vidiyal

   a programme for street and working children    *    striving to promote child rights

Vidiyal Children in Action!

What's Happening At Vidiyal

NEWS! About Vidiyal Child Rights Movement’s recent programmes:

The National Movement of Working Children – India (NMWC)

The 15th meeting of the NMWC – India, was organized by the Vidiyal Child Rights Movement between the 1st and 3rd December 2007 at the Rural Theological Institute, Madurai.  Ranjith, Karthiga, Tamil Selvam, Abdul Rahuman, and Jeyakumar participated in the meeting.  Children discussed various problems affecting working children and analysed various means to combat them. 

Future Search Conference

As Vidiyal moves into its second decade serving children from socially disadvantaged backgrounds, we felt the need to find our path in order to make sure that we are traveling in the right direction.  Accordingly, a future search was organised with important stakeholders on the 10th December 2006 at Aakaash club, Madurai.
 
Athiruvahal – Newsletter

Children released the Athirvuhal news letter was released on the 15th December 2006, with a theme of globalization and its impact on children in India.

The Drawing and Painting Forum

On the 16th December 2006 the children learned ‘designs with vegetables,’ which gave them ample opportunity to show their creativity.  They produced excellent designs at the end of the session. On the 31st March the ‘Thoorihai’ forum organised a training programme for the members on advanced skills in water colour painting. 

The Children’s Library at Vidiyal

Members of the library team had a training on ‘children’s library and its maintenance’ on 13.1.2007, at which they discussed the practical difficulties of running their library.  Ms. Renuka helped the children to find solutions for some of the issues.

The Tamil Forum

On the 17th December 2006, Tamil forum members enjoyed a speech by Professor Evangeline Manoharan, from the Tamil department of The American College, Madurai.  Professor Manoharan taught elements of public speaking. The Tamil forum organised a programme on the 16th January 2007, on writing funny dialogues for pictures that appeared in dailies and weekly magazines.  The members of the Tamil forum participated at the the humour club of Madurai on the 4th February 2007

The Sitralai Vattam

The members of the Sitralai vattam (social action group) organized a session on ‘children’s participation in the society.’  The session was facilitated by Mr. Vanarajan, a child rights activist in Madurai. On the 16th January 2007, the children of Sitralai vattam organised a session on ‘preserving ethnic food culture.’  Mr. Saravanan from the Covenant Centre for Development brought many examples on how ethnic food culture has been destroyed over the past decade.  On the 11th February 2007, Mr. Thiru Murugan, a young lawyer who is also a social activist conducted an interesting session for the members of the Sitralai vattam and educated the children about the Right to Information Act. 

Christmas Celebration at Vidiyal

All of the children of the Vidiyal family assembled in the backyard of the main centre, and everyone was excited when Santa entered the stage.  It was truly a merry Christmas, celebrated with fun, music and dance.  The children of Sirpihal forum organised the event and gave away prizes.  Two hundred children participated in the programme. 

On Christmas Day, one of our supporters, Ms. Selvi Santosam invited the children for a Christmas party organised by her family.  One hundred and seventy children attended the party and enjoyed the games.  This kind of local support encourages our work and brings strength to our cause.

Trainings and Workshops for the Quarter

After the children complete their half yearly exams, the schools are closed for Christmas vacation from 24th December to 1st January. From the very beginning of Vidiyal, we have used this time to conduct training workshops for the children.  Each forum plans their training or workshop for the quarter with careful thinking: the smaller children have one day trainings, while the higher age groups have five day training workshops.

Training in Team Games

The Malalayar forum organised a training programme for children aged 5-6.  Forty-five children participated, learning team games.

Workshop on Cookery

The Verhal forum organised a workshop on cookery in which 32 children participated. They were divided into four groups and named after four types of cooking in India. 

Workshop on Theatre Arts

The children of Vidhaihal forum organised a five day residential workshop on theatre arts.  At the end of the workshop they produced a mime on the theme ‘world peace’ and a street theatre on the theme ‘rights of the special children’. 

Workshop on Folk Arts

The Children of Sirpihal forum organised a five day workshop on folk arts, specifically Oyilattam and Thevarattam, two Tamil folk dances. 

