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Marialaya has been closely following the educative system of
loving kindness towards poor abandoned street girls. Perhaps that
accounts for our success during the course of a decade that has led to a
qualitative improvement in the lifestyles of street girls in Chennai. In fact, there are
1,50,000 street children in Chennai. We, the sisters of 'Marialaya' street
girls' home, are working and living in their midst in a very crowded area of
Broadway in North Chennai. We are the first non-governmental
organization (NGO) to help the cause of
street girls and we have already impressed the public with our humanitarian
work. The following is a brief description of the different groups that come under our daily care.
 | Street Girls:
There are about 3000 street girls' points in Chennai where we
meet the street girls. Young girls of school-going age are provided non-formal education
every day. We conduct regular sessions using trained teachers who impart knowledge and
educative values at these places. Every year, 300 girls are put in a
regular school and followed up with evening coaching classes. The
additional coaching classes help the children to come up to a minimum standard,
which enables them develop
a liking for their studies. This year we have the joy of having 15 girls
studying in 12th grade, 20 in 10th and 255 in the
primary school. According to the needs of the children, we provide them
with books, uniform and stationery. If they are anxious to get rid of
their environment of a drunkard father or an immoral home, we put them in
children's home and thus ensure their future and happy growth. Some girls end up staying with us
forever. |
| Street Mothers:
We have established Women's Group
in about 48 contact centers for street mothers
who live on the pavements. Since mothers are largely responsible for the future of society, special
emphasis is given for conducting awareness programs for them. We
educate them on a variety of issues such as social, political, moral values, saving money, care of
children, appreciation of human life and care of the female child. Unfortunately, caste system and abortion of the female child are strong
views in Tamil Nadu. The moment a poor mother gives birth to a female
child, the child disappears. No one knows how, and even the mother is
unconcerned. Only 2 months ago, a racket of this nature was discovered in
Salem, one of the major cities in Tamil Nadu. There is such a strong prejudice
regarding caste that it is difficult even to organize groups. But
fortunately we have risen above caste and creed and treat all women equally
pointing out to them their importance as a complement to their husbands
and having a status and dignity befitting their motherhood. Therefore,
women have their legal rights to prevent harassment from male domination
to own property, to have a just wage etc. Such subjects are often taught
to them. Along with that hygiene, cleanliness, care of children,
children's sickness and importance of family planning are
stressed. |
| Youth Girls: 'FIRE' is
the name given to our youth meets which are regularly attended every month by about 300
young girls. The adolescent youth are very keen in participating in these
meets during which we touch on civil rights, importance of education,
sexuality, career guidance etc. We also offer them chances to attend camps and
go out for excursions. When they are in need of jobs, we help them to
discern their talents and take up suitable careers. We also follow them at
their work spots to ensure that they work in a healthy environment
conducive to good living and receive just wages and are not molested. |
| Unemployed Girls:
Two Vocational Centers
have
been opened to help 100 girls at each center These
vocational centers house
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5 tailoring units |
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1 typing unit |
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1 computer center |
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1 Rexene bag-making unit |
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1
screen-printing unit |
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1 knitting unit |
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1 chalk-making
unit |
200 young girls are benefited
through this unit under good and trained instructors.
Keeping in mind girls who are minimally educated, we are planning on
offering courses on screen-printing, bookbinding and toy making suitable for girls.
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| Run-away Girls:
It is not
uncommon to find girls coming to Chennai, with dreams of making big in the
"Hollywood City" of south India
and ending up in the streets or falling into hands of undesirable
elements. To help such girls, we have arranged a special booth in the
Chennai Central Railway Station near the
Information Board. Here, our staff members who have knowledge of many
languages are posted to get into contact with such run-away girls and offer
them food, shelter and above all counseling and proper guidance. Every
month 15 such girls come to us. The police also are aware of our
humanitarian work and also deliver the girls to our safe custody. We
immediately make use of our preventive system of reason and loving
kindness to give then good counsel and offer them hostel facilities. If
they wish to return to their families and their parents are on look out
for them, we initiate a mutual meeting. If they wish to remain in Chennai,
we find out suitable jobs and offer them hostel accommodation. It has
never been known that we have turned away run-away girls in spite of their
inclination to tell lies, give contradictory statements and cause
unpleasant surprises through their behaviour. |
| Juvenile:
The government of Tamil Nadu has established a number of special care homes.
One such home is Kellye's Home for
Juveniles.
We too
help the government in caring for about 50 juveniles, some of whom are orphans and
the others destitute girls brought by the police. They enjoy the cottage system where
five mothers look after a batch of 10 children each and attend to all their
needs including education. We are interested in brightening the lives of
these children who have all along experienced only the care of "police rod"
(police brutality).
Today we find remarkable change in the faces of these children who feel
that they are wanted and loved. |
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