Strengthening Families, Empowering Children and Communities

Welcome to our monthly update for July 2024!

This edition is filled with inspiring stories and transformative updates showcasing the incredible dedication of the country's social workforce. These tireless heroes work relentlessly to ensure the safety and well-being of children and families, embodying the very essence of compassion and commitment. We are proud to highlight their exceptional efforts and the significant strides being made in our sector.

You'll also find key developments and profound insights that shape our mission and impact the broader community. These updates are designed to keep you well-informed and deeply engaged with our ongoing journey toward creating lasting change.

We hope you enjoy reading this edition and recognize the remarkable efforts being made by governments, communities and the social workforce. Your feedback is invaluable to us, and we eagerly anticipate hearing your thoughts and reflections.

Thank you for your unwavering support and belief in our mission.

Warm Regards,

Kusum Mohapatra

CEO & Regional Director, Miracle Foundation India

Transforming Children’s Lives through Family Strengthening

Following her husband’s untimely death in 2014, Bina faced significant challenges, including severe economic hardships. Despite the limited resources, she was resolute in her commitment to support her three sons. However, when the circumstances became unmanageable, she decided to place her children in a Child Care Institution (CCI) in Indore, Madhya Pradesh, believing it would provide them with the much-needed stability and educational opportunities.

When Miracle Foundation India started interventions to reunite children living in institutional care with their families to ensure they grow up in loving environments, the three brothers were identified for this process. Conversations with the mother revealed her strong desire to live together with her sons. Recognizing this, focused efforts were initiated by the team to facilitate their reunification.

Counseling sessions were provided to Bina, focusing on parenting skills, social relationships, child care and managing adolescents, to help her reconnect with her children and the community. This helped foster a more cohesive family environment for them. The team encouraged Bina to also adopt new farming techniques and reduce her dependency on rainwater. Besides, she received support in the form of a water motor and guidance from nearby farmers and the Village Sarpanch. These efforts significantly improved crop yields, helping stabilize family’s income. Additionally, the CM Ladli Behna Scheme provided Bina ?1,200 per month, further enhancing the family’s financial stability.

Access to the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojna helped fund a new concrete house for the family, offering them safety and a drastic improvement in their living conditions. The Ayushman Bharat Yojna ensured their access to essential healthcare services, significantly improving their health security and overall well-being.?

Following their successful reintegration back to the safety of their home and with their mother, the three brothers dedicatedly continued their education. They were supported with a tablet and a bicycle, further enhancing their educational opportunities and access.

Now isn’t this story a powerful example of the impact of collaboration and collective efforts! Going forward, we remain committed to promoting family-based care and strengthening community partnerships to ensure that every child grows up in a loving and supportive environment.

Celebrating Kaviya Priya

At Miracle Foundation India, as we strive towards enabling children to stay with their families and reach their full potential, we honor the incredible social workforce that makes it all possible! This month, we celebrate the efforts and achievements of Kaviya Priya from Tamil Nadu.

Beginning her journey as a social worker, Kaviya used to spend quite a bit of time with children, listening to their joys and concerns; this helped her build a strong perspective on children’s issues and needs. Four years back, Kaviya - with a strong understanding of children’s welfare - transitioned to becoming a program officer with Marialaya CCI in Coimbatore. In that role, her close engagement with Miracle Foundation India’s team through training and discussion helped her understand the vital role played by family in a child’s life. Engaging with government functionaries and community-based organizations further deepened her perspective on child protection.

In her role, Kaviya remains extremely approachable to parents and caregivers. Along with the Marialaya team, she conducts regular training sessions for parents on various topics, such as dealing with teen emotions, strengthening family relationships, and positive parenting. Her deep connection with children became strongly evident when a child confided in her about the struggles she faced at home, including domestic abuse by her mother, which hindered her education. Together with the CCI team, Kaviya intervened by speaking to the mother and eventually seeking help from the District Child Protection Unit (DCPU). Their persistent efforts ensured the mother understood the child’s feelings and the importance of education.

