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.
Heartening Impact of SEEDS Learning Circles in Backward Areas
The year brought in great news of the achievement of 17 tribal children – something that was unheard of in this part of the State. For the first time they attempted the entrance exams of reputed schools at the national and state level and succeeded in getting admission. These schools of excellence include Navodaya Jawahar Vidya Mandir, Netarhat, Eklavya and Model Schools. The villagers of extremist affected Gobraduma (having no road connection to the village) are the most ecstatic as three girls of class V have got through Navodaya Vidyalaya. It is commendable that they never attended tuition/coaching classes. (this facility is unheard of in this forest area). Children continue with their monthly savings and manage their group efficiently. They are also spearheading the adherence of child rights in homes.
SEEDS is working for promoting the rights of children in 16 tribal predominant villages plus 18 hamlets/ tolas of Gurabandha & Dumaria blocks of East Singhbhum district from 2020 onwards. As a consequence of poor teaching/ learning in government schools, one of the major interventions of SEEDS is running adolescent learning centres in this area where children have been getting inputs on school subjects, rights and life skills. In fact post-Covid, it has been nearly three years that constant efforts are being made by the village-level Preraks (tutors) to prevent drop-out from schools and enable children to reach the minimum level of learning in various subjects at the SEEDS learning circles.
Children Motivate Drop out Classmates to Rejoin School
As part of the children’s circles annual plan, 39 school drop-out children (including 29 boys and 10 girls) were brought back to schools in nine villages of Gurabandha and Dumaria Blocks. Most of the girls had left school due to domestic work. The boys had left school largely as a consequence of lagging behind in their studies and taking up petty jobs to supplement their family income. Their school counterparts convinced the drop out children as well as their parents about the importance of education. They also assured them of possible help in their studies.
For the first time this year, as many as 31 children residing in 10 of the project villages have completed their secondary education. It is commendable that out of the 31 successful students, 24 are girls. There are 17 children who passed their Board examination in First Division (scored above 60% marks) and barring two, i.e. 15 first divisioners are girls. Now all of them have taken admission in junior college. On the occasion of Children’s Day all these children were felicitated at public functions. They are setting a good precedence for the younger children in their villages.
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 25 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.
Traditional games & sports
Sports-integration is a cross-curricular pedagogical approach that utilizes physical activities including indigenous sports, that helps in developing skills such as collaboration, self-initiative, self-discipline, teamwork, responsibility etc.
14 types of traditional games and sports have been organized, such as Asta-chakra, kitkit, Bagchal, Pittu, Ekir Mikir, pataluka, sui Topa, Anda chori, Talachabi, Ankh Michouni, Handiphor Kabaddi etc. The skills, learning and values of each game are highlighted. 967 Children participated in the games.
Parents and the elderly are very happy to see the revival of traditional games. In many places they are seen guiding the children and reminiscing their childhood days.
LEARNING cum COMMUNITY CENTRE AMIDST DENSE SARANDA FORESTS
Hidden amidst hills and forests, Sankura is an unknown hamlet in the largest sal forest area (820 square kilometres) of Asia. Having no connectivity, the Ho tribal families are totally dependent on forests and seasonal paddy for their survival. It follows naturally that children do not have access to school. SEEDS chanced to set foot on this village and interact with the villagers. The untouched beauty, nature’s abundance, serenity coupled with the simplicity and satiety of the forest dwellers was overpowered by their poverty and eagerness to improve their life, particularly their children’s life.
The support of sensitized and benevolent citizens enabled SEEDS to handhold the first initiative of starting an open air non-formal education unit with a seventh passed local youth as teacher. The villagers felt proud and satisfied that the ray of education had reached this tiny hamlet.
Encouraged by the development initiatives, the villagers expressed their concern over the absence of a covered space for education or for community meetings which posed as deterrent particularly during the monsoon months. The physical and financial plans were discussed with the community and with a substantial contribution of labour, work started. There were many challenges, right from clearing the land from overgrown bushes, digging and transporting stones to the site, to getting masons and carpenters to extremist activities and combing operations by paramilitary forces in the area. However the construction work has been completed. Sankura and its people are brimming with hopes of a brighter future.
WALK WITH US
At SEEDS, no contribution is small. Become harbingers of change by affirmative action.