Prerana

Life Skill Education (LSE) sessions with children uphold their right to holistic development equipping them with the knowledge and skills necessary to exercise agency, advocate for themselves, and navigate life with dignity and confidence. On October 10, 2024, Dr. Lata Das from the Centre for Lifelong Learning at the School of Social Work, Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS) Mumbai, conducted a capacity-building session for 22 field staff members of Prerana. The workshop’s theme was “Facilitating Life Skills Education (LSE) Session.” Conducted in a participatory and experiential manner, Dr. Das guided participants through various segments and components essential for impactful LSE sessions. She emphasized the importance of three crucial aspects of LSE sessions: knowledge, skills, and attitudes. The session was filled with engaging activities and discussions, highlighting key principles such as applicability, participation, and value-based education that should be considered when conducting sessions with diverse groups. We extend our heartfelt appreciation to Dr. Lata Das for dedicating her valuable time and providing meaningful insights that made this session both worthwhile and enriching for all participants.

In November 2022, Prerana initiated a Forum in Mumbai with an aim to facilitate conceptual clarity on Deinstitutionalization, Gatekeeping, Family Strengthening and Family-Based Alternative Care. Our goals include cross-sharing notable practices and fostering collaboration among organizations. On 24th September 2024, Prerana in collaboration with Catalysts For Social Action (CSA) hosted 7th quarterly forum meeting on the theme "Aftercare". Approximately 40 participants working on the issue of Aftercare were present for the meeting. The meeting began with an introduction round and a preview of our activities over the past year. Mr. Govind Beniwal from UNICEF Maharashtra discussed the social and legal framework of Aftercare under the Juvenile Justice Act and Mission Vatsalya. The first panel, moderated by Ms. Preeti Prasad, explored "Interventions and Challenges in Aftercare," featuring representatives from four organizations, including Kshamata and Vinimay Trust. The second panel, led by Ms. Priti Patkar centered on "Envisioning Care Reform with Care Leavers," where five panelists shared their experiences and aspirations. We are grateful to able to learn and unlearn on every forum meeting.

Join us on 2nd October at 7 PM (IST) for an empowering discussion on fostering children's right to participation and ensuring their voices are heard. Let's shape a future where every child actively participates in decisions that affect them. Together, we can make a difference! #ChildParticipationMatters #ChildRights #ChildrenSpeak ARPAN, UNICEF India, Dasra, UBS, Pratham Education Foundation, Apnalaya Mumbai Mobile Creches, KARUNYA TRUST KALYAN DIOCESE, SNEHA (Society for Nutrition, Education and Health Action), Committed Communities Development Trust, SUPPORT NGO, Salaam Baalak Trust Mumbai, Jagran Jan Vikas Samiti

Prerana’s Aagaaz project has been working closely with the local child protection system of over 6 districts of Maharashtra to support child victims of sexual violence. Our team was first introduced to Rashmi, a victim of commercial sexual exploitation & trafficking back in 2022, when she was rescued and admitted to a Govt. Children’s Home. Besides facilitating her rehabilitation and social reintegration, our Aagaaz team has also supported her in navigating the complex legal processes. . #EndSexualExploitation #ChildRights #EndHumanTrafficking

The Thane Anti Human Trafficking Unit (AHTU) rescued Priya, a 15-year-old, after learning that a woman, Anita, was trafficking girls from her neighborhood for the sex trade. The AHTU used a decoy to lure Anita into a trap and rescued Priya during a police raid in March 2024. Priya, a victim of sex trafficking, is currently facing safety concerns especially since her abuser, Anita, lives nearby and is free on bail. Due to limited social support, she has also discontinued education and needs rehabilitative support. Prerana is currently supporting Priya under the Aagaaz Program that works with child victims of sexual violence. . . . #endhumantrafficking #childrights #womenrights #humantraffickingawareness

We were recently invited to conduct a training for the police officials on Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act 2012 by the District Legal Services Authority (DLSA) and Police of Thane district, Maharashtra. Ms. Priti Patkar and Ms. Geetarani Lourembam from Prerana covered various critical aspects of the law including different calibration of sexual offences, child-friendly procedures during FIR filing, statement recording, medical examination, etc. They also touched upon the role of different stakeholders including the Child Welfare Committee (CWC) and Support Person stressing upon the need for effective convergence. We witnessed more than 70 police officials attentively listening, asking several questions to clarify their doubts and actively participating in the discussion. #forwardtogether #childrights #childprotection #pocso #police

We were referred to a case of Diksha, who fell prey to a sexual assault disguised as a religious cult. Facing sexual exploitation, she was found by Police, only to be entangled in a complex legal battle now. Prerana is committed to her rehabilitation, including family counseling, educational support, and financial assistance through the Manodhairya scheme. #ChildProtection #EndTrafficking #ChildRights

Prerana offers an intensive training program, spanning over 10-12 months, to develop specialized social casework skills across districts of Maharashtra. Currently implemented in Thane, Pune, Nashik, and Ratnagiri, we aim to expand this program to other districts in near future. A critical shortage of social case workers delays timely support for victims of sexual violence and children in need of care and protection, causing further distress. To address this, we train qualified/interested individuals as skilled social workers for immediate deployment. Over 150 individuals have been trained in our first training cycle. The second cycle initiated in early 2023 is training approximately 91 individuals currently. If you're passionate about social work and committed to supporting child victims of sexual violence, this program is for you. Stay tuned for upcoming programs in your district. #childrights #childprotection #trainingprogram #skilldevelopment #socialworkers #sexualviolence

A few months ago, we were referred the case of a 17 year old girl who was trafficked into the sex trade by her own mother. While initially we undertook multiple visits to assess the case history, accounts of multiple sexual offenses came to light even after she escaped years of abuse. . . . . . #endhumantrafficking #humantraffickingawareness #stories #justice #humantrafficking #sextrade #womenempowerment #womenandchilddevelopment

Here's #Question04 of our Friday Polls <> Family Strengthening and we can't wait to see the results! Let's interact and discuss #familystrengthening #BackToBasics #LetsTalkChildCare