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Programmes for Children
The hopeless cry of a neglected child can
be the most haunting sound in the world. To ignore it
is to ignore our own tomorrow. CORP reaches out to touch
the lives of these children through it's various services
and programmes.
- Creches and Day Care Centres
Children of working mothers are
provided with safe, caring environments so that they
are not neglected while family members are busy. Knowing
that their children are being well looked after while
they are working enables many women to step outside
the home to earn a living.
- Pre-School and Non-Formal Education
The Child lives in a world of wonder.
Unfortunately it's curiosity and spirit are often
crushed by a lack of opportunity. To counteract this
CORP provides non-formal education programmes.
To combat scholastic backwardness and drop-outs regular
coaching classes are held. Extra-curricular recreational
activities, competitions and sports meets are also
important parts of CORP's activities for baccha log.
- Sponsorship Programmes
This programme is designed to reduce
school drop-outs who either have only one living parent
or parents too incapacitated to earn a living. Providing
medical aid and employment assistance is part of this
programme.
- Reaching out to Street Children
Of all the deprived children in
our society, the street child is the most vulnerable.
Many are runaways and have no roof over their heads.
CORP reaches out to street children below the age
of fifteen through it's Day Care Programme. Recreational
facilities, a 'mobile medical unit and non-formal
vocational training form part of this programme. Each
child is also given a shared locker for safe-keeping
of his belongings.
- Handicap Support
CORP has a centre for the handicapped
and caters to the educational and medical needs of
the deaf and orthopaedically handicapped. A physiotherapist
visits community based rehabilitation centres once
a week and local health workers have been trained
to conduct regular exercise sessions.
Physically handicapped children are operated on to
correct defects. Calipers, prosthetic and hearing
aids are provided where necessary. Mentally handicapped
children are identified and referred to appropriate
institutions.
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- Vocational Training for Youth
The youth of a nation determine
the quality of it's future. To promote feelings of
self worth and confIdence amongst them CORP provides
them with training in leadership skills. It teaches
them to shoulder responsibilities through youth clubs
and vocational training. Garment making, beautician,
mehendi application courses and farming methods are
some of the skills taught. The vocational training
institute at Talegaon also conducts electrical wireman,
auto-repair and welding courses.
This project offers invaluable opportunities for the
youth to become economically self-sufficient and provides
them with a sense of purpose.
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- Women Empowerment
Economic independence is the key
to raising the social status of women. CORP tries
to achieve this priority objective by focusing on
education and financial independence.
Regular meetings and discussions promote awareness
of health, hygiene, nutrition, women's rights, communal
harmony and other issues that have a direct impact
on women's lives.
- Health and Nutrition
Traditionally women receive the
least healthcare. CORP ensures that a visiting gynaecologist
is available at the community centres every month
to attend to personal health problems and expectant
mothers. Follow-up care is provided by local health
workers.
Cooking classes teach women about low cost balanced
meals while a community kitchen provides nutritious
food to children and lactating mothers.
- Community Care
The community Care and Counselling Centre regularly
follows up cases of women with problems either through
police intervention or through the Family Courts.
The women contribute their savings to a special revolving
fund which can be utilised by them in times of need.
Solutions to problems are worked out together with
the local leadership. Awareness on issues like AIDS,
Alchoholism and Dowry is generated through Street
plays.
- Training and Development
To motivate and enrich each worker,
on the job training is provided to all members of
CORP. Senior staff also conduct workshops for the
training of other social organisations.
- Extra-Curricular Activities
Computer Classes : The girls
undergo a weekly class in learning the basics of computer
at the center. They are also taught how to operate
the internet so that can get easy access to the internet
for learning purpose.
Dance Classes : A weekly dance class is also
conducted at the center in Bharat Natyam. Our older
girls have already appeared for two exams. In the
first exam they scored good marks and are awaiting
their second results. They take part in different
dance competitions and have won prizes for group as
well as solo dance.
Karate Classes :Children are also trained in
karate and sports for their own self-defence and physical
fitness. Volunteers from Magic Bus help in this adventure.
