Children’s Section
Asha Sadan is committed to
the protection, rehabilitation, development and social re-integration of its
wards. At any time there are up to 100 children living in Asha Sadan. Children are provided medical facilities through honorary doctors
including pediatricians, physiotherapists, clinical psychologists, and
hospitalization when required in JJ hospital or Jaslok hospital. The staff
plans and provides for a balanced and nutritious diet for them, and 4 trained
teachers and assistants are responsible for their education – basic reading and
writing in Marathi and English, arithmetic, drawing, colouring, craftwork and
games and physical exercise. But one of the most critical challenges faced by
the organisation is that of integrating these severely deprived children into
its fold, and into turning them into social beings, capable of trusting and
loving once again. The staff spends much of their energies in creating a
home-like atmostphere – organising sports days, picnics, outings, birthday
parties, festival celebrations, special lunches, some of which are usually
sponsored by kind donors.
Children leave Asha Sadan
when they are adopted by couples in India and abroad, or in some cases handed
over to biological parents who reclaim them. Children over the age of six are
usually transferred to other institutions that specialize in the care of older
children.
Girls’ Section
Girls come in, or are often
brought into Asha Sadan in various ways.
Many of them are runaways, orphaned and destitute. Some are victims of
rape, many are rescued from commercial sex work and trafficking, some are
children of convicts or minor domestic workers and labourers who are incapable
of supporting them. Some are minor unmarried mothers, and several are
victims of domestic violence.
Around 90 – 100 girls are admitted
at any point of time to Asha Sadan. Apart from catering to their medical needs
through doctors including a GP, gynaecologist and a clinical psychologist, Asha
Sadan makes a mission out of reinstating a sense of self esteem and self
respect in these girls. Girls are offered education through state board (SSC and HSC) or the National Open
School system. They are encouraged to complete their school and high
school board examinations upon entering the Home. Apart from this, girls are also offered
vocational training – basic computers, spoken English, tailoring, embroidery,
cooking and beauty care – all of which go to ensure that they derive a sense of
achievement and are empowered to stay independent when they go out into the
world.
As with the children in its
care, so with the girls. Asha Sadan believes that love, and reinstating a sense
of belonging is paramount to their young wards’ integration into society as
trusting, well adjusted individuals. An equal emphasis is laid on recreation,
outings, camps; festival celebrations and other outdoor engagements are planned
and executed with regularity