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Children Home at Varanasi
Although a Saga Behind Success of Children Home
Saksham Project – VARANASI (U.P.)
No one can believe that a child dies from poverty in every 3 seconds -
that's 30,000 children die each and every day. India has a third of the
world's poor - more than any other country and 456 million people, or 42%
of the population, live below the international poverty. Estimate shows
that 18 million children are on street and millions more are out of school
and are involved in child labour spending their day on the streets
begging, and in the nights sleeping at the side of the road or on railway
platforms. These are the reason why PRAYATN started to serve those
children who have never dreamt of a good quality education and other basic
needs.
Varanasi has a good cultural environment located on the banks of River
Ganga is one of the holiest place of India and known as centre of learning
and civilization for over 2000 years. Varanasi is also a city of temples
and River Ghats. But in other side, socio-economic condition is very poor
and the lower economic status deprives the children of several
developmental needs and opportunities. The basic facilities like health
and education are often neglected. In order to provide an enabling
environment for mainstreaming the deprived children, Prayatn have joined
their hands with BACK to Life Germany to help the underprivileged children
of our country to realize their potential.
Origin and evolution of the Children’s Home
This home was started by a loving lady Stella Deetjen (In India known as
Tara) from Germany came to India to help some leprosy patients at
Dashaswamedh Ghat of Varanasi, and coined an idea to start a children home
for the kids of these helpless people and finally it came out with a name
called “Back to life”.
Her compassionate heart was deeply moved when she saw the children of
leprosy patient who were in need and in a very pathetic situation at
Dashashwamedh Ghat, the children were absolutely deprived from his
childhood necessities. This was the beginning of Children’s Home.
Tara’s caring work expanded in scope and in 1992, started with few
children in rented house then it shifted to Assi Ghat to accommodate more
children, and acquired their own building at NAGWA.
In 2008, Prayatn came to serve the children through project SAKSHAM, took
building on rent in Mehmoorganj (Varanasi).
From handful of children in 1995 in Dasaswamedh to 96 children nurturing
their dream, studying in best schools and enjoying the milieu with special
care for the special children and involvement in extra curriculums
activity like Tabla and Kathak, Karate, Yoga, Tye and Dye etc.
Prayatn Children's Home, located at Shivaji Nagar, Mahmoorganj, Varanasi,
is a warm and caring center for the destitute and neglected children.
Girls and boys are residing in separate homes. PRAYATN Children's Home was
registered by State Control Board, of Women and Child Development
Department, Uttar Pradesh on September 5th, 2008.
Prayatn strives to nurture, protect, care and develop the destitute
children who are left in the streets, GHATs of Varanasi, and also children
from poor, suppressed by diseases like AIDS, Leprosy, and broken families.
Its purpose is to promote the total development of children through loving
care in a homely atmosphere with adequate nutrition and healthy social
interaction and to educate all children till they are old and mature
enough to venture out independently.
Salient Features of Our Children Home
Separate hostels for boys and girls
Centrally located, all schools are within reach
School bus for the kids to take and drop
Separate Bicycle for the elder children
Tuition classes for every child
Separate guard for both the building
Separate teacher for special children (for Physically and mentally
challenged)
Currently we have 84 children at Prayatn Children's Home out of which 40
children belong to leprosy patient’s families, 7 were engaged in begging,
and 3 are from those families who are suffering from AIDS. These children
are from different age group as well as from different locations and
background which is as per the table given.
S.No | Place of belongingness | Boys | Girls | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Bhadohi | 6 | 13 | 19 |
2 | Sankatmochan | 11 | 2 | 13 |
3 | Dashaswamedh | 2 | 5 | 7 |
4 | Luxa | 0 | 2 | 2 |
5 | Nagwa | 3 | 5 | 8 |
6 | Tulsipur | 3 | 0 | 3 |
7 | Dashawamedh Ghat (Migrant from Bihar) | 27 | 1 | 28 |
8 | Other Places | 2 | 2 | 4 |
Total |
54 | 30 | 84 |
Out of 84 Children 48 are boys and 28 are girls below the age of 18 and
mostly are from Ghats, temples and streets of Varanasi. The number is
expected to increase with time but because of resource constraint and our
commitment for quality in service for holistic development of the kids, we
have restricted to increase the number of kids.
Class wise distribution of kids is very interesting we have 6 boys and 2
girls who have crossed the age of 18. Prayatn has provided him all the
facilities, but accommodating him outside the children home taking care
the philosophy and legal implication of the home. Rest children are below
the age of 18 and they are getting a good quality education in the best
schools of Varanasi and performing well at their levels. The below table
has been drawn in accordance with the educational level of kids.
Here are some major activities, being performed by children with support
of 26 team members of Prayatn, out of which 16 are female and 10 are male
employees. The team comprises of teachers, Drivers, Kitchen staff,
cleaning staff, Nurse, storekeeper, Accountant, Security Staff, Warden,
Project level officers and Coordinators.
Now PRAYATN Children’s Home is a sanctuary for many destitute children who
are either orphans or whose parents are mentally or physically or
socio-economically incompetent to look after their children and all of
these children attend school. The main source of income for BACK To LIFE
is the donation or the help rendered by compassionate people.