Dhanusri’s journey from exploitation to education
Dhanusri, a 13-year-old from the Yanadi Scheduled Tribes, found herself navigating the harsh realities of her family’s seasonal migration for livelihood.
As the second child among seven siblings, Dhanusri’s responsibilities increased, following her father’s death, leaving her motherf to shoulder the financial burden alone. With her elder brother dropping out of school to support the family, Dhanusri’s path seemed destined for a similar fate. Recognizing the signs of her falling prey to child labor, the Cry America project team intervened. Despite initial challenges in tracing her whereabouts, concerted efforts involving community stakeholders, including Village Child Protection Committees and local authorities, led to her rescue from exploitation in a brick kiln.
With unwavering support from the project team, Dhanusri’s transition back to school began. Emotional support and counseling by dedicated teachers, ensured she received the necessary attention to bridge the gap in her learning.
Today, Dhanusri’s story stands as a testament to the power of timely intervention and collaborative action. Through the collective efforts of project Pragathi and community stakeholders, she was spared from the clutches of child labor and given the opportunity to reclaim her childhood. Regular follow-ups and support mechanisms have not only stabilized her academic journey but also ignited a newfound passion for learning and participation in extracurricular activities.
Dhanusri’s story reflects the importance of ongoing vigilance and proactive measures in safeguarding children’s rights and ensuring they have the opportunity to thrive, regardless of their circumstances.
In Chittoor district, Andhra Pradesh, the project faces challenges with the quality of Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) provided by Anganwadi teachers. Additionally, the absence of a preschool readiness program worsens the issue, stemming from a lack of skills among Anganwadi workers. Furthermore, there’s a concerning trend of children dropping out of school and moving towards child labor.
Through a multifaceted approach, the project focuses on facilitating children’s enrollment in the preschool program, educating parents about the significance of education, and engaging with teachers to advocate for the return of child laborers to school. By fostering community involvement and empowering children with essential life skills, project Pragathi aims to create a brighter future for the next generation. Preventive programs have been implemented to address child labor and child marriage.
174
drop out children re enrolled in school
78
children removed from labor
65
child marriages averted
60
teachers trained on ECCE program
213
children passed their 10th grade examinations
137
meetings conducted with children and adolescent collectives
2443
children covered-Life Skills Sessions
● Identify 300 irregular children in schools and take measures to streamline them
● Sensitize parents of 200 dropout on the importance of education.
● Sensitize parents of 2325 school going girls on the importance of continuity of education
● Ensure re enrolment of 200 Drop out children
● Orient 63 Anganwadi teachers on Early Childhood Education program
● Identify and assist 3520 children to apply for social security entitlements.
● Encourage 70 teachers to visit families that have dropouts for re-enrollment
● Strengthen 75 Parents Monitoring Committee and develop school development plans
● Conduct 10 awareness programs on child labor at community level.
● Ensure 70 children are removed from labor
● Involve 20 Community Based Organizations in mainstreaming the child labor.
● Avert/Stop 50 child marriages
● Conduct regular meetings with 136 Children and adolescent collectives
● Orient 500 parents on the importance of the Life Skills Modules
● Implement Year-II Life Skills Modules in Child collectives covering 1800 children
2023 Grant Disbursed $41,949
