Citizenship Programme Visit to Palna Shishu Kendra and Child Help Foundation.

On 7th November 2015, a visit was organized to Palna Shishu Kendra and Child Help Foundation, both child welfare organisations, by the Citizenship Programme of our School. Students Sakshi Chawla (9A), Siddhant Bist (9A), Nandini Rewari (9A) and Arjun Mehra (9D) comprised the team that visited these organisations. They were accompanied by Ms. Sangeeta Aswani. The purpose of the visit was to create consciousness and sensitivity amongst students and extend help in some way to these organisations.

The team set out at 9 am for Palna Shishu Kendra at Dakshinpuri. This centre is a part of the Delhi Council of Child Welfare (DCCW), and is provides daycare facilities to children of underprivileged working mothers. A range of vocational training courses in sewing, embroidery, knitting, crochet and beauty treatment are also offered by the organisation.

The children were greeted by Ms. Saroj, Supervisor. They were then shown around the place. They visited the different sections to get a better sense of how the organisation is run. One of the rooms functioned as a crche. Little children, below the age of two, were being taken care of here. Another room functioned as a classroom. It had about thirty children who were being given lessons. Our children spent time here narrating stories and chatting to the little inmates about the ill effects of using crackers during Diwali. They also distributed sweets and diyas. The third room had four sewing machines. Young girls spent time here refining their stitching and machine embroidery skills. We were given an idea of their handiwork through a glimpse of the wonderful swatches that carried their embroidery and patchwork. The fourth room was furnished with two salon chairs and other equipment for beauty treatment. Here the girls came to train in beauty treatment procedures such as threading, facial, manicure, pedicure etc. The surroundings were impeccably clean and organised. We were shown around the play area and washrooms which were also very hygienic.

We left promising to send material such as stationery, fabrics, cosmetics, activity books and clothes for the centre.

Our next stop was the Child Help Foundation. This organisation was introduced to us by Ms. Meenakshi Lekhi, MP. Mr. Sanjay Sinha looks after the running of this facility. Located on the outskirts of Faridabad, this shelter is for orphans, who have been handed over by the police for their welfare. Once the children are received here from the police station, ( in the event of their parents being lost or having passed away), the Child Help Foundation looks after them and puts them up for adoption. The facility has three floors. The first floor houses the kitchen. There is some space for the children to sit and dine and watch television on this floor too. On the second floor there are rooms for girls, while the third floor has rooms for boys. Each floor has a list, both in Hindi and English, of the daily menu and time table for the convenience of the children. A lady and a man attendant oversee the wellbeing of the children. Our children gifted sweets and diyas to the children and presented a cheque of Rs. 5000 to the Foundation.

The children came away feeling reassured. The kind of service extended by these organisations towards children was very heartwarming to see. We propose to continue such activities in the future to continually sensitise our children to the needs of those in need around them.

Ms. Sangeeta Aswani, Citizenship Coordinator.