Tamil Nadu: Preventing child labor - One child at a time

FORGOTTEN CHILDREN has been working against child labor in Tamil Nadu, India, for the past 10 years in partnership with local Indian grassroots organizations.

A new star is born! Forgotten Children has now a sister organization:
CHUDARS – FORGOTTEN CHILDREN INDIA

Mother-Daughter Project in Kodaikanal

 
Our mother-daughter project in Kodaikanal is thriving, thanks to the caring and capable supervision of the Sisters of Visitation. Our 89 students have been selected by women sangams living in the villages and who know about our project. The girls come from landless families and, due to very impoverished circumstances, are at risk of discontinuing their studies to become child laborers. The girls attend St. Xavier's Girls Vocational High School in Naiduparam, Kodaikanal, Tamil Nadu, which has been educating children of coolie workers for the past 50 years.

Sr. Mary Therese, headmistress 'report for 2007

« 89 Students have been helped during the academic year 2006-2007.  We are happy that 24 Tribal children have been enrolled in school.  Out of the 89 students, 6 of the class XII will be leaving the school but three of them will be further helped for higher studies.  Class X students will continue in our school.  There will be 20 more students (Tribal and Dalit) enrolled in the project in June 2007. »

Our stars for 2007

Jeyapackiam is helped to continue her education in the University.  This is a three years’ course.  She has chosen “PHYSICS” as a special subject to do her bachelor’s degree course. She is an outstanding student in Mother Teresa University at Kodaikanal.  Within three months, she has won a lot of prizes and certificates.  She works hard.  Having been abandoned by her father and mother, her grandmother takes care of her since many years.  Our help is such a boon to her to be able to continue her studies and prove that she is a gifted girl.  Thanks to Forgotten Children Project.

Poornima is helped to do “Teacher Training course”.  This is a two years’ course.  Poornima is doing well in her studies. Her father and mother are landless coolie workers.  They have three daughters.  Two of them are in our school.  Both Jeyapackiam and Poornima have promised to help other needy students after they complete their higher education and get a job.

Karpagavalli comes from a village called Gandhipuram about 72 kilo meters away from Kodaikanal town. She is a tribal girl and a pride of her community as she studies well and works hard.  She lost her father three years ago.  Her mother is a coolie worker.  She has one sister.  She is studying in 7th class. The government has built a small house for them.  She hopes to do “Nurses Training Course” in a hospital in Trichy.  In the whole tribal belt, she would be the first nurse, when completed her course.  She works hard and studies well.

Annapackiam : her father is a coolie worker.  He is irresponsible and does not help the family.  Her mother is working as a sweeper.  She has two sisters.  They are studying in different classes. They have no house or land of their own. She wishes to do the bachelor’s degree course in Commerce in the Mother Teresa University.  Her mother is unable to send her for further studies since she has two more daughters continuing their education in school.  She is an average students works hard and studies well. 

Our Self-Help women groups (sangam) are working well.
340 mothers are earning an income!
2007 Report from Sr. Mary Therese:

« Merina (19), Kurinchi (12), Roja (14), Jasmine (13), Venpura (10), Sakthi (10), Annai Teresa (17) and Lotus (12) have completed their loans and Merina, Kurinchi, Roja, Jasmine and Venpura received a second loan.  Sakthi, Annai Teresa and Lotus are waiting for their second loan.   There has been a steady repayment from these groups.  The mothers have become conscious of their responsibility to repay.  This is a positive approach and we are very happy about it.   Besides these 10 groups, there are 13 more SHG groups.  We hope to help them with loans in the future. »

Teaching children to protect the environment in partnership with the Palni Hills Conservation Council, Kodaikanal.

Our butterfly garden continues to flourish and to attract students under the supervision of Mr. Kannan and his staff. It is with great pleasure that we learned that Mr. Kannan has been nominated to be an Ashoka fellow!

As describe on the Ashoka site:

“Kannan has also identified schools as a useful instrument for expanding awareness of environmental issues, while at the same time contributing to the conservation program. Students from some 50 schools in neighboring regions come on field trips to the hills to learn about water quality, forests, insects, and animals. The students undertake tests and surveys, and the results of these are incorporated into Conservation Council plans and shared with local communities and the authorities. As word travels, Kannan is receiving inquiries from schools much further a field –including those in urban areas– and he is planning to accommodate a more diverse range of students in future field trips.”

BUTTERFLY GARDEN - TAMIL NADU, INDIA

FORGOTTEN CHILDREN
Mrs. Francoise Remington, Executive Director
1031 North Edgewood Street
Arlington, Virginia 22201
U.S.A.

Phone: (703) 351-9270 Fax: (703) 351-9270
E-Mail: francoise@forgottenchildren.net