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Ankur is an Arz initiative to minimize the vulnerability
of children to sexual abuse, commercial sexual exploitation or usage in
anti-social activities. This participative programme is targeted at children
in Baina, Vasco-da-Game, Goa and aims at reducing delinquint behaviour
in the children. The continuous work with the children in the community
on their behavior and education has empowered the children to think in
the direction of living a life with more dignity and respect. Thus the
second generation has been directed towards a positive way of living.
Overcoming
Religious Obstacles
Nagamma's grandmother wanted to dedicate her to
Godess Yellamma - a process of religiously sanctioned prostitution.
Arz's staff had counselling sessions with the grandmother and
convinced her about the ill effects of dedication and how her
act is a violation of child rights. Nagamma is now working as
a part-time house maid and is an active member of the adolescent
girls group.
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Intervention practices with the child, family and the school
are carried out by:
- Individual and group counseling sessions
- Awareness sessions on topics related to children, like Child Rights,
Child Labour and Child Prostitution
- Mobilizing parents to admit children to the local school
- Preparing affidavits for school admissions
- Providing educational material such as bags, notebooks, pencils, pens
and geometry boxes for the most vulnerable children
- Follow up with the school and parents with regard to regularity of
children to the local school
- Providing tuitions at the various Arz drop-in centers located in the
community
- Regular health camps and immunity programmes in collaboration with
local Primary Health Centres
Admission in Boarding Schools
Boarding facilities are provided for the children of trafficked victims
and who are victims of abuse and exploitation outside the geographical
area of their residence, so as to enable them to be in a more conducive
environment to allow them to concentrate better in studies. The methodology
adopted is involvement and participation of parents and the boarding school
authorities. Activities are carried out with the focus on the child, boarding
school and the parents by:
- Motivating trafficked victims to admit their children to local and
boarding schools
- Organizing exposure to boarding schools and interaction between parents
and boarding school authorities
- Admitting children of trafficked victims to boarding schools with
their consent
- Arrangements and follow up with parents to ensure that they visit
their children regularly at the boarding school
- Follow up with the boarding school authorities and children separately
with regard to the progress of children and emotional adjustment to
the environment at the institute
- Providing educational material such as notebooks, boarding fees, school
fees and fees for the board exams and toiletries for the children
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