Campaign Story
About the project
Sarairanjan block is situated in the central part of Samastipur district in Bihar. The agro-based economy is mostly dominated by the upper caste. The communities are landless and depend on daily wage work. The dropout children start to work with their parents in nearby agricultural fields under the ownership of the landlord to support the family income. Migration starts among the boys from the age of 14 from these villages with their relatives to other states. The massive gender disparity is a big challenge in the community. Girls face a lot of discrimination. The fear factor of being harassed and security issues while traveling for higher education becomes a challenge for the girls. Mindset of parents on girl child education is of great concern as they have been considered as liabilities to the family.
Making a difference
CRY America’s Project JJBVK works towards enrolment and retention of children in school. The project also focuses on reduction of child labor in the community and runs preventive program for addressing child marriage. Sustainable child driven collectives are formed and peer groups are created to support children. The key activities under the project are identification of children in 3-6 years who are not enrolled in the ICDS centers and initiating process to enroll them in the schools, home visit and motivating the children of 6-18 years age group for online education, campaign against child labor in the villages, discussion with adolescent group members and working on psycho –social issues, child marriage etc.
The Way Forward
Tracking of children and enrolment in ICDS center and motivating mothers to send their children regularly in ICDS centers through meetings with mothers
Identification of vulnerable children and enrolment in the residential schools
Functionalization of Child Activity Centers for computer training, special coaching and life skill education for adolescents
Sensitization meeting with adolescent girls group on child labor, child marriage, impact of early marriage etc
Initiate gender discourse in the children groups
The way forward
● Strengthening of VCPC in operational villages.
● Identification of vulnerable children and linking with the scheme related to the child rights
● Support to the victim families to get justice and the compensation from the department.
● Interface with the multi stakeholders at community level for prevention of child trafficking.
Project Impact
47
drop out students were facilitated for re-enrollment in formal schooling
335
vulnerable families linked with Social Protection Schemes
14
child marriage cases prevented
46
children removed from workplaces and mainstreamed in schools
35
girl children have been reached out through coaching center
Last Year’s Grant Disbursed : $11,260
Current Year’s Approved Grant
Story of hardwork
Kaksha, a 22-year-old girl, hails from a Muslim tola in Narghogi, Bihar. The condition of adolescent girls in her community is terrible, and patriarchy is quite a dominant factor in their society.
All the responsibility came on Kaksha’s shoulders when suddenly her mother passed away due to some chronic disease. Kaksha and her two sisters engaged in bidi-making work to help her father. Engagement in labor work impacted their education heavily, and after a few days, she was just on the verge of getting dropped out of school.
The project team identified Kaksha as child labor, and the team decided to intervene with her family. The team met Kaksha, introduced her to the children’s collectives, and made her father aware of the importance of education.
She somehow managed to complete her education till matriculation while supporting the household chores. But she could not pursue her education further due to financial constraints in the family. Knowing the scenario, CRY team members collected some monetary support from the community and helped her get admission to an intermediate course. Fighting with all the odds, she completed her B.Com and B.Ed.
She was working in a local private school as a teacher. But she lost her job due to the shutting down of schools during the pandemic period. At present, she is engaged in tailoring work. Now her father has started a mobile cloth shop.
She is a role model in her village. She is a true campaigner against early marriage and child labor, the most prevalent issue in her village. She participates in all activities organized by JJBVK in the villages and motivates other girls to continue their education and stand up for their rights. She shares her journey in the groups and provides immense motivational support.
