27/04/2011

India’s capital, Delhi, with a population of over 12 million, is home to many children without access to basic welfare services; and with an article recently published in The Times of India, concerning child exploitation and trafficking, the problems faced by many of Delhi’s children are obvious.

For over a decade, New Opportunities for Women (NOW), has worked hard to improve children’s education and health, working hand in hand with children and particularly the girl child to empower them and help them reclaim their basic rights.

Childreach International has been working with NOW, providing support to their education centre for children living in slums in the Ashram area, South Delhi.

The centre provides education classes, offering children extra support in a range of subjects including Maths and English.

Prior to the centre, many children were dropping out of school or in irregular attendence, while girls were often discouraged from studying beyond class four.

Speaking to our partners on the ground

One of the founders, Bharti Mehrota , has been working in the social sector for 21 years. She describes how the project works together with children to improve their overall development and welfare, and offer them an education they are struggling to find elsewhere.

“The project is helping them [the children] in various ways as individuals; their personalities are improving; they’re becoming more vocal and getting more confident and they’re doing better in studies – it’s a more an overall effect the project is having on the children”.

In doing so, the project takes a more holistic approach to development, ensuring that children are supported in numerous aspects of their welfare and livelihoods.

Bharti goes on to describe the role of the young ex-students who have returned to the centre to teach the children and “make fun with them”,

“They come here because they like to interact with children, play with them and teach them... it’s working very well...”

NOW’s approach to teaching means the children’s education stays in the hands of the community and those who best understand the needs in the slum area. This insider knowledge means the project works more effectively with the children to improve their education.

It also makes the whole experience fun and engaging for the children and teachers involved.

One of the young volunteers, Vaibhav, 18, describes what he likes best about teaching at the centre,

“My favourite part [of coming to the centre] is to make fun with the kids and give them great knowledge.”

As well as working with the children on a day to day basis, NOW carries out surveys and research in the area to make sure they're meeting the communities' and children's most vital needs.

Watch the video below to see the full interviews and footage of the children who attend NOW’s education centre.