Happy Kids is designed as preventive programme for the benefit of children of Lingarajapuram (Bangalore) and surrounding slum areas. The main objective is to create awareness among the families in slums for better child care practices, promoting interest among children to pursue education and importantly preventing the children getting into mal practices, victimized and abused by the anti social elements. The center was inaugurated in July 2007 by Shri. B.K. Singh, Deputy Commissioner of Police, East Division. Currently the center is helping around 60 children providing non- formal education and creating awareness in the community. 25 children are admitted to school and 30 children attend tuitions.
Community presence:
ECHO staffs are present in the area and accessible to children at all time. Utmost care is taken to involve the families of the children in all programmes and decisions that are taken in the course of helping the child. Families of the children are visited regularly, not only to keep them appraised about their children but also to motivate them to take more interest in their child’s future.
Non-formal education:
Dyfunctional families, disinterested parents, financial problems, having to do house hold chores and looking after younger siblings are some of the reason why children in the area have either not been school or dropped out of school. The Centre provides space for children to break away from their grueling routine and play. It also provides an opportunity for the staff to conduct non-formal classes and motivate children to go back to
school. Regular meetings are organized with the parents of the children and they are motivated to participate actively in all aspects of the child’s education to ensure that the child not only remains in schools but successfully completes his/her education. Keeping in mind the socio-economic condition of their families, the children are given a hot meal every day in the afternoon, both as an incentive and keeping their health status in mind.
Supplementary education:
ECHO plays a crucial role in the lives of these children by organizing coaching classes in the evenings to help children with their studies. Thus efforts are made not only to prevent children from discontinuing their education but also to retain them in school. ECHO has been successful in giving the children an opportunity to realize their Right to Education.
