About NGO:

40% of India's children fight a daily battle against abuse, violence, neglect and exploitation. Although laws and institutions to safeguard these children exist, implementation is extremely poor. Aangan works on strengthening protection mechanisms for the most vulnerable child in need, both in the community and in state-run institutions - with the firm belief that each child's safety and protection is the first step for any kind of development.Aangan was founded in 2001 with the aim of improving the dismal conditions of children in state-run Children's and Observation Homes (Effective Institutions Program).

Over the years we expanded our work to include community-based prevention (Shakti and Pragati) and re-integration programs (Chauraha) reducing children's risk of entering the institutions and supporting them when coming back to their community. Through our community programs we strengthen vulnerable boys and girls in poor urban areas to better cope with their difficult circumstances.

Fund Usage:

SHAKTI
Through Aangan's Shakti program vulnerable girls experience the power of collective action as they design, plan and run their own community projects. Discovering that they have the potential to affect change for their community also gives them the confidence to bring about change for themselves. Shakti works with marginalized girls (aged 12 to 18) in disadvantaged urban communities. The program builds peer networks, and supports otherwise socially isolated unsupported girls to be heard in family and community and to take initiative for them. Shakti groups have 8 to 15 girls. They meet for 14 sessions dealing with the following topics: Discovering myself. In various sessions girls express their dreams and aspirations, explore their relationships, learn to negotiate difficult issues with their family, hear about their rights and the laws, and discuss abuse. Stepping out: Sessions including community visits, exploring of neighborhood services, and the writing of newsletters help the girls to be more confident.

Community project:
Through group discussions the girls choose one community problem and make a detailed plan of action. By using local networks and under the guidance of the facilitator they execute the project.

Total Budget:
45 Lakh

PRAGATI
Aangan's Prevention Program Pragati works on reducing adolescent boys' dangerous, anti-social and offending behaviour by identifying their risks as well as their strengths and opportunities helping them to access community services to plan for their future. Aangan set up Youth Centers in high-risk areas of Mumbai and designed a program around boys' risky behaviour.

• Aangan gets referrals of boys who are known as "troublemakers" from respective police stations, community services, Observation Homes and peers in the community.
• Aangan works individually with identified high-risk boys. In weekly home visits their risks and resiliency strengths are assessed and a life plan including first steps of implementation is outlined. Parents are involved in these steps.
• Boys also join activities of Aangan Youth Centers. These are run by peers, selected, trained and coached by Aangan. The center's activities comprises of educational/ vocational parts (e.g. English, computer classes), modules to reduce risky behaviors (e.g. drumming for anger management, projects to solve a community problem) and fun activities (e.g. dancing, film screening, sport events). If a boy develops very positively within the Pragati Program he can be selected and trained to be a peer leader.

Total Budget: 25 Lakh

Impact:

Rafi lives with his mother and younger sister Kulsum in a "jhopdi" in Dongri. Rafi's father is an alcoholic and both children have been exposed to violence and turbulence at home as well as abuse on the streets. Rafi says, "I just used to wander in the community without a purpose, but now I have a have something to do." He loves to dance and at the Aangan Youth Center. Rafi participated in the Pragati "Life Plan Scholarship Contest". Although he initially planned to drop out of school at the age of 14 years and start work - the "life plan" discussion helped him decide instead to stay in school till the Board exam and do a computer course. He currently studies in the ninth grade and also goes for computer classes - which he won as part of his Pragati scholarship.

Page Url :
http://www.unitedwaymumbai.org/ngo87_the_aangan_trust.htm

Founded Year: 2000

Cause category: Children

Our Supporters

• Rishabh
• Pavan Kumar Pattipati