The month of August is always a slow month at the Stepping Stones Shelter as many of the children accompany their parents to their native villages due to the monsoons.

 

Stepping Stones now has about 35 to 40 children coming in daily for daycare. Most of these children are rag pickers, beggars and basically the ones who do not have anything. They do not have access to education or any technical training. Our aim in these cases is to give the children the best so that they can have a better tomorrow. For the children who have attended the Shelter there has been a load of activities. Education on character building, personal health and hygiene and good manners were given to them. In addition Non formal education through fun activities has been taught to the children. The formal school going children have been given individual attention to enable them to do well in their school. Medical assistance has been given whenever needed.

 

‘Independence Day’ programme was organized at the Shelter. The Shelter was decorated for the occasion and the programme began with the singing of the National Anthem, followed Cake. The children exhibited their talent in singing and other cultural activities. Kishore Kumar (Researcher) spoke on the Independence of India. He also gave away the prizes and gifts to the participants.

While networking with the locals, Chris (Manager) attended a meeting on “People’s Collective on HIV & AIDS and the Law” at Vasco. Our fieldworkers visited the Railway Station Margao and collected literature on HIV/AIDS, from the Red Ribbon Express, that arrived in Goa. They had an opportunity to witness the exhibition for training, counselling etc. The Railway Station Master has been requested to direct children who are runaway or abandoned etc to our Shelter.

Col. & Mrs Thomas and Godfrey visited the Shelter. They interacted with the staff and children. Rehabilitation of the rain affected people (Seraulim) was also discussed.

During September we expect the children to be back from their native places. We hope to reach out to as many children as possible. We want to take the child off the streets and make a difference in their lives; but most important of all, we want to give children their childhood.

 

We know that September brings good tidings, when the monsoons are on their way out and heralds the start of the tourist season.

This entry was posted on Tuesday, September 2nd, 2008 at 4:55 am and is filed under Events. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.