Hamare Bachche Education — Mehsana District

HAMARE BACHCHE EDUCATION — MEHSANA DISTRICT

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Mehsana Hamare Bachche Project

Provide tuition for the education of 11 child victims of the 2002 riots
add to watch list

Mehsana Hamare Bachche Project

Provide tuition for the education of 11 child victims of the 2002 riots
add to watch list

Mehsana Hamare Bachche Project

Provide tuition for the education of 11 child victims of the 2002 riots

Project Summary

The Self Employed Women’s Assocation (SEWA), Citizen Effect's field partner in India, started the Hamare Bachche (“Our Children”) Program aimed at rehabilitating children who lost one or both parents in the riots and placing them back in school to finish their education. Children between the ages of 3-18 years are enrolled in Nursery, Primary and Secondary Schools. Many had become orphans and many were traumatized by the brutality of the 2002 Gujarat riots after witnessing their parents being burnt alive by mobs.

Ed has partnered with the Hamare Bachche families in Mehsana district to support the education of 11 child victims of the riots. In addition to sponsoring their tuition and school fees, the project will also provide the necessary books, stationery, school bags, uniform, and other supplies for each student. Each child and family will also receive continuous monitoring by the SEWA program teams to ensure that the children regularly go to school, and regular meetings will be conducted with the teachers and principals to assess the progress of the children.

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What?

This program covers the costs of education for the Hamare Bachche children, in addition to:
-Trauma Assessment and Counseling
-School fees and supplies
-Uniforms
-Room and Board (if necessary)
-Health Care Services
-Childcare Services for Younger Children
-Vocational Guidance and Trainings
-Extra-curricular Activities and Field Trips
-Organizing special programs like Summer Camps, Workshops, and picnics
-Exam Preparation and Tutoring

Why?

The psychological trauma faced by the children requires special care and attention, as many of the children witnessed the death of one or both parents in the brutality of the communal riots. The violence and its aftermath greatly disrupted the lives of entire communities; families who lost their sole breadwinner struggled to make ends meet and children who lost both parents were placed in orphanages or with distant relatives. As a result, children were left out of school and unable to pay for their education costs.

How?

The primary aim of the rehabilitation of the children after the horrible events of 2002 is to divert their minds from the tragic incident. As education should be the main priority for any child, it is crucial for the children to go back to school and attend it regularly. SEWA started the Hamare Bachche program to sponsor and encourage the children to continue their education. However, the children were afraid to leave their homes as they were still haunted by the past. Their mothers were also reluctant to send their children to school out of fear.

SEWA initiated a faith-building process with its grassroots researchers acting as hand-holders. The SEWA team frequently visited and spent more time with the children and their mothers giving solace and encouragement, supporting their return to school and regular activities.

In addition, special teams visit the children at school every week. The team meets the class teachers, principals and gets the report of the child’s progress. Regular meetings with parents are held to help counsel parents on how to provide quality education for their children at home. The team members also tutor the weak students and coordinate with schoolteachers regularly and especially during the examination time to inspire confidence and improve academic performance.

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In 2002, a train in the city of Godhra in Gujarat, India was set ablaze by a mob, sparking a massive riot that resulted in the deaths of over a 1,000 people. The dead were mostly several male breadwinners of these poor communities. According to official accounts, 900 women were widowed and over 600 children orphaned. Many of the children were severely shocked by the brutality of the Gujarat riots, and often witnessed their parents being burnt alive by mobs. The widows and children of these victims not only suffered deep psychological trauma; they also lost their means of livelihood and lack the education and support to restart their lives.

Learn more about Villages in Mehsana District

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Direct Impact of Your Project

Provides school fees, school supplies, healthcare, and trauma counseling for 11 children who lost one or both parents in the violence of the 2002 Gujarat communal riot. Allows students to advance to secondary school and acquire skills to succeed in life.