Wednesday, March 20, 2013

Every Child Matters


(This is a guest post written by Goutam Gurha for a social endeavor by ISB and iDiya http://www.isb.edu/idiya/




The paradox of our times is that we have premium hotels and luxurious condominiums on the forefront but ugly slums in the background. We have air-conditioned schools for the affluent but no access to education for the underprivileged. Nowhere else do we get to see the stark contrast the way we do in Gurgaon, the Millennium city. How many of us care to find what goes on in the life of construction workers who sweat and toil to give shape to the modern structures?

It took a small boy to drive me out of my comfort zone. It was lunch time and I was waiting for a friend to go for a movie. I saw  children  emerging from a day care center with  parents who worked at a nearby construction site. Casual chit-chat revealed that a seven year old could do addition sums with amazing ease. “Who taught you this?” I asked. The impish kid pointed towards a day care worker and said, “Didi." 

Mission

This is how I found out about the remarkable efforts of ‘Mobile Creches’ an NGO which works with the children living on the construction sites of Delhi and NCR. The Construction Industry in India employs around 30 million workers who work in extremely dangerous conditions where unequal wages are paid to men and women. The childcare and educational amenities are completely absent as are maternity benefits for women. Conservative estimates tell us that there are 300,000 children in and around Delhi alone. ‘Mobile Creches’ has more than six hundred day care centers partnered with builders like Ansal, Vipul, Raheja, Vatika and Unitech to make sure that each child matters.They provide child care services to more than 14,000 children through multiple partnerships.
Had it not been for Mobile Creches, the seven year old boy I met, could be looking after his  younger sister and not studying at the center. The same is true for other children. The older kids can attend  school since volunteers and day care workers from Mobile Creches take care of their younger siblings.


Rationale

There is strong rationale behind the initiative to ensure health and quality life of children living on the construction sites. Every child matters. Growing up, it was an unspoken understanding that education is the only way towards accomplishment. Without emotional interactions and intellectual stimulations during childhood, there was no way of knowing who I was.

No wonder they say "if children live with criticism, they learn to condemn. If children live with hostility, they learn to fight. If children live with shame they learn to be guilty. If children live with acceptance they learn to love. If children live with recognition they learn to have a goal. And if children live with approval they learn to like themselves."
What are our children living with?




Undeniably, early childhood stage is the most critical period when the foundations for health, learning capacities and social behaviors are laid. Research shows that approximately 90% of brain development takes place during the first five years of a child’s life. Hence an early intervention enables children to develop into capable and confident individuals.

Nurturing Childhood, Sowing Change

Mobile Creches uses a proactive strategy which aims to provide a level playing field for disadvantaged children and strengthen the human resource of the country. Impressed with their work I visited a community crèche which had provisions for immunization, health care for pregnant women, sick children and young toddlers. Meetings, street theater, melas and campaigns by volunteers ensure health and education of children in urban slums. 
What's remarkable is that a great deal of comprehensive research, policy analysis and  documentation goes in to provide a just and caring world for young marginalized children.

Get Involved to Find Solutions

The best part is that one can get involved by having fun and not necessarily by contributing funds.
· Running in a charity marathon and rediscovering the athlete in you.
· Working on a community project with children and building their self-esteem.
· Start an employee volunteer club and retain talent for your company.
Like me, if you believe that every child has a right to the joys of childhood, you can visit a centre, become a volunteer, sponsor a child or support the Mobile Creches Corpus Fund. Mobile Creches is accredited by Credibility Alliance, a consortium of NGOs, hence accountability and credibility are well established.


Impact

Unfortunately, I was unable to volunteer for this organization but it inspired me do my bit.The fact is that child labor, illiteracy and poverty are so intertwined, that if we do nothing about it, all three will continue till the end of time. And the unfairness in our system when it comes to health and education is distressing. While we have equal rights, a level playing field is clearly missing.
When Gita, a nine year old girl living in an urban slum says, “School is fun. I don't like to do the household chores, or when Ram Singh, a labor from Bihar says, "I want my son to be a doctor," we owe it to them. And it is not about charity. It is about equal rights.

For me, these are immensely satisfying stories. It’s time we did better things and not necessarily bigger things.







Pic Courtesy: Mobile Creche
Website: www.mobilecreches.org
Email: mail@mobilecreches.org
Address: DIZ Area Raja Bazaar,Sector 4, New Delhi,110001 India
Phone: + 91 11 23347635, 23363271
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36 comments:

  1. When we were in Gurgaon, we supported Mobile Creches. One of the rare NGO's one can implicitly trust.

    Investing time and money on these children will go a long way. We are not only giving them hope, we are giving them a future.

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    1. Also a feeling that there is someone out there that cares for them and their future, a sense that they are not alone out there to fend for themselves. Then they begin to care for themselves too. Thanks for reading :)

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  2. This is such a wonderful initiative. I had not heard of this earlier. Thanks for blogging about it.

