Street children programme in Kolkata

The Nabadisha Education Programme for street children is quite unique in that it is an example of what total synergy can achieve. Initiated by the Kolkata Police and implemented by us, it runs with financial assistance from Child Relief and You, food support from Catholic Relief Service, and a total support of the respective local communities. Everyday this programme touches the lives of 1800 street & slum children of Kolkata and adjacent area. The target is to provide an all-round basic education to enable them to join the societal mainstream.

The programme was started keeping in view the two vital rights of children - development and participation. What makes the programme unique is the involvement of the Police. Currently, we have 24 centres spread in 20 Police Stations all over the city and its suburbs where classes are held for approximately 1800 children (4 to 14 age group) who have been denied access to formal schooling. They are located in some of the most densely populated slums and squatter settlements of Kolkata, North & South 24 Parganas and Howrah. Children coming to these centres are from the most deprived and vulnerable sections of society.

In a Nabadisha centre children are divided into groups according to their learning levels and not according to their ages. The grouping is flexible because some are school drop-outs and have some residual learning while most are without any knowledge of letters or numbers. The entire approach is learner-centric and participatory. Over and above academics, these children are being given an all round education - sports, drama, puppetry, music, art & craft, juggling, etc. Special attention is given to cleanliness, hygiene, discipline and positive work habits so that they can join the societal mainstream in a broader sense.

We provide all educational materials. The teachers of Nabadisha programme are trained by our "Early Childhood Learning Course". Besides classroom activities they regularly conduct parents meetings and make home visits to strengthen contact with the community. They also maintain regular contact with the local community leaders and the police officers.

The Nabadisha programme has a number of partners - the Police, the local clubs, CRY, Vikramshila and CRS - and each of them has its own strengths to contribute. The programme has taught us the benefit of having multiple partners in a project where the problem is too vast for any single agency to handle. We hope all our efforts will take the children to a better future by showing them a better way (Nabadisha).