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Overview
CRG focuses on the
needs of children mainly belonging to the migrant community
and residing in the north coastal belt of Goa. The vulnerability
of Goa's 'beach children' is a major cause for concern. CRG
conducts various activities with a view to encourage child
development and child participation
Children's meetings
Children's Meetings are held once in a month with the aim
to encourage child participation. During these meetings children
are encouraged to discuss topics which they feel are relevant
to them such as communalism, gender differences, hindi films
etc. During these meetings the children also discuss the problems
that they face in their schools and in their community.
Community meetings
Every three months parents' meetings are held in the school
where various topics are taken up with parents for discussion.
The problems parents face are discussed. The achievements
of the children are shared with the parents and they are motivated
to send their children to school.
Meetings are also held with the local community
members requesting their cooperation with the open school
programme. During these meetings the message All Children
are our Children is imparted to the community members.
Leadership Camps/Workshops
Open School programme
Every summer a three-day leadership camp is held for CRG's
non-formal school children. The main objective of this camp
is to develop leadership qualities in the children and to
make them aware of their rights and inculcate in them the
sense of responsibility. Various sessions on leadership, sex
education, clay modelling, puppet making, cartooning etc are
held for the children. These camps are a learning experience
which give children an opportunity to discover and show their
talents.
Formal School Programme
After the sessions conducted in the formal school on the rights
of the child, child abuse and prevention of abuse the children
are given a feedback form asking them their opinion about
the session. They are also asked if they would like to share
what they have learnt with other children by joining the FLiP
club. (FLiP stands for Friends of Little People). The children
interested in joining the club are invited to attend a leadership
workshop. Five students from each school are selected to attend
the workshop. The aim of this workshop is to encourage them
to express themselves confidently and creatively.
FLiP Clubs
The FLiP Clubs enable children to enhance their life skill
education and to serve as peer educators, sharing what they
have learnt with other children. The aim of forming these
clubs is to enhance children's participation. They are also
intended to serve as forums that can voice their concerns.
Bal Panchayats
Bal- Panchayat meetings are organised by CRG with the aim
to boost child participation at the village level and enhance
the formation of Village Child Committees as mentioned in
the Goa Children's Act 2003. During these meetings the FLiP
club members get a chance to interact with club members from
other schools in their village. They identify the problems
they face in the village along with solutions to the problems.
They get an opportunity to interact with their panchayat representatives
and to express themselves.
PTA meetings
Presentations on issues concerning children are organised
by CRG during Parents Teachers Association meetings. Topics
such as unintentional forms of abuse caused by parents or
teachers, prevention of abuse, awareness on paedophilia are
covered during these presentations. Sometimes films are shown.
The sessions are held in an interactive manner. CRG attends
these meeting as and when invited by the schools.
Bal Mela
CRG observes India's ratification of the United Nations Convention
of the Rights of the Child by organizing a Bal Mela every
year on 11 December. The theme of the Mela is "Hamari
Awaz Suno" and serves as a platform for the participation
of children from non-formal schools and the formal schools.
The children spend the day interacting with each other, working
together to produce posters, plays and craft items. The children
get an opportunity to share with each other activities they
have done as part of their FLiP Clubs. The first Bal Mela
was held on 11th December 2005.
Events
Inauguration of Village Child Committee
The first Village Child Committee (VCC) in
Arambol was inaugurated on 17th December 2006. The VCC has
been formed with members who have joined the committee voluntarily.
The members comprise teachers, panch members, concerned citizens
as well as children from the FLiP (Friends of Little People)
club. The VCC consists of the Chirperson, Mr. Daniel D' Souza,
Secretary, Mr. Otvanekar, Flavia D'souza,Treasurer Child Representative
Francis D'Souza and Reneta Fernandes, the other members are
representatives from different wards, Natty D'Souza, Sr. Joana
Dias, Catherine Afonso, Almeida Bai, Florina Mendonca, Rima
Satelkar, Bella Fernandes, Sanjay Mayenkar, Rosita Fernandes,
Sunil Harmalkar and Sr. Estella
On the day of the inauguration, the members
of the FLiP club welcomed the gathering with a welcome song.
The child representative Ms. Reneta Fernandes gave the welcome
address. Ms. Almeida Bai (ex. Teacher of Mount Carmel High
School), read the report of the various meetings held. Ms.
Muriel Fernandes, FLiP club members read the letter written
by the club members addressed to the Sarpanch about the problems
faced by them in the village. The chairperson of the Committee,
Sarpanch of Arambol, Mr. Daniel D'Sousa in his speech requested
the children to attend the gram sabha meetings and put forth
their demands. He requested them not to hesitate to approach
the panchayat with their grievances.
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