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Don Bosco Ashalayam | HOWRAH
Diocese: Kolkata (1985) 1999 - St. John Bosco
Activities : Street/Station Presence, Street and Slum Schools, Shelters, Formal and Non-formal Education, Vocational Training, Childlabour Project Handicraft Production Centre, Saving Scheme, Childline, Social Awareness Programmes, Housing Schemes, Family Placement, Sponsorships, Mobile Clinic, Counselling and Documentation.
Don Bosco Ashalayam
158/18 Belilious Road, Kadamtala - Howrah, West Bengal 711 101
E-mail: dbasha@vsnl.com
Phone(033) 2643 5037, (033) 2643 9341
Fax: (033) 2643 9296
Web: www.ashalayam.org
History:
Ashalayam, a Ministry for and with Street Children in Kolkata was begun in 1985 by Fr. Anthony Thaiparambil. It commenced with work among the children of Howrah Railway Station and a night shelter for them at Pilkhana, Howrah. Gradually as the number of children increased the shelter was shifted in 1991 to the present location at Kadamtala, Howrah. This Project for the rehabilitation of street children has witnessed a phenomenal growth: from a single night shelter for boys in 1985, to 22 Rehabilitation Homes for boys and girls ranging from 6 to 20 years of age, as well as three Night Shelters of which one is for girls.
Through this ministry these rootless, roofless and hopeless youngsters receive shelter and a meaning and hope for life. Ashalayam has worked out a unique methodology in six steps from contacts with the young on the street and leading him/her ahead step by step, to helping the young person to settle down in life with adequate education and skills so as to earn a livelihood and build up a family of his/her own. Every month an average of 5 children are helped to re-join their families either at the initial stage or even during the process of rehabilitation.
Activities: Street/Station Presence, Street and Slum Schools, Shelters, Formal and Non formal Education, Vocational Training, Handicraft Production Centre, Saving Scheme, Project for the Differently Abled, Childline, Social Awareness Programmes, Human Resource Development Programarnes, Housing Schemes, Family Placement, Sponsorships, Career Guidance, job Placement.
The Homes shelter over 500 children. Contacts in the streets and railway stations, and the Phone-in helpline 'Childline' enable reaching out to over 5000 youngsters in a month. Number of youths who are restored to their families in a month number on an average of 5. Children who attend formal schooling are 325.
Vocational training programmes benefit 80 youths. Those who are already employed in different sectors are 60. A plot of land has been already purchased for 41 youths. Houses have been already constructed for 26 youths. And those who have settled with own family are 21.
Other related Activities include:
- Street schools for 750 children in 15 NFE (Non Formal Education) centres, along the railway lines of Kharagpur (6), Burdwan (2), Krishnagar (2) and Bandel (2) and Kolkata (2), with the purpose of preventing the boys from taking to the streets.
- Childline
- Assistance booths in Howrah station
- Street contacts at Sealdah, Howrah, Kharagpur and Burdwan.
- Monthly Festival/Mela for boys: 120-150 participants.
- Monthly Festival/ Mela for girls: 80 - 90 participants every month. | |
HOUSES IN PROVINCE