children rights
For us, children’s rights are non-negotiable.
We believe that a safe, secure and protective environment is a prerequisite to the realization of all other rights of children and we are committed to provide the same to all children in all the places where we work, and at all times!
Along with the children themselves, we involve the parents, teachers, anganwadi workers, communities, panchayat, block and district administration for a holistic improvement in the lives of the children.
We work in four key programmatic areas:
- Health & Nutrition
The Right to Survival entails that no child should suffer from malnutrition or poor health whatever be their socio-economic background. - Safety & Protection Under Right to Protection, children have the right to be protected wherever they are. Building a safe environment for all children, till the age of 18 years, is critical to protect them from abuse and exploitation.
- Education
In the context of the Right to Development, free and compulsory education is the right of every child. - Child Participation
The Right to Participation envisages that children have a right to be heard and their opinions respected and considered by adults around them.
This year we organized seven health awareness and check- up camps in 5 village schools of Gurabandha and Dumaria blocks in which 760 children were covered. The main ailments included cough and cold, stomach ache and skin problems. Children took home medicines, tonics, nutritious food and drinks.
Arki center, Barubera
In September 2021 SEEDS conducted a survey in 16 project villages of Gurabandha and Dumaria Blocks of East Singhbhum District in Jharkhand, of nearly 600 government school children in the age group 9-18. With regard to the status of their studies, it was found out that only 18% children studied through the online classes conducted by the education department/ school. However 63% children did self-study and 19% took tuitions.
The survey shows that 89% children had a mobile phone at home and about 42% had an Internet connection off and on. The usage of the Internet is two to three times more now than what it was in the pre-pandemic days. As for TV viewing, children had Hobson’s choice, they had to see what the elders in the family watched!
Child participation programmes focussed on building children’s collectives as peer support groups and engaging with children to build awareness on child rights issues.
Children are potential change agents and given the space and opportunity, can hold dialogue on matters related to themselves.
Each of them should be able to speak out and/or act on the issues that affect them. It not only helps in their mental and emotional development but also fosters in them self-esteem and self-belief. The 16 children’s circles functioning in the conflict ridden area, provide a platform for meeting and sharing issues of mutual interest. They meet twice every week.
WALK WITH US
At SEEDS, no contribution is small. Become harbingers of change by affirmative action.