Cover Story
CHIP (Children in Pain) Launched in 2004, CHIP Mumbai works to address the lack of quality education in schools for the underprivileged in Mumbai, through several social interventions. These include pre–primary Balwadis and primary after school programs (for example theatre, art programs, study classes, computer classes, among others). One such initiative, the ‘After School Program’ (ASP), run by CHIP, got our Trust’s attention. We were keen to be a part of the program that provides a safe and supportive environment for these children.
The program is supervised by adults and offers various growth enhancing opportunities that contributes to their holistic development. Premier supported the following in 2010: • A theater workshop for 60 children from the Oshiwara Municipal Schoo, aging 10 to 12 years. • Judo classes for 60 children aging 10 to 12 years. • A summer holiday camp • Weekly dance classes with the Shaimak Davar Victory Art foundation • A girl child’s empowerment program
CHIP participating in various activities.
Apne Aap Women's Collective (AAWC) Leena (named changed) has lived with being HIV + since birth. She had been going through relapses of herpes for over a year. Due to the bureaucratic red tapism of government hospitals, her treatment kept getting postponed. She is also the daughter of a prostitute mother, who works in Falkland Road area, Mumbai’s largest red light district. The Apne Aap Women’s Collective (AAWC) is an NGO working with brothelbased prostitutes and other marginalised women and their children in the Falkland Road area since 1998. The collective runs
two programs, for the children of women in brothel-based prostitution, called ‘Udaan’ (aimed at providing education, vocational skills, recreational activities, medical care, psychological counseling, nutritious meals and job placements to enable their all round development) and ‘Umaang’, a complete day care centre for toddlers between 2-6 years. The Shri Lalchand Hirachand Premier Trust has supported both these programs for the last three years. Through the Trust’s support, Apne Aap has been able to extend the hours and the scope of Umang
Apne Aap organizing a medical camp for the children
with noticeable improvement in toddlers’ health, fewer children suffering from skin diseases, lack of sleep, and stomach problems. Today, thanks to the empathy of the doctors associated with Apne Aap, Leena’s treatment is being done privately. She was one of our Umang beneficiaries, now she is going to school and is in the Udaan program. She is recovering and gaining weight. Her mother gets monthly groceries to feed her.
Growth through education
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