| Thousands of children in India have a new President |
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The ballots are in; voting’s over. Thousands of children in India have a new President. Last week, Balsena - a Childreach International supported project - saw the election of its new youth President, Vice President and Council, shaping future outcomes of the project and the next steps the child rights initiative will take. Balsena, meaning ‘children’s collective’, seeks to strengthen children’s access to their rights through a young persons’ union, the first independent children’s union in Gujarat district, India. T Healthy children = Healthy adults = Healthy society. This is the thinking behind Shaishav, a Childreach International partner and the NGO behind Balsena. They’re working hard to improve child rights in India and shape a positive future for children in the Bhavnagar district of Gujarat. “Our role is to act as a platform for children where they can experience the power of collective strength, take up issues that they face, satisfy their emotional needs, develop empathy for other children and derive support for each other” - Perul, Shaishev Director Shockingly, there is a greater threat to child rights in India than in any other country. Disparities between regions, social groups, economic classes and gender prevent so many children from reaching their full potential. Tackling the problems Balsena is tackling these problems head on. Their work is founded on a belief of equality and unity for all, regardless of gender, caste, class and religion, removing prejudices and discrimination and enhancing unity, equality and solidarity among children.
Dipak, 17 years old, lives in Khedudvas and is a member of Balsena. “Shaishav is like water in a desert to those children who are denied their opportunity to develop. Children are the future of any society so it is vital that they are able to grow up in a healthy, protective environment. This is not happening in this country. It is for this reason that Shaishav created Balsena and Tarunsena. Shaishav make a powerful contribution towards children’s empowerment.” Reaching their full potential Childreach International believes children, their parents and the communities they live in hold the best solutions for bringing about positive change.
Get involved and help projects like Balsena continue to provide children with the opportunity to reach their full potential. Join us on Facebook and Twitter or cycle through India on a Challenge Event. Or visit our partner's site - Shaishev
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he project reflects Childreach International’s core ethos, which focuses on active involvement and puts children at the centre of their own development. Every day, it gives thousands of children the opportunity to run and manage their own child rights project, providing a platform from which the child ren can work together and contribute to key issues within their communities.
“Shaishev is like water in a desert” - Dipak
