Humble Beginnings!
Rewind: June, 2021
The pandemic looms large. While the world is gripped by fear, shock, uncertainty; Bala Mandir takes the plunge to help orphaned children in need.
Social workers of Bala Mandir – Y Arulraj (Arul), Pradeep Chellan and Anand M are roped in and briefed about possible help to children who have lost one or both parents to Covid, who live with their surviving single parent, kith or kin. The term ‘Kinship Care’ is used for the first time and paves the way for ‘Bala Mandir Kinship Care’ Unit. It is decided that these children will be part of Bala Mandir’s ‘virtual homes’ where the children get focused support for their holistic development, from dedicated field social workers.
“When I was told that the children will not physically come into Bala Mandir Home but will live with their extended family, it was heartening to know that these children will still have a family connect. I decided to help these children,” says Arul, a social worker of 10 years with Bala Mandir’s home and the first employee of Bala Mandir Kinship Care in Chennai.
The rest, as they say, is history! From wearing the first N95 mask handed over by Bala Mandir, Arul, starts his field visit in the peak of covid, checking-in on recent deaths and possible help. After the family visit on his bicycle to Nungambakkam, Chennai, Divesh and Mukesh become the first inmates of Bala Mandir’s Kinship Care.
Fast Forward: June, 2023
There are 700 children who have been added after Divesh and Mukesh, in less than 2 years across 9 Districts of Tamil Nadu – namely Chennai, Chengalpattu, Kancheepuram, Krishnagiri, Ranipet, Vellore, Tiruvallur, Tiruvannamalai, Tirupathur. Like Arul, 7 other dedicated social workers – Saranya, Pradeep, Magendiran, Siva, Subash, Ajith, Arthi, traverse over 60 kilometres a day to identify, enrol, support and service these children. Their engagement with the children shows, when each social worker refers to the Kinship Care child as ‘my child.’
Today Bala Mandir has paid school fees for nearly 250 children for academic year 2023-24, to ensure no child drops out of school for want of funds. Nearly 200 children are part of our English Reading Programme where a volunteer connects one-on-one with a child to help her read English fluently.
Forty children possess Tablets pre-loaded with Maths content, to understand foundational concepts in a self-paced learning environment. Children in remote villages where the mobile/internet connectivity is poor, are particularly chosen for this programme.
90% children live with mothers, with the loss of the only breadwinner of the family, causing emotional trauma and financial distress. Over 150 mothers have been counselled to help them get over their emotional trauma and face life’s challenges head-on. More than 15 mothers have been offered livelihood support by procuring items such as a tailoring machine, a grinder, a street food cart; so that they can make a living from the confines of their homes while caring for their young children.
Most importantly, Bala Mandir Kinship Care delivers the message of ‘Hope’ to these families that we care for them over the long-term. We see a future for these children, where education is a key moderator and a child’s best chance to escape the cycle of poverty.
Comment (1)
Well summed up. Hats off