Kolkata is called a Hub and is led by Ashalayam.
On July 30th & 31st a two days peer leader training programme was held at Don Bosco Nitika.
There are 9 nodes under Howrah Hub and each node shared what they do in their respective areas when they go for outreach, who are the people they are meeting daily, and where they find difficulties.
Some issues had come up from the children for discussion. These issues are going to be put up to the government of India in order to form a policy. These include.
1) People’s lack of Sensitization
2) How to deal with physically challenged children
3) Lack of attention from the police
4) To create awareness programmes on “Missing Child Search in slums.”
The children really enjoyed the two days. It was basically a learning experience for them and when they go back to their respective places they can get on well with the knowledge which they have acquired in these workshops.
Foke
Our Rainbows continue, their daily trip to Sealdah Station to distribute food packets, clothes and tender loving care to all their “grannies” and “grandpas”. During the Pujas, they had special hot packs and festive sweets for many a sweet tooth.
However all has not been fair weather for us at Bhalobasha. This has been the most difficult time for us. Geeta identified in January’06, through our daily food programme at Sealdah Station, was welcomed as a resident to Madhubati. She played an active part in founding of the Follow-up school, as she had all the credentials of a teacher. She taught the children, till the very last day of her life. Who would guess, that the most healthiest balanced inmate who spent hours reading Tagore, would make a hasty exit. On August 18th, she helped to cook her favourite lunch, and then took a short break to read the newspapers. In a split second she collapsed and died. We are still in shock, for who can be ready for the finality of death.
Yet for every sunset there is a sunrise and we have every reason to celebrate, for Chaitali has done us proud. She is 18 years and thriving. Chaitali and her sister were abandoned and left to waste in a psychiatrist hospital. When Chaitali was 13 years old, they were rescued and brought to Loreto Sealdah. All efforts to involve Chaitali in any activity failed and her violent aggressive behaviour was an impediment to any progress. One day Chaitali was introduced to the care giving activity of the Destitute Elderly. And wonder of wonders, it clicked. The rest is history for today Chaitali is the leader of the group. She takes responsibilities seriously, and keeps a daily record, and is fully into the act, which earned her one of the Telegraph School Awards in August 2007.
Bansdroni
In August 2006, the FMM nuns from Bansdroni attended a Principals’ seminar on setting up of Rainbow Homes for high risk girls. The seeds of change were sown for they set out to survey the streets around Bansdroni and Garia, interviewing and attempting to reach out to the distressed girls loitering around all areas along the canal. Rows upon rows of shanties crudely put together with bamboo stakes, mud, plastic sheeting and tin plates, stretched along the entire length of the canal.
There were no facilities, such as electricity, safe drinking water, toilets or sanitation.
Families grew, children increased, problems compounded and destitution prevailed.
With the extension of Metro Railway tube project, a massive clean up operation resulted in the demolition of all the hutments. Hundreds of people got displaced their means of livelihood broken and rendered homeless.
The children were hit the most. Many of the fathers abandoned their families and vanished. The mothers went out to work and the children wandered the streets.
…and so they approached S. M. Cyril of Loreto Sealdah for advice and guidance and with support from the Partnership Foundation in Holland, the Shanti Rani Rainbow Home was opened in April 2007 and 37 very high risk girls have been admitted to the Home according to the guidelines laid down by Loreto Sealdah.
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