Phoolwari Child development Project

This project, called the Phoolwari (meaning "Garden of flowers") project was started in the year 2002 under the guidance and leadership of The Full Gospel Trust of India, New Delhi and its founder, Rev. Dr. Abraham Sahu. The aim of the project has been to serve the children deprived of their right to education, health and other rights. The focus had been on the children and their families living in the slum called Suraj Park (Sun Garden). Once the largest of all slums in Delhi, this slum is located in the North-west side of Delhi and has an estimated population of 40,000 people, out of which 15,000 are children. These children had been living in the most challenging situations and with a dark future. These children came to Delhi along with their parents from the various neighboring states of Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh. These people came to Delhi in search of job and due to high living cost and house rents, started living in the encroached government lands. Lack of basic amenities, sewer and drainage facilities gave rise to unhygienic living situations leading to various diseases. Like any other slums, this slum too had problems such as absence of school, medical care, etc. along with an escalating crime rate, unemployment and other social ills such as drugs, drinking, gambling and crime against women.

TFG Trust has taken upon itself the task of reaching this community through its lovely children who are the future of India. In 2002 the TFG Trust initiated an active dialogue with Compassion, India for partnership and entered into the same. With this partnership TFG Trust has been working towards transforming the lives of children and their families through the Phoolwari CDC, which is committed to walk with the children, especially those in poverty. The TFG Trust works with and for them without any prejudice to Religion, caste, color, creed or sex. Through its four stage holistic development programme, the Phoolwari CDC enables and equips the children to stand in the society and become responsible adult citizens of India. A full holistic development! In the beginning, the project started with 75 children but now is serving over 300 children and their families. In this short span of time the project has been able to impact the lives of thousands of people and many hundreds of children.

1. The Malnourished children from the community have grown strong and that has been possible through our mid-day meal programme where nutritious and balance diet is provided to each child everyday. The mothers of these children are taught how to prepare such food for their children and families whereas parents are continuously educated on the importance of health and healthy food habits. The results are seen in the annual growth monitoring results of children. The cooks in the project take great care in preparing meal for these children.
2. Children are taught hygienic living habits and their parents are guided effectively in this area through various regular fortnightly parents meetings. The children are also regularly provided with uniforms and clothes and warm clothes.
3. Regular medical check up, maintaining of height and weight register are conducted at the project for all children. Half yearly health check up of each child conducted and are closely monitored by the project.
4. The project provides the children with necessary medical and hygiene supplies and if any child requires special medical attention, then that is provided with out wasting of time.
5. All children are assisted with their studies in a play way method in the after school programme. Apart from their studies, they spend time learning new things and this allows new and hidden talents to surface from within them. This is so vital for the overall growth of the child.
6. Since the drop out rate is very high in any slums and especially among the girl children, this project conducts regular adult education programme and assist the learners to be functionally literate.
7. The mothers of these children along with other women and girls from the community are taught saving habits and are encouraged to form self-help groups and take advantage of the micro credit programme specially designed to empower women. TFG Trust has hundreds of SHGs and through these the mothers of project children are involved in income generation programme and getting benefits. At the same time, Mahila Panchayat (a seat of five women judges from the community to redress grievances of the community) is also formed in the community to address various social and legal issues attached to women from the community. These initiatives provides a protective atmosphere to the child in the programme.
8. All the children in the project are provided with an opportunity to play indoor games and outdoor games regularly. They are taken to a near by open field for outdoor activity and games. This brings children from all castes closer to each other.
9. Magic Bus, an NGO helps children to learn many new things through games – both indoor and outdoor.
10. The project celebrates birthday of every child in every month. Children enjoy it immensely and feel very special. It is important for their personality growth.
11. Children are encouraged to celebrate 15th august and 26th January every year. These are our Independence Day and republic day. It inculcates in children the patriotic feeling. They feel proud and privileged to be Indians.
12. All children are encouraged to participate in the Youth Club programme at the project.
13. Capacity building of all the staff in the project is a regular activity, aimed at improving the performance of staff through regular training, consultations and supervision of project.
14. The Project Committee is also formed to guide and monitor the activities of the project on a regular basis.

Baal Panchayat and Child Parliament
Phoolwari Project was started on 2nd August 2002 and at that time all the children were very small but in the last years most of the children have entered their teen ages and that brings in many temptations and problems for children. Many are tempted to escape school and get into various forms of drug use such as sniffing, alcohol, pornography, engaging in sexual adventures and activities, stealing, crimes etc., To eradicate or help the children to overcome these problems, the project planned to start "Bal Panchayat" in the community. This also will develop in them the leadership ability, that is required so much. On January, 2009, the "Bal Panchayat" was formally formed. It elected five "Panchs", one "Sarpanch" and twenty five "Karyakarta" from five blocks of the Surajpark Slum in Delhi. Soon enough the "Bal Panchayat" decided to take up cleanliness issue in their slum and carried a cleanliness drive and cleaned the lanes and drains in the slum. Afterwards, many other activities like awareness rallies on health issues, legal issues and right issues were carried out with the help of handbills, bills, banners and posters.

On 11th April, the Baal Panchayat initiated the Child Parliament. On 14th April, 2009 the child parliament election was organised and five ministers were elected. These were the Prime-minister, Home minister, Education minister, Health Minister and Child Welfare Minister. These two programmes are being carried out since then and children are getting involved in managing the affairs of the community and even carrying out Baseline Survey. It is encouraging to see the leadership talents emerging in them and getting stronger with the passage of time.