Project SanchetnaHelping a community find its voice at Jaari, Geenj, and many more villages in Uttar Pradesh

The project area falls in one of the most backward districts of Allahabad

Poverty is ever present as these areas hardly have any access to govt. schemes

Caste-based atrocities, violation of child rights and gender discrimination are quite common

Rampant child labour is another problem plaguing the area

People in the village don’t possess any land and work as labourers

CRY & Sanchetna

CRY process• CRY partnered with Sanchetna, a local NGO active

in the region• Got an understanding of what people needed and

the inherent challenges• Helped Sanchetna build its capacity to handle the

challenges• Helped initiatives like the Bal Panchayat and self

employment groups• Through awareness programmes, empowered the

local community by making them self reliant and protecting their children‘s rights

Sanchetna

• Sanchetna started their field operations in October 2008 in Barabanki, Uttar Pradesh (UP)

• The mandate of the organisation is to reach out to underpriviledged children and their communities in one of the poorest states of India

• Their direct intervention has been in 17 villages. In 30 other villages works towards establishment of community groups

Sanchetna started the sensitisation process in these villages by addressing issues like child labour

The local community was encouraged to form committees to address the salient local issues

Children’s groups and Bal Panchayats were formed

Children were encouraged to cook and eat together. This was a simple way of breaking caste and social barriers that have long plagued the community

With barriers broken, more children came together forming bigger and stronger groups to voice their issues and discuss their rights

The Bal Panchayat members conducted activities like ‘school chalo’ campaign, marches and nukkad nataks to bring to light issues in front of the community

Various contests were organised where girls and boys were encouraged to participate and showcase their talents

Be it swimming or marksmanship, these fun contests provided a forum for the children to interact and share their issues

Success Stories

Mahendra Rajak’s Story

Hailing from a very poor family, Mahendra started working at the quarry when he was only 6

“School was some place other children went, not children like us.”

MahendraAge - 15yrs

CRY & Sanchetana persuaded Mahendra’s parents to send him to an informal learning centre started in the village

Today

• Mahendra goes to school everyday

• At age 9, he was elected the leader of the local Bal Panchayat

• He makes sure other children go to school as well

Story of hope and involvement

• 2 HIV+ children were treated as social outcasts

• They were not allowed to go to school and were not included in any activities

• Children’s groups in adjacent villages came together and ate with these two children and made them feel welcome

• They spoke to teachers and opinion leaders• The 2 children came back to school

After repeated demonstrations, Geenj got its first government primary school in 2002. School enrollment rallies were carried out by 10-13 yr old children urging other children to join school

Children who were earlier earning members could go to school because it was now free

Elders of the community came together under Sanchetna’s guidance to start the local community fishing trade

20 families collaborated to use the community pond to catch and sell fish. It brought people closer and helped them gain employment

Profits are shared equally and everyone benefits from the pond

Economic self reliance leads to better livelihood of the community which contributes towards children’s right to education, health, nutrition and overall childhood

Changes that came about

• The issue of child labour was addressed• Platforms for development of children were

created • Elders gave a serious hearing to the concerns

children had • Divides of caste and creed were overthrown• Children started going to school again• People joined hands for self employment• A sense of togetherness came over the

community

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Join us to ensure many more communities are empowered so their children enjoy the right to live, learn, play and grow.

Photography by Kaushal Parikh

To know more visit www.cry.org or email us at webinfo@crymail.org