Create a Safe Space for Children and Youth

Child Rights Training and Resource Centre , also known as SETU

SETU was busy with planning and organizing of two important National consultations in Ahmedabad during the months of April to June 2023

National Consultation of Children Collectives was organized at Gujarat Vidyapith, Ahmedabad on 01 June 2023 while collaborating with National Forum for Child Participation (NFCP) Child participation forms an important component in child rights to empower children. It also plays an important part in achieving the other child rights. Recognizing this importance Shaishav and Balsena organize these national consultations since 2008. It was the productive engagements with Balsena that prompted the child rights practioners to come together for a consultation in national level for all the children collectives. This is the third time Balsena and Shaishav hosts this consultation. With about 75 children and 30 adult facilitators from 8 states across India, the 5^th edition of the consultation was on the theme of “Learning and Thriving Together” focusing on child participation and discussed in detail the various avenues of child participation from home, school, community, state, national and international level by strengthening their own children’s collectives. Child rights practioners, Ms. Aditi Kaur, Dr Jim C Jesudoss, Ms. Kavita Ratna and Ms. Parul Sheth mediated these sessions The presence of Children collectives from 8 states which were represented by 20 organizations around India made this consultation more critical and inclusive. Through group activities and fun games, there were ample opportunities for children to share their experiences and learnings in the process and also an intensive gallery walk space was given to each collective for initiating the conversations. An exciting cultural evening where each collective exhibited their state culture captured everyone’s attention. The consultation ended on 1^st June 2023 with an informative heritage walk and science tour around the city of Ahmedabad.

National Adults Consultation. SAMVAD,

 Samvad meaning A Dialogue , two-day adult consultation of senior personals of civil societies, donor agencies, was facilitated by Shaishav at IIM Ahmedabad Campus. It was collaborated with the Right to Education (RTE) Research Centre of IIM – Ahmedabad.

The consultation had representations from domains of child rights, especially child participation and protection, technology, alternate learning, environment protection, gender, education, culture and capacity building from over 10 states of India. Azim Premji Foundation, Dasra and Wesbridge was also represented in this event. The research students of IIM and doctoral faculties also attended the discussions.

Shaishav’s 30 years journey was shared in this platform. Ms. Enakshi Ganguly, renowned child rights activist read out an excerpt from her document on Shaishav’s story that is soon to be released. Mr Pradeep Khandwala , a retired IIM faculty deliberated on creativity and gave a practical session on brainstorming exercise. Respectful discourses on the theme of Learning and Thriving together on sustaining a collaborative environment between civil societies was recognized, the new arenas to be focused in the changing political and social scenarios and ultimately how to prepare oneself for the challenges in future, concerning child rights and the general consensus on pooling of the existing resources and sharing it amongst each other made these conversations productive. The attendees shared about the new perspectives that came out these discussions and the inevitability of keeping these dialogues forward. Charul and Vinay of ‘Loknaad’ mesmerized the evening with their beautiful music about the forgotten and invisible people around us.

Adolescent training in Disha

A three-day training for 40 adolescent girls at Disha at Lim Kheda village of Dahod district was facilitated in the month of May 2023. Disha is an NGO that provides residential educational facilities to tribal girls of the region. The training facilitated by Shaishav primarily focused on the theme of adolescence and physical and mental changes during this period, puberty, healthy friendship and menstruation, The WHO mandated 10 life skills was transacted through a various of engaging and interesting activities. Team work, utilizing minimum resources and activities and games that challenged them to think beyond and brought out their creativity was played.

Girls realized the importance of having children collective and ways to strengthen them with inclusive leadership skills. Compared to the first day of training, the children opened up and expressed without inhibitions about the existing caste discrimination, gender segregations especially during menstruation in their village.

 LIfe skill and Leadership training 

On April 14th, 15^th and 16^th a life skills and leadership training were facilitated to 40 boys and 33 girls of classes 1-4 of SEWA Sarvodaya Trust, Kadki of Valsad district. This is a residential school facility for children. Primarily friendship games, drama and song, games on team work, upcycling items, creating items with the available resources were transacted in these training. Children were busy creating their own science toys and in the end many of them were able to shed their stage fear and gained confidence in public speaking. Some games triggered them to think “out of the box”. The songs and drama were used as medium to spread the messages of need to fight gender discrimination.

Children found the training interesting and happy because of the learnings they gained. The teachers were also inspired by these games and activities. Children understood the importance of team work and coordinated efforts to make a change in society.

CHILDLINE

The 1098 child helpline was a central government initiative that was implemented district wise with the collaboration of NGOs all around the country. Since 2003, this was the modus operandi followed and as per the new circular from the concerned Government department, NGOs cease to be the operating partner for Childline and will be operated entirely under Government. Thus, Shaishav will cease to be implementing Childline from June 2023.

For the past three months, children and parents were sensitized on services and platforms to approach in need of a query or help, after Shaishav stops operating helpline numbers. Intense discussions continued on Child rights, especially Right to Life and Right to development with the concerned stakeholders. Through 59 Child Protection Committee meetings (CPC) and five Community meetings that covered 511 people, comprising of parents and children) various central and state government schemes for single parents, disabled children, single girl child and likewise were communicated and made aware. Questions and queries of parents and children were answered and they realized the importance to approach the right sources of information for availing any services and benefits.