Month: September 2020

“We are now taken seriously. Adults pay attention to us and ask our opinions about village development ventures,” says a proud young man from Manick Nagar, India.

“This was not the case before,” continues a young woman from the same community. “The young men and women of our village did not come together for village development talks. Now, not only do we work jointly, we also approach government officials together.”

According to the World Demographics Profile, 2018, the population of youth in the 15 to 24 age group is 16.1 percent across the globe; in India, it’s 17.9 percent.

Though mature enough to decide the future, youth in India don’t have direction or support to thrive in their rural communities. This leaves them disengaged, with few opportunities.

So, at Children Beleive, we are helping young people build their skills. Youth clubs and leadership camps are one way to do that. It’s how one of our local partners, PAD (Peoples Action for Development) inspires youth to overcome their fears and access their hidden talents.

Being away in these safe spaces gives youth from different villages time to reflect upon their lives and gain an aerial perspective. They begin to question social norms in an inclusive and equitable learning environment. Suddenly, youth discover their purpose and passion and are more prepared to articulate discrimination they face in their hometown and overcome it.

So far, 33 camps are reaching 750 youth (including 330 boys and 420 girls) who are learning their rights so they can become champions of child rights and ambassadors for child protection.

In Manick Nagar, where most villagers face barriers to realizing their rights, youth have already implemented 17 of 20 goals they made to improve the community. For example, as well as preventing child marriages, child labour and supporting children to go back to school, they’re negotiating with elected representatives for basic resources such as roads, transportation, water and electricity.

The young people have already stopped 17 child marriages and rescued 46 child labourers. Thanks to their efforts to rescue and re-enrol school dropouts, 44 children are going back to school.

And, nearly 30 young people are contesting local elections in 21 villages where we operate. They’re demanding the “Free and Compulsory Education Act” and the “Child Labour Prevention Act” protect children up to the age of 18, rather than the current age of 14.

With this renewed energy and respect for themselves and others, youth are volunteering to distribute stationery to schoolchildren, organizing local getaways, getting involved in the local disaster-preparedness plans as well as highlighting needs through street theatre, cultural programs and more.

It’s a Monday morning, and I am driving to work. The previous evening many of us were in a daze. So many people were crying tears of joy.
We were excited about a visit to a community where we work in India. Karen Dellert and her husband, Wayne Hollohan, had travelled to meet their sponsored child, Anitha, in Manickanagar, Ramnad District. This was after Karen’s family had been supporting Anitha for 13 years, originally by Karen’s mom who asked her daughter to continue the support after her death.

The day started at 4 a.m. with Lipi Jobson, our communications manager in India, and I joining the couple from British Columbia on a visit they’d been planning since travelling to nearby Sri Lanka eight years ago. Anitha was perhaps equally excited having been unable to sleep the previous night in anticipation of the special meeting.

Karen and Wayne were welcomed in the community with traditional flower garlands. The couple were clearly delighted to meet Anitha. “I was overwhelmed, which quickly turned to joy, to see what an amazing young person [Anitha] has grown into,” Karen told us later. “I felt proud of her and glad I sponsored her and made the visit.”

The couple met the family and community on a tour of the village. Excitement was overflowing in the neighbourhood where the sponsors were given a window into the workings of the village, watching a fisherman weaving his net, men setting up for a local festival, visiting Anitha’s mother’s shop and a local beach. Karen and Wayne saw children play local sports, such as kho-kho and kabbadi. And our local partner hosted a lunch for the sponsors and Anitha’s family.

Then it was time to share gifts. Anitha may be getting her Bachelors in Commerce, yet the drawing books, paints, brushes and pens she received are enough for a career in the arts. Karen and Wayne knew of Anitha’s love for drawing from the art she regularly sends them; in fact, they told us they hang it on their fridge back home. And, there were more thoughtful gifts that won’t soon be forgotten.
In the end, Anitha cried tears of joy, saying, “They kept asking, what do you want?” I told them, “Your visit is sufficient! Though I said nothing, they are giving me everything.”