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Senior Citizens Club
The senior citizens club at 8 centres of CORP is directed to benefit people above the age of 60 yrs irrespective of caste, creed and religion. The older people from economically poor families need additional care and support because their children who are still not above the poverty line are unable to provide all the need of the older people. The elderly people find it difficult to adjust to the decreasing strength and health, and the decline in income in the family and thus without obtaining the adequate family support many of them develop negative attitude, dependence on others and loose identity of themselves. Sometimes due to poor relationship with the family members they are even forced to move out of their homes to the streets or are at the mercy of the neighbours.
The club enables the members to come together to spend some time sharing their problems which lightens their burden. They sing, pray and even share encouraging messages from their own religion. Weekly newspapers are read out to them to keep them aware of what is happening round the globe. Nutrition, medical check up and recreational facilities are offered at the club. Get together programmes for members of different clubs are also organized so that each one comes to know the other. The members take part in festival celebration and even act as a resource in celebrations conducted for children. Awareness programmes on various health issues, social issues and outings are also conducted for them.
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Health Programme
Focus on health aspects of children and women has been one of CORP’s main mission. The unhygienic living conditions, lack of awareness and ignorance among the people had a great impact on the health of the people and even sometimes led to death. Women were found vulnerable to diseases from malnutrition, lack of pre and post natal care and in sanitation. The impact on the children were obvious. Illiteracy, superstition, early marriages, social custom- all took their toll. But CORP through its fairly good network of healthcare with its trained health worker’s has created a difference.
Children are all immunized and provided complete health care and nutrition. Monthly awareness programmes on health issues like T.B, AIDS, cancer, cleanliness, water borne diseases,first aid, hygiene etc, diagnostic medical camps like malaria, skin, dental, eye, and gynological along with referrals are held throughout the year. Through these programmes and public participation drainage and sanitation have improved. There is also a change in the food habits through awareness on nutrition and food preparation demonstrations. In a number of projects family planning is also catching up and there is a perceptible improvement in the health status of women as there is counseling for family planning and reproductive child health. Our teachers are trained in basic health care and detection of early childhood diseases. Women in the community are also identified and given the health worker’s training. After their training they make house visits to implement what they have learnt.
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Income Generation
Empowerment of women through income generation has also been one of CORP’s main focus. It was in our vision to change the role of women from silent listeners to an active participant in supplementing family income and in the decision making process.
Women are given training in tailoring at the center in Thana and Jogeshwari. They are then taken up in making various products for the organization, which are put up for sale in exhibitions. Women are also trained in weaving and this training is also imparted to the street boys. The various products made by our beneficiaries include bags of rexin, jute and nylon, garments, quilts, sofa covers, table mats, folders, floor dusters, sitting mats, door mats, shatranji and bags of duster cloth. They are paid a stipend for their efforts. Every year CORP’s products are put up for sale at the Bal Vividha Mela and the Concern India Fair. Besides this products are also sold through personal contacts. The street boys are also involved in making letter heads, visiting cards and pamphlets on orders after they have received their training in screen printing.
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Community Care and Counselling Centre
The community care and counseling center which is located at Dharavi aims at helping women in distress. The slum community which is dominated by men who are indulged in alcoholism and extra marital relationship create havoc at home for the family resulting in separation or harassment on the women. The counselors at the center deals with such cases and brings the parties to a compromise for a happy living. A total of 130 cases are dealt with every year. Only on a last resort help is taken of legal assistance. We have an advocate who renders legal assistance at a very nominal rate. About 90% of cases are dealt with successfully and around 10% go to the family court for divorce. In certain cases intervention is also obtained from the police. Care is also taken for arranging short stay homes for women who are in dire need.
Besides the services of counseling awareness programmes on legal rights of women, and social issues are conducted at various pockets of the community of different slum areas. Premarital sessions are also conducted for the youth of the communities. The center functions all the days of the week from 9 a.m to 5.30 p.m.
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