Holistic Development of Children in Child Care Institutions (CCI)
OUR WORK
The Need
Child Care Institutions (CCIs) serve as vital components of India’s Juvenile Justice system, providing essential shelter and correctional support to children in need of care, protection, and those in conflict with law. While these institutions provide care and shelter, not all of them are able to address the learning needs of children. Disruption of education, traumatic experiences and lack of nurturing environments are serious impediments to children’s holistic development, which further hinders their process of integrating into mainstream society.
Hence, there is a need for a focused intervention that not only provides a safe, learning environment for children, but also transforms the CCI space into one that is supportive of holistic education.
Our Solution
Makkala Jagriti’s program with Child Care Institutions aims at facilitating holistic learning and development opportunities for children in these institutions directly and also building the capacities of the staff of these institutions. Our approach includes:
- Creating safe, vibrant, and non-threatening learning spaces in Child Care Institutions
- Providing unprecedented holistic learning opportunities for children through child-centric & experiential facilitation
- Building capacities of the staff of Child Care Institutions towards being more child-centric and responsive to children’s needs
- Establishing and strengthening best practices in the institutions towards children’s well-being and growth
Our Work
Makkala Jagriti’s intervention in Child Care Institutions began in the year 2007 in the Government Children Home for Boys, Bangalore inspired by the experiences of Manoj, a young child who faced multiple hardships at a tender age. Subsequently, we have partnered with the Department of Women and Child Development for state-level capacity-building programs and expanded our direct presence to 27 CCIs in 10 districts across Karnataka.
Key components of our intervention
- Setting up learning spaces in CCIs
- Facilitating sessions with children towards their holistic development
- Life skills
- Restorative practice circles
- Physical development activities
- Theme-based sessions based on MJ’s SPICE curriculum
- Makerspace (Tinkering Lab)
- Art-based sessions
- Events and exposure, recreational activities
- Strengthening institutional practices such as Children’s committees, kitchen gardening, regular access to Library
- Capacity building sessions for staff of Child Care Institutions
- Virtual engagement with children, including dedicated sessions for children in Observation Homes
Our Approach
Our Impact
8000+
children experienced holistic
learning and development
Opportunities
27
Child Care Institutions
100+
Child Care Institutions reached Virtually
120+
Government staff provided capacity
building support
- Vibrant and positive learning environment
- Unprecedented learning opportunities
- Children have shown an increase in their emotional stability, self-confidence, self- awareness, leadership skills, creative thinking, social awareness and aspirations.
- Staff have become more empathetic and have started using more child-centric approaches.
Stories of Change
How the education of one girl can impact generations ahead
Both of Mercy’s parents worked in the unorganised sector, who could not afford her school fees. She joined Makkala Jagriti Learning Centre at the age of 11, and always found the facilitators to be warm, welcoming and encouraging. Makkala Jagriti also supported her to pursue her education.
“We had a lot of freedom to explore our interests and talents. They taught us life skills and values. It was a new world for me.”
– Mercy
Through the Yuva Jagriti career guidance programme, Mercy received the right kind of insight and encouragement that led her to pursue a degree in Commerce, that too through a merit seat. Being the first girl in her family to study that far, she set an example in her community and made choices that allowed her to move beyond the circumstances that she was born into. Mercy now works in a reputed bank and is among our celebrated many who not only made a difference in their own lives but continue to do so in that of others.
From a 10th Std. dropout to a World Taekwondo Champion
Murali lived in Bengaluru with his brother, while his parents lived in a village in Tamil Nadu. After his 10th grade, he lost the interest and inclination to study further. When he joined Yuva Jagriti, he started learning Taekwondo at our centre, which helped him become calmer and more focused. He also showed immense capacity to work with children, especially in the areas of sports and creativity, and this landed him an opportunity to work with Makkala Jagriti. Alongside his work, he pursued Taekwondo and competed at the District, State and National levels. He won a number of Gold Medals.
Today, Murali is an accomplished Taekwondo instructor, teaching at many schools in Bengaluru. He brought great accolades to the Nation when he won two bronze medals at the World Taekwondo Championship in Korea in September 2017.
Turning a Misguided Youth into a Community Leader
Prabhu was a teenager when the old, dilapidated building in which his family lived collapsed, leaving them without a home. While they were still grappling with the situation, Prabhu lost his father, the sole earning member of the family. Unable to process his difficult circumstances, he found strength in hanging around with his friends, who often indulged in gang wars and all forms of abusive behaviour.
Prabhu was a shy yet playful boy when he joined the Yuva Jagriti centre at the age of 15. He expressed, “I feel I am at crossroads, not sure which road to take”. Following our support and guidance, he decided to pursue an internship at Makkala Jagriti. He was entrusted to work with children from Shelter Homes. Today, Prabhu is a sought-after Creative Facilitator and Coordinator at Makkala Jagriti, managing three Community Centres. A silent yet sound performer, he brings in diverse and highly creative ways to engage children and help them learn and grow.
