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The Problem
a refuge for children rescued from the streets
OLTL established and operates a HOME that acts as a refuge for children rescued from the streets.
Children of migrant workers are ostracized. While there are many organizations offering free education to poor children, there is almost no organization dedicated to the children of migrant laborer families.
One Life to Love identifies children of seasonal migrant workers’ families in our community. 80 per cent of the children of seasonal migrant workers never access education in India. These children live on the roadside, do not attend school, and often assist their parents in work, or play in the construction sites all day.
Our Response
Daycare Center
One Life to Love identifies these children in our communities. We counsel the parents and help them realize how important it is for their children to receive even a basic education. In our DayCare, the children are provided 2 meals and 2 snacks a day, education, a nurturing environment, opportunities to play and compete, TV, music & dance, arts and crafts, etc.
Children are provided with uniforms, hygiene supplies, backpacks, shoes and all their educational needs. They are usually only with us for a short period of time, as they often have to move to find work. Therefore, we focus heavily on teaching them their rights, basic reading and writing skills, good social habits, avenues to find help, and health and self-defense skills.
Here are 7 problems faced by children of migrant laborers.
Continue to act as caregivers for younger siblings and family support.
Highly vulnerable to sexual exploitation.
No development of personality and intellectuality – remain trapped in the poverty cycle.
Insecure emotional and social abilities hence adjustment issues.
Poor connections with peers/ institutions, cannot contribute to society.
Poor connections with peers/ institutions, cannot contribute to society.
Unable to understand their rights and entitlement.
Our Impact
The Four R’s of Sustainable Development
Rescue
With the help of local authorities, community and family members children at risk are identified and rescued from the streets and slums. Often, the children are found abused, abandoned, severely neglected, exploited and/or orphaned.
Recondition
Once a child is welcomed into their new home, we assess the amount of trauma the child has experience. Children are conditioned by these traumas and therefore have developed behaviors of violence and emotional instability. They lack trust and they often act on a survival instinct. Our initial work with the child is to surround him/her with the necessary love, care, and support needed so they can overcome their challenges and develop healthy habits. Simultaneously, licensed professionals provide medical care, nutrition, and therapy according to each child’s needs.
Rehabilitate
During the rehabilitation phase, short and long-term goals are implemented according to each child’s strengths, weaknesses and personal goals. Individualized education plans are implemented. Where applicable, vocational training.
Reintegrate
Our end goal is for our children to grow into healthy independent adults. We work hard to ensure that our children have access to college education, jobs and/or trade skills. However, we understand that many (if not most) of our children will forever remain dependent on us due to their physical and mental disabilities, or the lack of their own family’s support. In these cases, we aim to provide a life-long support system for the child in our Home.