KANGPOKPI, February 25:A global organization, “Save the Children”, who works for children’s rights in more than 120 countries, launched Child Friendly Space and Cash for Work program today in partnership with local implementing partner Integrated Rural Management Association (IRMA) at Upper Charhajare in Saitu-Gamphazol Sub Division, Sadar Hills.
Save the Children, who recently won the ‘Best NGO Working on Child Rights in Rajasthan’ in NGO Felicitation and Wish Realization Awards 2016 by Zee TV is also India’s leading independent child rights organization which is working in 20 states to make a difference in the lives of the most socially-excluded children of India.
Founded in England in 1919 after the end of the First World War by Eglantyne Jebb and her sister Dorothy to provide much needed relief to the starving children affected by the WW I, “Save the Children” became an international organization based in Geneva the following year with a belief that all children have the right to a healthy, happy and fulfilling life.
Mahatma Gandhi signed ‘Declaration of the Rights of the Child’ drafted by Eglantyne Jebb in 1931 while Save the Children started functioning as an independent Indian member of the Save the Children International Alliance under the name Bal Raksha, Bharat on 1 April, 2008.
After the recent earthquake in Manipur, Save the Children, India has been responding immediately and focuses specifically on the needs of children apart from supporting the affected families to return to normal life.
In is worth mentioning that, Sadar Hills in Senapati district is one of the worse affected in the recent earthquake with official record of 1591 affected families including 791 families from Saitu block of which 320 of these families were of Charhajare village while 71 houses were fully damaged, 135 were severely damaged and 114 were partially damaged in Charhajare.
Recognizing the vulnerability of children in the post earthquake situation in Manipur, Save the Children, India has for the first time extended to the State as part of the Inter Agency Group (IAG) Manipur and in partnership with IRMA focuses its assistance on earthquake affected people in Senapati District.
Speaking at the launching program of Child Friendly Space and Cash for Work, Sunil Banra, Programme Coordinator, Child Protection, Save the Children, India said that setting up Child Friendly Space is one of the crucial interventions of our programme to address the trauma and extend the psycho social support to the affected children apart from exciting the children and their parents.
He continued that Save the Children is working to help every child attains the right to survival, protection, development and participation in concurrence with the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) while it also works on the education, protection, health & nutrition of children, child poverty, Disaster Risk Reduction and respond to Humanitarian Emergencies with special focus on children.
Chittapriyo Sadhu, State Programme Manager, Save the Children, India said that Children are most vulnerable and worst sufferer in any disaster. However, they are often neglected in receiving the required care and support.
“With two major disasters in the state of Manipur in last six months, it has become important that the state government and civil society organizations work together to build on the preparedness and coping capacities of communities”, the state Program Manager added.
Head teacher of the Upper Charhajare School, Pokhrel elucidated that Children experienced the disaster and were part of the homeless affected families too while they were weighted by fear, apprehension and insecurity of a new kind as they go through the chaos in the aftermath of the earthquake.
Simultaneously, Save the Children along with IRMA also started Cash for Work by involving local affected families to improve the vicinity of the Child Friendly Space and cleaning of the debris of the damaged school building and reconstruction of new class rooms in the community sun school, in the same village called Sanatan Sanskrit Vidyalaya.
73 poor of the poorest at Upper Charhajare, who will be engaged for 20 days, were selected for the Cash for Work program and they will be paid a sum of Rs.200/- per day.
Save the Children also plans to set up similar Child Friendly Space at Kharam Pallel village where the sole school was completely damaged by the earthquake and another at P. Moulding village near Leimakhong.
Apart from the newly launched programs today, Save the Children will shortly be launching the Hygiene Kit, the Household Kit and the Education Kit for vulnerable families affected by the earthquake.
The launching program was also attended by Grace Jajo, Senior consultant, Save the Children, Manipur and Helam, President, IRMA apart from various Gorkha leaders and children.