The VizagNavajeevanBalaBhavan was an initiative launched by the Salesians of Hyderabad Province in the year 1999, in the Port and Industrial City of Visakhapatnam and neighbouring Districts. Focusing on the Rehabilitation of street, orphan, working children and the Young at Risk in all categories, Navajeevan has grown much within these fourteen years. Over the years Navajeevan has home placed hundreds of children, given formal and non-formal education to others for whom home climate was not conducive and constructive and placed them in various income-fetching occupations.
STREET CONTACTS
The Street Counsellors of Navajeevan daily visit Railway Stations, Bus Stations, Market places and Streets in search of the Children at Risk. They initiate primary contacts with such children and gradually win their confidence. They are invited to Navajeevan Shelters, where they are welcomed as part of the Navajeevan family. The children who come first for food and shelter are attracted by love and hospitality of the staff and other children and gradually get initiated to education and vocational Training. Over the years Navajeevan has contacted 2087 children.
SUPPORT TO ORPHAN CHILDREN
Since orphan children, especially from poor sections of the society are at high risk, Navajeevan never closes its doors to such children. They are given a family atmosphere and provided all the facilities a family should provide. In this option special preference is given to children from tribal areas as they are exposed great dangers like epidemics, starvation, abuse, illiteracy, etc.
HOME PLACEMENT
Not all children run away from their homes due to poverty, violence, illtreament and related issues. There are also children who run away due to peer pressure, curiosity or misunderstandings. These are counselled and returned to their homes. Parents also will be counselled through family counsellors before the children are reunited with the family. So far we have home placed 449 children.
AWARENESS PROGRAMMES FOR PARENTS
Parents from poor and socially backward classes, especially of urban areas are given awareness programmes regarding the problems of children, the factors that cause them to leave their homes and become school dropouts. They are also educated in abandoning violence in their dealings with children and are taught ways and means through which they can be caring parents in spite of their hard situations in life. Navajeevan has been able to conduct 80 such training programmes, involving over 4800 parents.
SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAMMES FOR SCHOOL GOING CHILDREN
Many children from slum areas in the city and poverty stricken rural areas become school dropouts as they are not properly motivated or supported and are unable to meet the various school expenses like fees, uniforms, text books, note books, etc. Navajeevan conducts motivation camps for such children and extends scholarships to them to ensure their continuing education. At present Navajeevan is assisting 360 such children.
BRIDGE SCHOOL FOR SCHOOL DROPOUTS
Many factors lead to children becoming school dropouts. Some of the main reasons are lack of parental follow up, poor school ambient, lack of personal attention, poor nutrition, etc. Navajeevan conducts a bridge-school for such children and places them back in good schools at the end of one year. During this time they are given personal attention and counselling, good nutrition, and learning is imparted in attractive methods and child friendly ways. Children who run away from other schools are regular and happy to come to Navajeevan Bridge School called ‘Beach Blossoms’. Each year Navajeevan mainstreams 50-60 such children. So far we have put back 480 children in regular schools and the success rate is 85%.
SHELTER AT ALLIPURAM AND DEVIPURAM
Children who are brought from the streets and who are unwilling to go back to their families fearing starvation, violence, abuse, etc., are retained in one of the Shelters at Allipuram or Devipuram. After systematic counselling and motivation they are sent to school and placed in various classes according to age, preparation, intelligence etc. At present Navajeevanhas 40 children at Allipuram Shelter and 98 children at Devipuram Shelter. Most of the children who dreaded school in the past are doing well in their studies to the extent to some of them even becoming toppers in the class. Youngsters who find regular schooling distasteful are given vocational training according to their aptitude and job placed in industrial and business settings.
SKILL TRAINING CENTRE AT VISAKHAPATNAM
With the intention of empowering the young who cannot complete High School or Intermediate education Navajeevan runs a Skill Training Centre where hundreds of youth are given three-month training in Tailoring, Embroidery, Beautician, and Computer education. Navajeevan so far has trained 1980 youngsters who are now either self-employed or working in various companies and offices earning a respectable income. Once the construction of the Skill Training Centre at Devipuram or Sabbavaram is completed a few more trades like, Electronics, AC Mechanic, Dress making, etc., will be added.
HOME LINK (MISSING CHILD SEARCH)
Navajeevan Visakhapatnam is part of the National Network of Missing Child Search. Information regarding a lost child entered into the Home Link (a software with a national database) goes to all the YaR Centres spread out in various parts of the country. Through this service Navajeevan was able to trace a number of missing children and hand them over to their families, even beyond the borders of the state.
NETWORKING WITH OTHER NGO’S
Navajeevan does not want to put up a solitary fight to ensure safety and security to the Young at Risk. It joins hands with other like minded organizations at local, State and National level through regular meetings, communications and joint activities to make the towns and villages child friendly.