Workshop on ‘Movements for Theatre’

A one day workshop was organised for the children of Thulirhal fourm and for the children of the same age group from other drop-in centres.

During a valedictory function on the 30th December, the children displayed what they had learned at the training workshops. The media reported the entire workshops with a vivid coverage.

Workshop on Understanding and Structuring the Vidiyal Child Rights Movement

The elected representatives of the movement took the responsibility of structuring various aspects of the movement and to revisit the bylaws. The same group met again on the 17th January and developed a vision statement for the movement. They explored the various aspects of the action programme and formulated new agendas for the movement. 

Workshop on Maintaining Medical Records at Vidiyal

On the 20th January 2007, the children belonging to the medical team underwent training on maintaining basic medical records at Vidiyal.  Dr. Sharmila taught them the various records needed for the effective functioning of the medical team and to ensure the quality of service rendered to other children.

The Science Forum at Vidiyal

The children of the science forum visited the science exhibition held at St. Mary’s Higher Secondary School Madurai, on the 6th January 2007.  On the 16th January 2007 they invited Mr.Annadurai a social activist, from the Campaign for protecting the River Vaigai, which runs through Madurai city and irrigates thousands of acres of lands in south Tamil Nadu.

Session on Effective Handling of Adolescence

Children learned about the physical changes they are undergoing during this phase of their life and its psychological impacts.  Sessions like this ensure the reproductive health care of every child who attends Vidiyal which is of course one of the basic rights of every child.

On the 4th February, the children who have completed a series of sessions throughout the last year attended the final session on “protection from HIV and AIDS” at CRIF, an organisation working for AIDS Awareness and Prevention. 

Federation Coalition of Children’s Movements for Promoting Right to Participation

The south zone meeting of the Coalition of Children’s Movements for Promoting Right to Participation was held on the 29th December 2006 at Madurai.  Master Rajive Gandhi represented the Vidiyal Child Rights Movement at this meeting and was elected as the Treasurer of the Coalition. 

Pongal Celebration

On the 14th January 2007, Vidiyal organised a Pongal celebration in the backyard of the main centre.  Two hundred and twenty-five children from all the centres participated. The celebration came to an end with a pack of colourful folk arts performed by our children.

Pongal Sports Meet

Play and recreation has been used as a tool at Vidiyal in the rehabilitation process of street children through out its journey down the years. The 11th Pongal sports meet was organised on the 15th January 2006  at the TVS Higher Secondary School, Madurai. Sixty-five girls and 115 boys participated in the sports meet. 

Picnic to Thiruvathavur

The children of the Malalayar forum were taken to Thiruvathavur, a historical hamlet 30 kilometres outside of Madurai on the 16th Janurary 2007.  The children enjoyed the lush countryside and played in the water canal with their peers. The group went to the ancient temple and learned about ‘Manickavasahar,’ one of our revered Tamil poets. Thiruvathavur was his birthplace and remains a symbol of our rich cultural heritage.

Fact Finding on Child Trafficking

We conducted a fact finding mission on child trafficking on the 18th January 2007 at Lakshmia Puram village, near Sivakasi. Mr. Jim Jesudoss headed the fact-finding team in his role as the state Convener of the Campaign Against Child Trafficking (CACT), Tamil Nadu.  Dr. Sharmila and Ms. Renuka represented Vidiyal. The team interviewed a boy who had escaped from bonded labor, and the parents of children who were trafficked. The team discovered nine children were trafficked from this village to Punjab. They were harassed, abused and exploited.  A collective effort has been taken and the children have been rescued.

Tender Hands Render Service  

“The smallest good deed is greater than the grandest good intention”

On the 26th January 2007 all the children belonging to various forums of the Vidiyal Child Rights Movement were busy in organising programmes for the residents of various homes. They also assisted elderly people in their needs.

The Vidhaihal forum served at Inba Illam, a home for the elderly people, the Verhal forum went to the Government home for the disabled children, the Deepangal forum served the residents of the Muthupatti home for the aged, the Sirpihal forum spent their day with the grandpas of Rajaji home for the aged, the Sittukuruvi forum cleaned the surroundings of Vidiyal shelter home and the Thulirhal forum served at the main drop-in centre of Vidiyal.

