Gaya Rescue Project, January 27 th, 2010

The problem… In the district of Gaya, hundreds of street-children live on and around the station platforms Difficult to peg numbers as this is a floating population, which also makes it difficult for any formal government program to reach them Children survive by begging, scavenging and rubbish-collecting. They are at great risk from violence, abuse, trafficking Many children also face prosecution for juvenile justice petty crimes without access to any legal assistance In October 2009, RJ did a headcount of these children in a span of 72 hours in partnership with SAATHI, another NGO in Gaya. 139 children were contacted and offered assistance

Rescue Junction goals Rescue Junction is a 24 hour shelter for street children living on the platforms of Gaya station in Bihar To act as a safety net for vulnerable youngsters who are lost and in danger of exploitation To locate & reunite lost children with their families To provide vocational training opportunity to children and young people currently working in the trains To create awareness in the community & local government about the plight of these lost railway children To act on behalf children inhumanely kept in remand homes & fight for justice

Stronger links with Railway Protection Force (RPF). RPF personnel are now monitoring platform and sending children to RJ In 2007, only 30% of station staff knew about RJ. In the recent survey, this has increased to 90% Longer-term rehabilitation and counseling has continued at the centre. As a result many children have started vocational training A recent success was when one of the children started a full time residential school There has been a marked reduction in substance abuse and disruptive behaviour Progress ( Aug’09 to Jan’10) “These are the invisible children, and before your centre was here they were left on their own, and in order to survive many turned to crime or prostitution. Since your project started this has now stopped and you have given them hope and self-respect.”

65 children between the ages of 5 and 14 have been reunited with their families Safe storage for possessions and personal saving accounts to bank their earnings hot meals have been provided in this period Provides 3 meals per day Over 200 blankets and sweaters have been distributed keeping in mind the cold weather 500 children have used the shelter The Girl Child shelter created in April 2009 has proved a great asset for the safety of girls in the centre Progress ( Aug’09 to Jan’10) contd.

Children, due to their difficult life, on the platform have issues with trust and are wary of adults The center has professionals, trained in treating child abuse victims, to counsel the children and to help them overcome psychological issues and develop trust and confidence.Recently a young girl who was a victim of abuse at the station was brought to RJ for shelter and counseling which helped her and her family deal with the trauma Counseling

Juvenile Justice In a recent landmark judgement, the juvenile court ordered 3 months community service in RJ to a minor offender. Later with RJ’s intervention, the boy was released Many children found on the platforms are sent to remand homes (children’s jail) by authorities, not knowing what to do with them. Inhuman living condition in the remand homes - 70 kids, many below 10 yrs of age, kept in 3 rooms with no light.

Other funding sources for RJ RJ has been trying to actively seek other funding sources. Currently One World Children’s Foundation has been a regular supporter of RJ OWCF is committed to seeing an increase in their role in RJ Asha stewards are also helping RJ reach out for more grants and awards The understanding with Asha is that from June 2010, they will actively seek to reduce dependence on Asha funds Only half of the funds approved in 2009 were released to RJ for activities upto January 2010 and the second installment maybe released after due diligence

Site Visit Update Due to a miscommunication, a scheduled site visit could not be carried out on time Other funders of RJ reached out to us offering reports of visits made by their volunteers or fellows: Jamie Lockwood, Yahoo Inc “ …I work with Yahoo! and also visited Rescue Junction last year... I am happy to write a full statement if needed... Nick and Deepak and the entire PF team are absolutely amazing – not only are they pouring their hearts into the organization and working to continually provide better circumstances for the children there but they are running Rescue Junction much more effectively and efficiently than any corporation I’ve ever come across. There was documentation and processes in place for everything and the staff was very professional. I have worked with several NGOs and nonprofits and I can honestly say that this is the best run and most deserving of them all, so I truly hope that you are able to send them the funding this year despite the unique situation”

Site Visit Update Mallory Moser, jantaloans.org (excerpts from her visit report) “ …The first project we visited was Rescue Junction, a shelter that provides food and education for children who live on the railway platforms at this station. Abandoned, orphaned, or simply lost, packs of children roam the railways looking through trash or sweeping the platforms and trains for a few meager rupees. These children often do not survive to the age of twenty, and most are prone to glue sniffing, gang fights and exposure to both weather and predators in a life we can't imagine. However, People First bought a building near the station and began an incredible program of outreach and rehabilitation. It's hard to find a place to start working in a city as rough and impoverished as Gaya, but these kids are certainly a worthy cause. After three years of running this program, the ones who have stayed and benefited the most are literate, share with their fellow students, and receive health care and regular meals. It is incredible to see them compared to children in other parts of India living on the platforms, a testament to child rehabilitation. Upon arriving at Rescue Junction I began an art class with the excited children, some of whom I recognized from last year. The children were joyful, smiling and sharing their pens and coloring furiously. These kids could be out in the rain and mud, collecting torn plastic bags, but they are learning and living healthy lives with adult protection….”