The Hindu : By the children for the children

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Apr 29, 2003

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Other States - New Delhi

By the children for the children

By K. Kannan

NEW DELHI APRIL 28. As part of its efforts to make life better for homeless people and street children, ActionAid India will soon launch a fund- raising/raffle drive involving school children who would act as volunteers in collecting Rs. 10 from "each and every member of the public for strengthening the movement for change called India4change''.

``The funds we raise will go to provide shelter, counselling, medical care, literacy and professional training to homeless people. For as little as Rs. 10, you can bring new hope to a child on the streets who has nowhere to go or a mentally ill person in need of counseling and treatment,'' says Jerry Almeida, Chief Executive of ActionAid.

This entire movement is part of a people's shelter rights campaign called "Aashray Adhikar Abhiyan'' launched by Action Aid three years ago and the India4Change initiative that it is slowly transforming itself into. An attractive brochure has been brought out by ActionAid seeking to involve school children in various cities including Delhi in this fund raising initiative.

A movement to enroll people across the country in support of their cause, India4Change has already been unvieled in the form of Delhi4Change. "We aim to mobilise people's support for the homeless in Mumbai, Kolkata, Hyderabad and Bangalore in the first phase,'' says Mr. Almeida.

With the catchline, "It is not charity that is wanting in the world, it is justice'', ActionAid has sought the support of principals, teachers, parents, students and friends in supporting the cause and "motivating children to do their bit''. "It just takes Rs. 10 to help a small girl get two meals a day or to help a boy on the streets get a good night's sleep,'' says Mr. Almeida. "All funds raised would be utilised to help them access their basic rights of food and education, shelter and freedom from violence and abuse.''

While children will raise funds city-wise, medals and certificates will be awarded to the top three students with the highest collections at a felicitation ceremony. The top five schools in each city would be awarded trophies along with certificates at an award ceremony. All schools would also be given 5 per cent of the collections towards development of the needy and deserving students in the school.

Children completing form with 50 donors and submitting it will win gift hampers of Tristar Colman, Hallmark Cards, T-shirts and certificates. The donor form must bear the signature of the student as well as the parent along with teacher's signature on the amount collected. For the donors, a raffle will be held with attractive prizes on offer.

''This is a movement that seeks to address the distress of the homeless and overcome the injustice and inequity that are the causes of their poverty. With people's support, our action can become a powerful force for change in helping poor and vulnerable people claim their right to live with dignity,'' points out Mr. Almeida.

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