Four Abandoned Children Sheltered

Our Railway Staff spotted a couple with 7 children travelling by train. Immediate doubt was whether the children were being trafficked. But they were looking for shelter for four children. Our staff brought all of them to the office. After talking to them we found that three children were of the couple and other four children were of their neighbor! The neighbor’s first wife had deserted the family and was living separately with their children and filed a case against husband for maintenance.  During this time he met another lady with five children and not having a husband. He started to live with her and her five children. Meanwhile his wife left their children and took off with another man taking only the last girl child who was too young.   She left the children with the couple who were presently finding it difficult to look after all seven children. The couple sought the help of his friend to come to CHILDLINE to find shelter for the four children. We produced all four children before CWC and provided shelter for two boys at Don Bosco Shelter home and two girl children at Chithra Home.  

As all the four children are presently without their mother or father it is appropriate that they be given in continuous foster care. A family atmosphere for a child can never be replaced with an institution. The alternative child care systems such as adoption and foster care are very much inadequate in Kerala. Because of this there are a large number of children who lose their childhood due to insufficient care in children’s homes. Appropriate laws and prompt implementation are the need of the hour.

The Firefly Shines on…

Fort SI Sherry Distributes School Materials to Children

This year’s Don Bosco Summer Camp MINNAMINNI (FIREFLY) 2013 concluded with the valedictory function on May 10^th 2013. 

The function started at 11.00 am by the Welcome speech from Fr. P.D Thomas, Director, Don Bosco Veedu, and the function was presided over by the Rector of Don Bosco, Fr. Francis Karakkatt.  He gave the message on being a good child always and to shine on like Minnamminni (firefly).  Chief Guest, Sub Inspector of Fort Police Station Shri. Sherry, encouraged the children to do good always to help others in his felicitation talk and gave away the prizes to the groups.  He also distributed the educational materials such as School bags, Note books, Umbrellas, and pens all the campers.

The campers showed their abilities by performing good dances, songs and other porgrammes. Ms. Aswathy presented the detailed camp report of one month and the function came to an end by the vote of thanks by camp leader Mrs. Amala to the guests, teachers, and those who participated in the camp.  The children departed happily with the dreams of a picnic to Happy Land on the next day.

We appreciate the help from generous persons who contributed the expenses for the school materials and picnic expenses for over 100 needy and poor children.

Children Performing

Five Children and their Mother on the Street

On 25^th April one concerned person called to our helpline and informed that there were four children wandering on the streets with a lady and that she had sold the smallest child.  Our ever alert team immediately rushed to the spot but the effort was in vein because they had disappeared.    One week later another informer tipped us off that he found some children with a lady.  This time our team went prepared having informed the police.  Four children and the lady were brought to CHILDLINE office. After inquiry we found that the lady taking the children around the streets was their grandmother.  She informed us that her daughter Sindhu (Given Name) was a sex worker. She said that the fifth child was with Sindhu. She had given the child to a person to look after when she wandered the streets.

We arranged shelter for all four children in shelter homes for care and rehabilitation of the children through the Child Welfare Committee of the District.   In the next week, Sindhu called to our helpline and sought permission to see her children, so our staff asked her to come over to CHILDLINE office with her youngest child.  She brought her child and our staff talked to her for a length of time. She revealed that she was abused by a man at the age of 12 for the first time.  Then she had a live in relation with different people and mothered all the children from different people.  She was carrying the small child with her wherever she went.

We counseled Sindhu and she expressed willingness to surrender her small child and we arranged a home for the child.  Sindhu also wanted to return from her deviant ways and we found a job for her and she wants now to live for her children.

We find that after over 23 years of our efforts there is a great awareness among the general public to the issues facing children. The very fact that people immediately call up to our helpline when they find children in distress is a positive impact of our incessant efforts to restore child rights. 

Vignesh – In need of Help

Vignesh is a IX^th standard student, bright in studies but suffering from asthma and impeded from going to school regularly for the past 2 years.  His family is very poor as his father is half blind and unhealthy to do hard work.  In the last medical checkup it was diagnosed that Vignesh has mild heart problems too.  The Doctors prescribed some costly medicines for gradual improvement and instructed them to conduct scan and echo test every six months to confirm improvements in his sickness.   The father of Vignesh is incapable of bearing the cost of his son’s medicines and scanning costs as they are very poor

   They came to know about CHILDLINE and approached us to request for medical aid.  After studying the case details and making inquiries our team accompanied Vignesh for the echo test and scan and provided medical and financial help for his treatment. 

There are many poor and deserving children in our society in need of medical help. More resources are required to meet their growing needs. The rich and those who have surplus need to share to protect and help the needy for a just and humane society.

