 |
||||||||||
|
|
|
Support and the Founadation prizes Within the area of the projects appeal 2000 on the theme " Ilegal unaccompanied movement of minors, children and young people ", the Children's Foundation accepted the following associations : Graines de Bitume The "Graines de Bitume " association, created in March 2000, gathers together volonteers from the " Medecins sans Frontiers " and people aware of the problem of children in the streets of Antananarivo in Madagascar and also the lack of facilities in the town to help them. It was created to bring external help, that's to say support, advice and protection for the children living in the streets who already have ideas but don't have the means to carry them out.
The drop in centre, opened in September 2000 in order to respond to their needs, has several functions. It is a place where people will listen, to help the children re-enter society, offer literary tuition, advice and training. The association comprises of a permanent educational team and a network of volonteers, specialsed in different areas, who propose social help and education for these children. The children who are too old for school , can follow lessons to bring them back up to the same level. For the others, the association takes care of the school costs and allows them to follow a normal school program. Professional training and apprenticeships are also proposed to the children older than 13 years of age in order to assure them a decent chance of employment. The association also supports projects with children intended to generate income. The children who have no access to school can benefit from pre school activities preparing them for an apprenticeship. Since the month of November 2000, the association has worked with 54 children and has allowed 12 to be educated. Finally, in order to complete it's mission to help the street children, The " Graines de Bitume " association wishes to open a night time emergency drop in centre. Ashalayam In January 1986, Father Anthony Thaiparambil created the first Ashalayam hostel, in the very centre of Bidonville "The city of Joy ". It is able to take in 14 children. In 15 years, the association has made it possible for hundreds of children to leave the street and to rejoin society. Today Ashalayam consists of 18 hostels which take in 400 children and follow more than 2000 children in the streets and train stations of Calcutta. A team of about 40 indians, of whom more than half are volonteers, share their lives 24 hours a day with the children.  Ashalayam, for financial reasons has developed hostels and projects in the suburbs of Calcutta. In order to help the children in the town centre, the ones the most touched by the effects of prostitution, drugs and sexual tourism, the association is opening a hostel in the very town centre, in the red light district. It is this project that the foundation has partly funded. This hostel will allow them to welcome and house from 50 to 70 children. The hostels team will aim to make contact with the natural parents and to reunite the children with their families. Ashalayam will allow children who live in the hostels to go to school or to follow remedial classes. The children in the hostel and the children wishing to stay on the streets will be able to follow a professional training program, in particular thanks to the trade workshops that have been set up (Leather work, production of maps and bookbinding etc). The hostel will propose a night shelter for the children living on the streets. An advice centre and individual follow up program will also be integrated into the hostel. © 2003 Fondation pour l'Enfance |
The street children need help in the areas of social, educational, familial and professional integration.