KOCHI: With an aim to build child-friendly environment for vulnerable children from backward and deprived sections, the district childline has launched My Childhood campaign in association with District Legal Services Authority.
As part of this, they aim to transform schools in Ernakulam child-friendly based on the framework developed by UNICEF for right-based child-friendly educational systems and schools that are characterised as “healthy and protective for all children, effective with children, and involved with families and communities - and children.” As an initial step, Government High School, Willingdon Island has been adopted as a model school to start off the programme.
“Most of its children are coming from Vathuruthy colony, which is a Tamil migrant colony where high crime rates are reported. Due to high exposure to vulnerability, such as incidents of substance abuse and malicious practices, there is a need for intervention. These children need extra care, understanding and nurturing to enable them to become well balanced and responsible citizens,” Abhilash T.A., centre coordinator, Childline Kochi.
According to Childline authorities, the school had 3000 children in its beginning and at present there are only 53 students. “As part of the programme we will monitor the issues within the school and with the students,” he said. Mentors will be assigned tasks to assist these children as part of the programme called ‘A mentor for a child.’ “Mentor means a lot to a child. They meet and can openly talk about problems. Moreover, they might spend time together and deal with their issues to remove the barrier from their child life.”
Volunteers such as students, professionals, retired professional and religious leaders will be selected to involve in the mentoring project.
