INDIAN VIEW
Rehabilitation 'right way to help
street children'
The growing number of children taking to the streets
poses a grave challenge to society but it is not correction but friendly
methods to rehabilitate them that will ultimately win over street
children. This is a finding by a survey conducted by the Research,
Documentation and Training Centre of Shelter Don Bosco, a
non-governmental organisation (NGO) working with street children, most
of them street boys who had spent more than five years on the streets.
"This is an alarming finding though not an unexpected
one and alerts us to the fact that the reality of street children is
assuming serious proportions with many being attracted to the streets,"
says Father Lester Fernandes, Director, Shelter Don Bosco.
Many institutions or individuals lay stress on
punishment and corrective techniques which leads to further abuse.
"Bringing a more child-friendly method to rehabilitate
street children is the main objective of Shelter Don Bosco," says
Fernandes.
Starting as a home for roofless and rootless street
children in Mumbai, the NGO situated in Wadala now works for their
holistic development through education, skill training and assisting
them to rebuild their lives.
It has a residential home for 170 children but street
kids are all welcome to attend their various programmes, the highlight
of it being a Diwali mela or festival that draws more than 3,000
children.
Music, dance, food stalls, games and above all the
presence of film stars Hrithik Roshan, Abhishek Bachchan, Vivek Oberoi,
Shahid Kapoor and others who they view as their role models make it an
exciting event for the kids.
The idea of hosting such a mega event started in 1996
to give an opportunity to street children to celebrate Diwali instead of
being mere spectators.
The event will be held on October 28 and 29 this year.
"The children also get a chance to demonstrate their
talent. These two days of fun also change their thinking pattern and the
boys start pondering over their future," says Fernandes.
Pamela Raghunath
23 October 2005
http://www.gulf-news.com/Articles/WorldNF.asp?ArticleID=188388
