Rehearsal in Progress

Steps Forward - The Brochure

Partners' Meet

A collaborative meeting - “Partners’ Meet on Enabling a Child Protective Environment for Children” - was organised with the agencies involved in child development and protection under the aegis of the Social Work Department and World Vision India, Kottayam-Allepey ADP on 11 June, 2008 at B.C.M. College. The aim was to orient representatives from different partnering agencies on child protection and enable the formulation of a child protection policy for their organization, with child participation.

70 representatives, including 26 children, participated. Four child representatives from different institutions inaugurated the programme. Project Director, SOS Children’s Village, Aluva, Titus Poovakulam gave the key note address and acted as the facilitator for the programme.

The Superintendent of Children’s Home at Thiruvanchoor James Peter felicitated the programme, sharing the history of the home and the major problems the children there faced.

Dr. Ipe Verghese presented a situational analysis on the neglect and abuse of children. Jolly K. James facilitated the session where the representatives introduced themselves and their agencies.

Rashmi Nair’s session looked at child rights and the neglect and abuse of children. She explained the types of abuse and its impact on the child. She also emphasised the need for an awareness of the legal systems with regards to child protection. The students of the department enacted a skit on the problems of insensitive parenting and the dangers of neglecting child rights. Jasmine Mathew’s talk followed on the child’s need for a protective environment. She highlighted the adult’s role in ensuring safe surroundings.

Titus Poovakulam handled the session on “Child Protective Policies and Minimum Safety Standards for Child Protection,” focussing on preventive measures of child abuse. He explained the need for empowering the child to respond to problems and harmful situations and oriented the participants towards preparing a child protection policy, providing the necessary guidelines.

The afternoon session happened at two parallel venues. The child participants, under the guidance of Rashmi Nair, discussed their understanding of the previous sessions and expressed their view points on child rights and protection. Adult participants were oriented on JJ Act 2000 by Binoy, Probationary Officer, Department of Social Welfare. He explained the services of juvenile homes and the importance and role of Child Welfare Committees (CWC).

Following these sessions, child participants presented reports of their group discussions before the adult participants with the help of charts they had prepared. Titus Poovakulam was the facilitator for this session where the children were actively involved and raised varied questions.

Pre and post-evaluation forms were distributed to help recognise attitudinal changes. All participants signed the flex placed near the venue, expressing their solidarity with child protection.