Together with her team, Kaviya has trained over 40 families and has counseled more than 20 for feasible reunification, successfully reuniting over 60 children in the past four years. They continue to closely work with the DCPU and are regularly invited to train other CCIs in the district on how to prepare an effective Individual Care Plan (ICP). They also build community-level awareness on social protection schemes and entitlements.?Over 250 children and more than 85 women from self-help groups have been trained by Kaviya and the team on children’s rights.

Kaviya Priya’s journey reflects her dedication and the positive impact of her work on children and their families. Her commitment and compassion inspire others to create meaningful change and ensure a better future for children. ?

World Day against Child Labour Observed

On June 11, 2024, on the eve of World Day against Child Labour, Miracle Foundation India, together with Bal Kalyan Sangh, organized a creative workshop with youth leaders and children from Bal Panchayats in Ranchi, Jharkhand. We were pleased to have Honourable Member of Rajya Sabha, Ms. Mahua Maji, as chief guest at the workshop.

The workshop, through the medium of art and other creative activities, discussed the pressing need for collective action to eliminate child labour and protect children from all forms of exploitation.

On June 12, 2024, World Day against Child Labour, Miracle Foundation India participated in a state-level multi-stakeholder dialogue on Eliminating Child Labour in Jharkhand organized by Bal Kalyan Sangh in collaboration with International Labour Organization and Government of Jharkhand. Subroto Chatterjee, Associate Director, Program (North Zone), Miracle Foundation India, moderated a session titled, ‘Reflection on the Implementation of State Policy and Ground Reality - Act On Commitments’; it featured representatives from? DCPU,? Child Welfare Committee (CWC), police personnel, and civil society organizations.?

During the discussion, panelists shared their on-ground experiences on child protection issues, providing valuable insights and suggesting solutions, including vulnerability mapping, social protection scheme linkages, and the importance of strengthening Child Welfare and Protection Committees and collectively ensuring permanent reunification of children with their families.

?Mahesh Foundation and Miracle Foundation India Celebrate 11 Years of Transformative Partnership

Driven by the need to prevent children from being separated from their families and to transition children from CCIs to family and family-based alternative care, in 2018, Miracle Foundation India had made a strategic shift in its focus, from CCIs to family-based care. Our partner, Mahesh Foundation, running a CCI named Asha Kiran in Belagavi, Karnataka, and providing care for children living with HIV, initially faced significant challenges in transitioning children back to their families.?

However, the organization’s founder, Mahesh Jadhav, recognized this as an opportunity for transformation. Supported by the DCPU and CWC, Mahesh Foundation strategically navigated the complexities involved in reintegrating children by focusing on building community awareness on HIV and the importance of family, ensuring timely access to Antiretroviral Therapy and medications, helping meet families’ basic needs, and most importantly through addressing HIV-related stigma and discrimination.

Through collaboration and steadfast commitment to the cause, Mahesh Foundation has successfully reintegrated several children with their families, ensuring they grow up in nurturing environments. Today, only 14 of the initial 62 children remain in institutional care, that too given the absence of available family or guardians. Besides, they facilitate quality education for underprivileged children and employment opportunities for single mothers. They deliver comprehensive support to families and children impacted by HIV, including nutritional assistance and other essential services, ensuring that families remain united.

As Mahesh Foundation and Miracle Foundation India complete 11 years of impactful partnership, the collective resolve just gets stronger - to ensure that every child grows up within a loving family.

? Donor Testimonial

"Witnessing the transformation of these children is a testament to the power of collective action. Empowering children is investing in the future. Thank you, Miracle Foundation [India], for your tireless efforts. I'm proud to be a part of this journey."

- Milind Tyagi

? Resource Links

• Balancing Authenticity and Vulnerability in Leadership (Article by Ashu Khanna, Advisor, Miracle Foundation India)
• Kids’ right: UN declares June 11 as ‘International Day of Play’

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