BG Foundation – against child labour in Gurgaon
By Milena Rampoldi and Denise
Nanni, ProMosaik. Now, let us move to Gurgaon in India. Gurgaon, the rich city
next to Delhi, well-known because it is the seat of SAP, and it was the scenary
of the Commonwealth Games in 2010, has its shady sides: child labour in
particular. And the BG Foundation opposes to child labour by education and alternatives.Would like to thank Priyanka for the answers to our questions.
Tell us something about the history
of your organisation.
Like
most people we witnessed the rise of the “millennium city” Gurgaon
with admiration but viewed the cost of this with dismay and indignation. And
there came a moment when we could no longer remain mute bystanders. We also
realised that there was no point making grandiose schemes that would never
fructify or that would run out of steam very quickly. We wanted to make a
discernable and tangible difference quickly and in ways that are practical and
manageable. We decided to focus on projects where we believed we could make a
difference and where there was a practical means to do so.
most people we witnessed the rise of the “millennium city” Gurgaon
with admiration but viewed the cost of this with dismay and indignation. And
there came a moment when we could no longer remain mute bystanders. We also
realised that there was no point making grandiose schemes that would never
fructify or that would run out of steam very quickly. We wanted to make a
discernable and tangible difference quickly and in ways that are practical and
manageable. We decided to focus on projects where we believed we could make a
difference and where there was a practical means to do so.
What is the current situation
related to child labour in the regions where you intervene?
Though a lot of efforts by the
government and various agencies have made some impact but there is still a lot
of cases of child labour & employment seen around, whether it is roadside
Tea stall, domestic help, local retail outlets, local restaurants etc…The
situation continues to be deplorable and consistent efforts are required to
ensure that we are able to provide basic level of literacy and education to
improve the lives of the sidelined.
government and various agencies have made some impact but there is still a lot
of cases of child labour & employment seen around, whether it is roadside
Tea stall, domestic help, local retail outlets, local restaurants etc…The
situation continues to be deplorable and consistent efforts are required to
ensure that we are able to provide basic level of literacy and education to
improve the lives of the sidelined.
How do you identify children in
needs?
needs?
We
have a team that scouts the urban slums, local villages in and around the
developed millennium city – Gurugram to identify the need to intervene and
provide education opportunities. We then mobilise children of the migrant and
itinerant labour to join schools.
have a team that scouts the urban slums, local villages in and around the
developed millennium city – Gurugram to identify the need to intervene and
provide education opportunities. We then mobilise children of the migrant and
itinerant labour to join schools.
In what ways do you help these
children?
children?
Mobilising
working children into an inclusive program of education, healthcare and
safeguarding from exploitation, is the objective. Once areas are identified
where there is a large population of young children who need support to be
integrated into the education system. We jointly, with village authorities
prepare a learning centre to accommodate a minimum of 25 – 30 children per
class to provide elementary education and literacy levels.
working children into an inclusive program of education, healthcare and
safeguarding from exploitation, is the objective. Once areas are identified
where there is a large population of young children who need support to be
integrated into the education system. We jointly, with village authorities
prepare a learning centre to accommodate a minimum of 25 – 30 children per
class to provide elementary education and literacy levels.
Do you cooperate with local
authorities and institutions? If yes, how?
authorities and institutions? If yes, how?
Wherever
required. Umang, the learning centre at Shamaspur, is running in the afternoon
shift at the local government school, therefore it needed the support of the
local government authority and the department of Education to provide
permission to run in the premises. The centres that run in a park just need the
support of the neighbourhood and the village authority to permit the classes
and inflow of students.
required. Umang, the learning centre at Shamaspur, is running in the afternoon
shift at the local government school, therefore it needed the support of the
local government authority and the department of Education to provide
permission to run in the premises. The centres that run in a park just need the
support of the neighbourhood and the village authority to permit the classes
and inflow of students.
The
BG Foundation was established in 2008 with the objective to make a real
difference to the lives of people who face challenges that disrupt their lives
on a daily basis. It has been our endeavour to rehabilitate these children from
the identified slum areas in Gurgaon and provide them with opportunity to learn
and train through the special schools/learning centres established by the
foundation and finally mainstream them to the formal education system. The
foundation aims to help empower these children and help them evolve as better
citizens. Though the profile of the beneficiaries has changed over the years,
they still come from underprivileged background, people who have migrated to
Delhi NCR in need of employment – rickshaw pullers, auto drivers, domestic
help, gardeners etc.
BG Foundation was established in 2008 with the objective to make a real
difference to the lives of people who face challenges that disrupt their lives
on a daily basis. It has been our endeavour to rehabilitate these children from
the identified slum areas in Gurgaon and provide them with opportunity to learn
and train through the special schools/learning centres established by the
foundation and finally mainstream them to the formal education system. The
foundation aims to help empower these children and help them evolve as better
citizens. Though the profile of the beneficiaries has changed over the years,
they still come from underprivileged background, people who have migrated to
Delhi NCR in need of employment – rickshaw pullers, auto drivers, domestic
help, gardeners etc.
In 2008, BG Foundation was given an opportunity to
manage the already existing learning centre of SNS Foundation (The SNS Foundation,
the CSR wing of Anand has led the Industry in a number of social initiatives
over the years spanning health, education, women empowerment, sustainable
livelihood and life enrichment programs.)
manage the already existing learning centre of SNS Foundation (The SNS Foundation,
the CSR wing of Anand has led the Industry in a number of social initiatives
over the years spanning health, education, women empowerment, sustainable
livelihood and life enrichment programs.)
The 4 learning centres run by the foundation are Umang,
Umeed, Umeedien, Ujala.
Umeed, Umeedien, Ujala.
The various activities undertaken at the learning
centres during the yearly session are:
centres during the yearly session are:
Daily supervision of teaching, mid-day meal (supervised
daily for nutritional content and quality) and administration of the centre
daily for nutritional content and quality) and administration of the centre
Uniforms provided for the kids – winter & summer
Providing end-to-end learning aids – stationery kits,
school bag, books, notebooks, crayons, worksheets, pencil box etc.
school bag, books, notebooks, crayons, worksheets, pencil box etc.
Conducting a PTA meeting, attended enthusiastically by
all parents of the children to ensure parents commitment and
all parents of the children to ensure parents commitment and
Celebrating festivals & special occasions with the
children
children
In
2014, BGF expanded to include vocational training for young women and girls to
help them provide with income generation opportunities. The programme –
Stitching and Tailoring – was started under the aegis of SNS Foundation. The
sewing machines were donated by our benefactors and the Samiti at Tigra village
gave permission to use the rooms Many young girls and women have completed the
6 month course and have been awarded certificates. Currently the foundation has
4 batches running. The foundation looks forward to introduce more such
vocational, life-skills oriented programmes for young adults.
2014, BGF expanded to include vocational training for young women and girls to
help them provide with income generation opportunities. The programme –
Stitching and Tailoring – was started under the aegis of SNS Foundation. The
sewing machines were donated by our benefactors and the Samiti at Tigra village
gave permission to use the rooms Many young girls and women have completed the
6 month course and have been awarded certificates. Currently the foundation has
4 batches running. The foundation looks forward to introduce more such
vocational, life-skills oriented programmes for young adults.