    Lazy Pineapple

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  3. Wonderful article and I appreciative of Goutam's sensitivities and ability to express his views in a thoughtful way.

    Every child deserves an opportunity to shine and I am glad the NGOs like Mobile Creches are fulfilling some of those.

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  4. This organlsation is doing yeoman's service for the cause of downtrodden.Very inspiring post.

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  5. Great initiative :D Must look it up here in Mumbai :D

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    1. I'm sure with more and more initiatives and support, mobile creches will expand to Mumbai as well. Thanks for reading :)

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  6. I have to give credit to Goutam, for I do not know many who take time out for such initiatives.
    I did know about the mobile cruches, because well... I worked with them for a month or so, back in college days. It was far more satisfying than the internships abroad that were on offer- or so I like to believe :)

    I hope my generation takes a cue and steps up its efforts in this direction.

    I do not know where I saw this, but there was this picture of a guy teaching kids under a flyover in NCR. Had painted the pillar black, and armed only with his conviction, he was changing... the face of India :) Amazing how such little deeds shake the complacent us.

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    1. While I am cynical about our leaders, the young generation and people like you instill so much hope.

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  7. Really proud of Goutam! Congrats to you as well Alka for bringing up such a sensible boy.

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    1. Are you reading this mom ?? :D
      Thank you so much for taking time out for this post. :)

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  8. every child counts.. and should be counted at all places..

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    1. And hopefully with more endeavors like this, we will reach out and help every underprivileged child out there. Thanks :)

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  9. That is such an amazing initiative. A noble step towards nurturing the young impressionable minds in a positive manner! Kudos to the team!

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  10. Wonderful initiative! I have worked in NGOs that deal with children with special needs and I really hope this initiative is successful in making a positive difference to the lives of the young minds :)

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  11. A wonderful story, shared. Thank you Goutham and Thank you Alka for having him here. I have never heard of this organisation before. It's such an amazing work they are doing. I wish it spreads to all the parts of the country and every kid gets their right to study.

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  12. Thank you so much for taking out time and reading this post guys. An organisation like Mobile creches really opens your eyes to the limitless opportunities that are present before us. Even the smallest thing we do can make a difference. :)

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  13. Good initiative.
    Alka,NGOs have lost credibilty that even genuine ones are being doubted.
    We were supporting a similar set up for children in Gurgaon.."Suvarna ka AAngan"
    I was shocked when they were raided and what was found was miserable.....i wont even write about it here

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    1. Please write about it in this initiative by indiblogger if possible. There are several good organizations doing a remarkable job, but we don't know about them.

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  14. It is great to know that so much work is done by ISB and iDiya. It was always inspiring and great to read Alka's blogs and good to know that she shows active concern towards deprived children.
    As Gautam has rightly said it is important to empathise with the problems faced by poor children. Considering that today everyone is busy with their own routine and own concerns even empathising and understanding the problems little children face is a big thing.
    But that should not in anyway wash off the responsibility and one must find time to take up physical activity towards such good causes.

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    1. Exactly, a little effort and time from individuals can produce massive changes in the lives of the underprivileged. Thanks for reading :)

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  15. Great initiative!!!

    Thank you for sharing :)

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  16. A thought provoking post that reveals many layers of societal ills and simple but commendable efforts to douse the darkness. the conclusion is an apt wake up call. Another brilliant Gurha!

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    1. That's high praise, thank you for reading :)

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  17. Phenomenal post!
    Acceptance, recognition and approval is something that our society gives so little...loved the question what are our children living with today?
    All the best for the competition!

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  18. Well written Goutam. There are so many such selfless NGOs that relentlessly work to better the life of the not so fortunate. Like you I believe that educating children is the right way forward, Thank you for spreading the cause of Moblie creches. Alka,I didn't know Goutam could write so well. Pleasure reading his thoughts.

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    1. Yes, we have to start from the roots so that the vision of a strong and resolute future can become a reality. Thank you so much for reading :)

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  19. I had no idea that there is such an organization working in Gurgaon. This is a great initiative for the underprivileged.

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  20. I was not aware of such a drive. It's remarkable to say the least. As John Dewey said, 'Education is not preparation for life; education is life itself.' Would love to be a part of it when I am there.

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  21. It is so refreshing and optimistic to read about such initiatives. I had no idea about this drive and it is heartening to know that there are folks who work with such NGOs. iDiya has made me draw up a list of trustworthy ones based on personal experiences that people are sharing. I now look forward to being a part of one of these! Thank you for doing your bit Goutam. Thank you for bringing this to the forefront Alka!

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  22. Amit, Saru and Deepa.....thanks for reading. Every child matters and each drop counts.

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