Divya Chaya Trust has been working for children for over twenty years. Children from the age of three to eighteen are under the fold of the trust. In its journey last year the Trust has taken up a new project “Teen out Reach 2004”.
An Overview
The main objective of this Project was to reach out to the teens, make them aware of the Trusts guidelines and help them to become self sufficient in life. The concept was the brainchild of Mrs Joan Bond, Secretary, Save A Child after she evaluated the following case studies on her visit to India, 2004.
Case History 1 Goutam Saddar
Goutam Saddar studying geography belong to a family where financial condition is extremely bad. He lives in a hut without electricity, so he has been studying after school hours at the Rajarhat centre. He came to Mrs Bond in an anxious state, asking whether or not Save-a-Child would sponsor him into his second year. Mrs Bond had thought he had been informed previously that as long as he achieves good result at end of 1 st year, then sponsorship would continue. Same for 3rd year.
Case History 2 Krishna Ghosh
Krishna is in 2nd year of B Com. Her widowed mother's brother, Krishna's uncle, has decided that Krishna will be married on 22 February, and her mother could not give assurance that she will continue with studies, although she says she wishes her to do so. Krishna says she will do whatever her family decides. The view of the prospective in-laws and prospective husband is not known. Krishna thinks she will have domestic duties which will keep her from studies for some time after marriage.
These incidents revealed that this ignorance lead to:
• Unnecessary anxiety on the part of children
• Lack of commitment by families of those children
• Waste of precious financial resources of Save-a-Child
• Waste of talent and opportunity of children
Planning :
The concept of the project was discussed and a guideline was chalked out. According to the guideline the children would receive further sponsorship if they met with the stipulated criteria. Representatives of different institute were called for a sensitization session at the Kolkata office. The teen problem were discussed and in this meeting they appreciated and agreed to be a part of this new Project. It was decided that children from the age of 13 to 19 would be approached and briefed about the new project. After initial discussion it was decided that teen clubs would be formed in each institutes. Members of the club would be given a card and card holders will enjoy the facilities of this new project. The meeting was in the presence of Mrs Joan Bond. Mrs Rekha Mody the Founder of the Trust agreed and welcomed the new project. To begin with the two enablers, Supriya Roy Choudhury and Piyashi Roy Choudhury identified the children, interacted with them and introduced the concept of the Project. To reach out to the children in their teens a number of workshops were organized. The modus operandi of the project would be as follows : -
• Regular interaction with children
• Session with the children
• Workshop for parents and care givers
• Motivation therapy for the Teens
• Evaluation of the Teens.
Ice Breaking session :
To build up a relation between the Trust and the children an ice breaking session was organized where children from different institutes interacted. It was an enriching session, the children were exposed to different ideas and for the first time since their association with the Trust they could voice their opinion. They shared their dreams and their hopes, in this process we came to know each child's family background. It was identified in this session that a common problem was unawareness and lack of motivation.
Motivational Workshop
The next workshop was conducted to motivate the children. Special emphasis were made to identify their Skills. In this session apart from motivating them their problems were heard and they were introduced to confidence building therapy. In this session it was realized that the teenagers were very confused. Some of them were not happy in their respective institutes. Not knowing what they could do in future we organized career counseling side by side.
Workshop On career Counseling
In this workshop we tried to introduce the children to a number of career options. But before that evaluating them on their performances in the previous workshops their strong and weak points were identified. In this counseling session the children realized what are the various career options that they can pursue. It helped them in taking decision and thinking over it. Some of the career options like, radio mechanism, nursing, tailoring, Computers, beautician courses, embroidery ,stain glass painting and and other such courses were discussed in this session. As a result the children were exposed to a number of options. This workshop was a source to which encouraged them to dream about their future.
Workshop on assessment
The last workshop was on psycho therapy, a workshop were a psychiatrist assessed and gave report on each individuals. Experts gave their opinion and children who attended the workshop later came and reported that such sessions really benefited them. A attitudinal change was quiet visible. They seemed to be much focused. They seemed to be quiet aware that they can use the trust as a platform to voice their opinion. They found the trust to be their confidant.
Result :
Interestingly workshops were very much appreciated by the children; they seemed to be quite co operative and suggested new ideas. The Trust ceased to be just a fund providing organization and more of a platform where the teens could voice their opinion.
Interacting with the children it seemed necessary to interact with the parents. There were a number of home visits and the parents were asked to attend workshops. The caregivers of different institutions were also asked to attend workshops.
Workshops with Care Givers
Care givers quiet frequently expressed the idea of a workshop where they could share their problems. A workshop was organized under an psychiatric expert who listened to their problem and helped them to deal such situation. The caregivers pointed out they had to face problem of varied nature, there were problem of indiscipline, such teenagers are very arrogant some are very insecure. This workshop was very educative because they could learn a lot from other care givers and the experts.
Parents Workshop
There was a workshop for the parents too. In this workshop the progress of their children were talked about . The parents came out with their problem. For the enablers, it was a session to be acquainted with the parents. Let them know about Divya Chaya Trust and the facilities that we provide. In a span of one year, there were three caregivers meeting and six parents meeting. In these meeting the parents came to know about the guidelines of the Trust. The parents shared their opinion about the different homes where they have put their children.
Activities Of the Teen Out reach 2005
Monthly meetings are organized at different venue to interact with the children. There has been a total of sixteen meeting in different institutions. The guidelines of the teen outreach project were discussed. In each meeting the children participate with much enthuse.
Teen Outreach Children participated in a cleanliness project “ Safai Avijan” . Here the children cleaned and decorated the premise of Rajarhat and Upvan .
The children made a short library from books donated to the Trust at Rajarhat.
Teenagers actively participated in a debate competition and in Essay writing competition.
Teen clubs are organized.
Home visits are a part of the project.
In one year we were able to establish and strengthen our ties with the children. Special emphases were made towards the girl children so as to secure them from moral danger. Providing emotional and psychological support to the children. The teen problem seems to be an important issue which needed to be addressed.
Workshop on assessment 
Parents Workshop