Republic Day Celebration at Vidiyal

The 57th Republic Day of India was celebrated at Vidiyal on the 26th January 2007.  Thirty-seven girls and forty-three boys participated in the celebrations.  The Tamil forum organised the flag hoisting.  Mr.Ayachami, one of our well wishers, hoisted the flag and delivered a special address, and sweets were distributed.

Nandhavnam – the forum of sponsored children

Children who attend Vidiyal regularly are eligible to become part of Vidiyal’s sponsorship programme, which truly opens new horizons for the child. To learn more about our sponsors, click here.

At Vidiyal, the sponsored children have a forum called Nandavanam, through which they organise programmes for members.  Twenty-three girls and thirty-two boys of Nandavanam went on an excursion on the 27th and 28th January 2007. The children were divided into three groups and started their journey in three mini busses.  Each team had two Vidiyal staff and two volunteers as facilitators.  

On the first day of the excursion the group went to Yercaud, a hill station in the Western Ghats, where children enjoyed site seeing and boating on the lake. The group then proceeded towards Hoganegal, where the Cauvery River cascades into falls.  Even before the group reached Hoganegal, they could hear the roaring noise of the waterfall. Children were stunned by the many water falls and amazed by the bounty of nature.

Our next programme was to travel on the river using round boats made of bamboo known ‘parisal’.  The children were thrilled to get into these boats, which became an unforgettable event in their lives.  After relaxing on the bank, the group proceeded towards the water fall in their boats.  It was nearing dusk when everyone finally assembled on the river bank.  The group boarded the buses to begin their journey home.  Meenakshi, the leader of the Nandhavanam, led the entire programme with careful planning.  It really became a memorable trip for the children. They did shed their hardships and had a rejuvenated feeling at the end of the programme.

Visiting Historical Places of Interest

At Vidiyal, picnics and outings are used extensively as a tool in restoring childhood in children.  Outings and picnics not only serve as pleasure trips but also educate children regarding various aspects of the environment.  They also help children to understand some of the things they learn at school.  On the 18th February, each forum went to different places, to suits their age and level of understanding. 

The Verhal forum visited Sithanna Vasal, where ancient paintings of Buddhism are found.  These paintings have lasted for more than two million years and are still valued for their originality. 

The Vidhaihal forum went to a monastery located on the top of the Northa Hill, near Pudhukottai.

The Thulirhal forum visited Thiruparankundram, a hillock near Madurai which has an ancient history of Hindu mythology.

The Sittukuruvi forum went to Kumbakarai and the Deepangal forum went to Melakal.

Meetings of the Vidiyal Child Rights Movement
 
 The leaders of the Vidiyal Child Rights Movement organised a general meeting on the 20th and 21st February 2007.  All children from various forums attended the meeting and raised questions. 

A Reward of Wings

The children who have been with Vidiyal for a long time and serve their fellow children after reaching college are always honoured with rewards.  These children become the pride of Vidiyal who also create ripples of change in their own communities. Children look at these successful youth as their role models.   

Vidiyal anchors on these success stories to continue its partnership with street children and slum children. As a way to reinforce intrinsic motivation, we reward select children.  The selection process is open and a criterion is followed. This year, the second batch of award winners were given a flight trip to Chennai on the 10th March 2007.  Ambeth, Ramachandran, Ranjithkumar and Chandran enjoyed the flight and shared their experience with the other children on their return.  Mr. Arockiam accompanied the children. 

Thanks to the New Dawn India (Cooper Atkinson Trust) for providing this special gift to our children.
 
The Dalit Art Festival

Our children were invited to participate in the Dalit Art Festival, held on March 17, 2007. The Dalit Arts Festival was organised by the Dalit Resource Centre in Madurai.  By evening the ground was filled with thousands of people. Children rehearsed ‘paraiyattam,’ a folk dance and ‘karuppu kanavuhal’ a play depicting the various atrocities on Dalits and the psychological impact on Dalit children. This play calls for collective action to prevent atrocities on Dalits. 

The seminar on Dalit Economy began with the roaring beats of Parai by 30 children from the Vidiyal theatre group. Eminent Dalit speakers referred to this as a positive symbol of breaking the chains of slavery and the children received appreciation from every corner of the audience.

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