OTHER PROJECTS AT HOPE
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The Home provides a shelter to traumatized children especially those without families.
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To improve traumatized children's emotional, mental and physical health by providing health care and counseling support.
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The unit was set to give employment opportunities to poor adolescent girls.
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24 HOURS child protection program for the deprived children on the streets of Kolkata
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Day care for children of working mothers and Additional learning skills for children in school.
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To identify 15 vocal members of the community who were willing to be involved in building an environment for children’s appropriate development.
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DE-ADDICTION PROGRAM FOR SOLVENT ADDICTED CHILDREN OF HOWRAH STATION
Target Population: 50
Geographical Location: Howrah Railway Station
 Solvent Abuse is often an under estimated problem for many young people. Howrah Station is a little different from other areas in the City of Kolkata as it is a home to homeless people. Among these are children aged 8-17 who do not have homes or have left their homes due to poverty. These children act as rag pickers who scour the trains which come to the station and find newspapers and plastic water bottles which are sold to people who recycle the same.
The main products that are used are - solvent based glues(Dendrite) and correcting fluids ( Erasex). In addition to these some of the older children also use cannabis and Alcohol. The methods of use vary too - from directly inhaling products from their containers to squeezing substances into cloth or plastic bag and inhaling from the same.
The Children at Howrah Station who are victims of circumstances and do not have proper clothes, food or shelter have compounded their problems by abusing Solvents. Studies indicate that solvent abuse is largely confined to children between the ages of 8 to 17 years, peaking at around 14 to 15 years, when they also abuse other intoxicants like Cannabis and Alcohol.
Observing the problem and finding a need to help the children to find a better way of life Hope Foundation set up an outreach center at Howrah station which caters around 40-50 children who are counseled and also provided lunch.
A rehabilitation home for boys has also been set up at Kabardanga (near Thakurpukur) where the boys are sent after detoxification. After completing the Rehabilitation programme, they will put in open schools or will be helped to take up a vocation for which they were trained. They will also be placed on a follow up programme which will be overseen by special workers.
Achievements
18 children (14 boys and 4 girls) are undergoing rehabilitation at present. Life skills training is being imparted at the rehabilitation centers through differnt activities. Seven boys are undergoing training in various organizations. One has been absorbed as a helper in the kitchen of a Chinese restaurant. 1 boy has been admitted in formal school while others are into non formal education and vocational training.
Anti-Child Labour Day, Raksha Bandhan and Republic Day celebrations were organized by the children. The local community, railway authorities, RPF and GRP have been involved in the same. The children have participated in sports events in the community. Children have participated in Child empowerment workshops.
Case History
Ravinder born and brought up in a rural poor family in Jharkhand. He ran away from home due to extreme poverty and came to Howrah Station. There he started picking left over food in trains for his livelihood and soon got addicted to solvents. He was taken to an institution after an year on the platform. There he stayed for sometime and studied till class IV. He was restricated from home due to his addiction problem. He then came back to Howrah Station and went back to searching trains and using drugs. He got motivated to join the de-addiction program when he used to drop in at our center in Howrah. He was detoxified in August 2005 and started his rehabilitation. He was given non-formal education and slowly his interest in pursuing studies came back. He has now been placed in a formal hindi medium school in class VI. He is a boy with a pleasant personality and is interested in studies and football. He wants to complete school and then go to college. |
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