Shaishav is committed to realizing the basic rights of children, particularly the underprivileged. It does so by combining conventional and non – conventional teaching methods to teach children crucial life skills and child rights; advocating about children rights at local, State and National level and unifying communities to make change in the life’s of children. Our activities:
Balsena, (‘child
ren’s force’), is a collective of children, managed and led by children. Here, children learn to recognize and campaign for their rights. Balsena has roughly 1500 members, aged 6-18, spread across 44 slum areas. Balsena’s children are involved in Savings Bank, which allows to save money and learn financial responsibilities; adolescence programs, which support children through puberty and other gender specific issues, wenlido training for self – defense and various training and activities in regards to children rights, participation and leadership. Tarunsena, our Youth collective, provides opportunities for leadership, skill development and personal growth for youth ages 18 – 25. Area Resource Centers provide training in English and Computing, libraries, information for youths about vocational training opportunities, and support for local people on government schemes, benefits, and support options. The Child Rights Training and Resource Centre develops resources and training materials to use both in Bhavnagar and outside. Networking/Advocacy Shaishav works from a grassroots level to create policy change in different communities. At present, Shaishav is focusing on the Right to Education Act. Shaishav acts as the convener for Child Rights Collective-Gujarat, who facilitates the state level Right to Education Forum. Community Outreach: Shaishav’s Communities Team reaches tens of thousands of community members each year. Part of our community outreach is working on a case-by-case basis with child labourers and school dropouts, as well as children at risk for both of these and of child marriage, to try to enroll and retain as many children in school as possible. Child Line is a 24 hour, completely free emergency phone number (1098) and outreach service for children in need of care and protection as well as children in emergency.
