A continuous endeavour
By a small section
To reach out
……. as FAR as possible
To a larger section
Of the marginalised, problematic and insecure community
PRAYAS KENDRA, an initiative of St John Bosco Parish, Borivli West, Mumbai, is a Community Care Centre for social and outreach activities to all sections of the parish irrespective of caste, creed, culture, gender and social distinctions. This centre was inaugurated by Cardinal Ivan Dias on 31st January, 2001.
There has been continuous endeavours / efforts made to conduct various projects through this centre to uplift the marginalized in achieving their goals and to improve their way of life in areas of education, vocational training, health and legal aspects. Through our community outreach programmes, we try to reach out to the people living in the slums, who are deprived of their basic amenities. Our aim is to educate them about their various rights and empower them to be self-reliant and self-sufficient.
The following are some of the projects we have undertaken:
OUTREACH PROJECTS
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Study Classes ~ To work towards overall development of marginalized children Presently, study classes are being conducted at 3 centres in the Parish i.e. Gorai I, Gorai II & at Don Bosco as these zones houses the bigger slum areas. At each centre, we have 6 paid teachers and 4 volunteers. Activities: Ø Competitions and various festival celebrations are held. Ø Teachers meetings are held every first Friday of the month. Ø Parents / Teachers meeting are held every second Wednesday of the month. Ø Annual Day-cum-Prize Distribution Day Ø Yearly Picnic-cum-Sports Day. |
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English Speaking Classes ~ To work towards the overall development of the youth who have studied in vernacular medium schools. The classes are held depending on the number of enrolments. At present there are 5 students being taught by a volunteer. |
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Legal Cell ~ To provide legal aid to the poor and marginalised We have one Lawyer who is available to aid the marginalized with legal advice as and when required. |
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The objective of the medical aid is to cater to the marginalized who are sent directly to 4 Doctors / Specialists spread out within and beyond the parish periphery. The Health Cell of the parish is linked to the CCO. Many cases sent by various SCCs / Associations are investigated and then helped directly or by networking with Hospitals and Charitable Trusts.
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Employment Cell is looked after by a volunteer to take care of the unemployed marginalized youths. Many an individual have found suitable placements in shops, offices and hotels as sales and marketing personnel and many maids as domestic helpers. Since April to September 2007, we have placed around 17 in different categories. |
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Visit to the slums:
F Alcoholics F School drop outs F Unoccupied and unattended loitering children F Physically abused women F Conscientize people without ration card, photopass F People living in illegally constructed structures F People with health and skin problems The purpose is to identify them so that the necessary outreach / counselling could be done through Prayas Kendra, and also to make them conscious of their rights. |
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Miscellaneous activities ¨ Visiting the sick and needy. ¨ Recycling of old clothes, books and uniforms at the end of the academic year. |
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Training Programmes Our staff and volunteers attend various meetings / programmes conducted by the Federation of Centres for Community Organization (FCCO) and Aapli Mumbai. The Social Worker together with 2 volunteers attended a Legal Aid Training of Trainers Programme conducted by the FCCO enabling them to conduct the same course for other CCOs. |
PROFESSIONAL / VOCATIONAL COURSES
The aim of providing professional courses are to train the unoccupied women and provide them vocational training in order to make them self-sufficient.
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Tailoring cum Embroidery cum Crochet Course Prayas Kendra felt the need to equip the women and girls, who have dropped out from school with some vocation which will help them to be economically independent. This class was started not only for the women from slums but also for the women of our parish. This class is conducted at the Prayas Kendra in two batches from 2-3.30 and 3.30 to 5.pm. We have a total of 12 students x 2 batches coming for these classes. 1 paid teacher looks after this class. |
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Beautician and Hair Dressing Course This 7-month course was started 4years back. This is a professional beauty and hair dressing course at advanced level. On completion of the course (practical and theory), a certificate is given by Prayas Kendra. This course is conducted depending on the number of enrolments. |
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Conducted an Icecream making Course / Easter Eggs course / Fruit & Vegetable Carving course / Bakery and Confectionary course together with Fr Santarita of Bosco Boys Home. |
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Also, as and when there is demand, students are trained in Soft Toys / Artificial Flower / Candle / Card – Envelopes / Jewellery as the Tailoring Teacher is trained in these courses too. A course on Instant Sweets without cooking was also held in 2007 and will be conducted this year too. |
We constantly endeavour to provide diverse services after assessing the need of the people all around and also avail of local skilled and professional people who will provide free / subsidised services. The social worker heading this Kendra is a full-time paid employee. Many of the people in our employment are paid a meager sum to ensure commitment and continuity. The volunteers are encouraged through various means and training programmes to ensure a high motivational interest in this social outreach.
Most of the courses are conducted on a no-profit-no-loss basis just to conscientise and equip the people on their rights, their needs to become economically self sufficient in order to live a life of independence and dignity.
Funding is ensured through the nominal amount we earn through the registration fees / donations / sponsorships. This does not suffice for the maintenance of Prayas Kendra, the conveyance of volunteers and its telephone bills, which is huge as major reminders / work is done telephonically. We have to depend on the philantrophy of the Church’s Community Welfare Fund and the Salesian Community.
We wish to continue this good work, with better and up-to-date facilities in order to continuously address the community needs, at large, and the parish needs, in particular as we are linked to St John Bosco Parish. Some of the outreach handled on a day-to-day basis, is as follows:
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Activities - Help rendered to different Cases – A Gist |
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A case of a woman Kamla burnt hip downward was picked up from the streets of Gorai and admitted to Bhagwati Hospital for treatment |
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A parishioner Stephen from Old\ MHB was seriously sick and locked in his flat. Was rescued with the help of the PPC, Police and Fire Brigade and admitted to hospital, where he expired. |
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Gopal, a destitute was picked up from the street and put in Shantidaan. |
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Helped the Police in the Panchanamma of 2 destitute women who died on the street. |
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Prema, a domestic helper with psychological problems was put in a Child Welfare Centre. |
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Owners of a lost purse / mobile handed over to the Kendra were traced. |
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A small boy who was lost on the streets for hourse was reunited with his family at Dahisar |
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ª Provided first aid to students / staff of Don Bosco & Bosco Boys. In many medical cases, networking done with Doctors / Karuna / KEM / Bhagwati Hospitals, and other charitable hospitals ª Many other cases were helped with hospitalization, medical treatment, jobs, or directed to other NGOs on a day-to-day basis. ª Many many other cases handled where investigations were done and then forwarded to the respective CCOs / institutes for follow-up and financial assistance . ª We also conduct personal investigations into medical and financial cases referred by the Parish ª Formed 3 Mahila Mandals at Gorai 1 & 2 & Don Bosco on 26th Septembe 2008. 1st awareness done RIGHTS TO FOOD. |
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