Stop Child Labour – Educate Every Child!

A call came to our emergency helpline from Vithura, Trivandrum exhorting to rescue three child labourers. The informant said that all three children were made to work in an electrical shop. Our team rushed to the spot. The children were Nitheesh, Amal, and Anu from a neighbouring village. We enquired about their family back ground.   These children had completed their high school education and were waiting for the results.  In one family, the father was very sick and in bed because of which it was very difficult to maintain the family without any earnings.  Hence the boy child was asked to work to support the family. Another child was worried about his drunken father, who was not giving anything for the family. So to help his mother, he too started working. The third boy was being looked after by his mother, as his father deserted the family and his mother has to look after him and his siblings.  Under these circumstances all the three had to stop their study mid way and with it shattered their dreams of higher education. Besides Higher Secondary education required higher fees which they were unable to afford.

Our team enquired whether they wanted to continue their education if we found support for their education expenses. Only Nitheesh preferred to continue education with our help. Our team visited his house and convinced the parents about the importance of education for a brighter future and they agreed to send their son for higher education.  So with the help of a local person who was willing to support his education, we bought educational materials, uniform and paid fee to help Niteesh to continue his education.

There are many children in our so called financially secure Kerala State who are unable to afford education after high school due to escalating costs of living and increased school education fees. Free and compulsory education needs to be extended up to 18 years in Kerala so that we can abolish child labour and provide opportunity to the less privileged children also to fulfill their dreams to study higher and earn a better living for the family. The Trivandrum Don Bosco Veedu Society has been lobbying with the Government to achieve the same.

A Stitch in Time

Lakshmi has been suffering from rheumatoid arthritis (ama vatham) for the past seven years. It takes her 10 painful minutes to walk 10 feet. Husband left her many years ago and she has a son named Asvin  who is now studying in plus one. They do not have any other relatives to take care of them. Asvin is the cook at home after school. He is also the bread winner when he is off his school hours. Lakshmi is helped by a neighbor auto driver to travel for begging, the only job she is able to do, the money from which is insufficient to meet the daily needs and send Asvin to school. When Asvin stopped schooling and started accompanying his mother for begging, some neighbours informed CHILDLINE about the plight of the child.

Now with the generosity of some socially responsible citizens we are helping Asvin to get back to School and his mother is extremely happy that her son is back to school again. Aswin is only one of the three whom our friends from the neighbourhood

We at Don Bosco Nivas identify children like Asvin and network with socially responsible people like you to provide them support to restructure their lives which otherwise would be nipped in the bud and end meaninglessly. Help for education is helping such children to stand on their feet and it in turn can save a whole family from the clutches of poverty. A stitch in time can save the whole shirt!

               “Minnamini - 2013” Summer Camp Inaugurated at Don Bosco Veedu

Summer camp, “Minnamini” 2013 was inaugurated at Don Bosco Centre, Manacaud at 11 am, on 11^th April, 2013.  The function started with a prayer song by camp kids.  There are 65 poor slum children from Karimadom colony participating in the camp. Fr. Thomas P.D welcomed all the guests and participants of ‘minnamini-2013’. He appreciated the magnanimity of Mr. Kumarakam   Reghunath, Mr. Ambarish; Cine, Serial Artists in coming over for the inaugural ceremony.

Shri. Kumarakam Reghunath, Mr. Ambarish, Fr. Stephen, Fr.Thomas.PD and baby Rakhi, a camp participant lighted the lamp and inaugurated “Minnamini”.  

The inaugural address was rendered by Shri. Kumarakam Reghunath. In his speech he mentioned that all artists are able to understand the problems of Society and they can reach to the people who need support and care. He also mentioned about his personal experience in childhood. He did not have sufficient opportunity to study as there was no facilities at Kumarakom. He urged students to set goals and put in efforts to achieve them. Constant efforts can definitely make you to attain the goals. He inaugurated and wished all success for “Minnamini” 2013.

In the presidential address Fr. Stephen Mukkatil, told a story to the children through which he communicated the message that it is always better to choose goodness over evil. He wished that this camp help all kids to choose goodness over evil in every action in their life.

Serial/Cinema artist Mr. Ambarish felicitated the gathering. In his talk, he quoted an example of a bird who escaped from hunters using intelligence. He told the children not to forget Don Bosco which give them guidance during their childhood days. He also told the children to be like fireflies providing light wherever they go so that they can help other children to overcome darkness in their lives. He also handed over the flags to all the four teams. He distributed sweets to all the children.

Finally Mr. Emmanuel Silas (Camp Chief) delivered the vote of thanks and programme ended with the national anthem.