Creating Role Models from Railway Connected Children involved in Rag-picking and other Chid Labour Activities

SAFE is working with the Railways to help out street children engaged in hazardous works which are usually picking rags and collecting bottles from railway tracks. Some of these children are more prone to falling into bad habits. A lot of such children are girls living at railway stations who face a lot of sexual exploitation. Multiple sexual relations are very normal at the railway station, which often leads to sexually transmitted infections and other diseases like HIV and Tuberculosis. Some of the girls become mothers at the tender age of 13-14 years.

Our mandate is to support the most underprivileged communities and ensure their well being and freedom. Initially, we thought about the solution to the problem and started the research to understand their problem and probable solution. A meeting with a psychologist, social scientist, children, government agencies and others was conducted to make the strategies about how to work with these children. Finally, we get the Art Based Therapy, which helps the children to open their mind and heal their mental trauma. If we keep in mind their line of thought, we could be able to resolve the issues and get them the opportunity to think about themselves. Its create a safe space in the child to express them freely and work with self. By this therapy, we would be able to develop role-models for the rag-picker community.

Since the last five years, Safe has been working tirelessly. So far, we have reunited 524 children who ran away and landed at the railway station, with their families. We also saved 167 children from the clutches of human trafficking. With the railway connected children, we have touched more than 100 children, but the main problem with these children is that they are always on move. In spite of this, we were able to engage 10 children who had completed the age of eighteen into paying jobs. We also have engaged 25+ children in craft training and now they are working with craft for their alternate livelihood. Earlier, they were involved in rag picking and collecting the bottles. The 7 girls we rescued are now involved in making purses, cushions, soft toys, and other materials. These children are now becoming a role model for others. A girl who is physically challenged and very much interested in becoming a professional singer is being supported by us for pursuing her dream. She also has been awarded by the local members of the legislative assembly.