COVA Activity Report June 2011 to May 2012 Children’s Department- ICAN (India Children’s Action Network): Communal Harmony initiative by COVA in the old city of Hyderabad started way back in 1991 with summer camps for children and ever since COVA has been working with children in schools organizing awareness programs on social, ecological, environmental issues, animal welfare and on physical and mental health, hygiene, soft skills, personality development and communal harmony etc. Joint Celebration of Festivals and Celebrations for children are also organized in schools on socially important days relevant to them like children’s day, girls’ child day, child rights day etc. During the year 2011-12, ICAN continued with 100 schools as its members to carry out variety of activities. 167 awareness programs were organized in 80 member schools of COVA during June 2011 to May 2012 reaching out to 10590 children (5000 girls and 5590 boys) belonging to all communities. The year 2011-12 marked a qualitative and strategic change in the programs undertaken by Children’s Department of COVA. Apart from programs of extracurricular activities, COVA introduced the children of member schools to the concept and practice of social activism and the children enthusiastically participated in Face to Face Program with Policy Makers and Government Officials and successfully participated in a unique program entitled Project Work for Activism and created new paradigms and bench marks for programs and activities for school students. Summer Training on Children’s Activism: In May 2011 COVA introduced a month long Summer Training Program on Social Activism for Little Citizens sensitizing students selected from 25 schools to different social issues. The focus of the training was on 1) Child Labour, 2) Back to School Campaign, 3) Improving the Situation in Government Schools and 4) Identification and advocacy for more and better places of recreation in neighbourhoods,. Further, Session on prevention of riots, situation analysis, identification and prioritization of problems, advocacy on Right to Education, present status of health services in Urban Health Posts, introduction to RTI Act and Domestic Violence Act were taken by the experts from these fields. Screening of films and documentaries on social issues and group discussion were also held. Thus school students were trained on systematic understanding of social issues and problems and formulation of initiatives to address them, to work with community, elected representatives and leaders of different political parties and to represent to government officials and to interact with media. This training Program on Social Activism for Little Citizens imparted in May 2011 enabled the school students to undertake a number of programs on activism on the issues of education, health, recreation etc all through the year. As part of the Bal Adalat and the Project Work for Activism that followed from this Summer Training, students visited hospitals, play grounds and government schools, interacted with different stake holders and documented cases of neglect, misuse and corruption that were then represented to officials, elected representatives and leaders 1 of different political parties to seek improvement in the situation. With the success of this initiative, another program on social activism was given to select school students in May 2012 with the objective of preparing the students for renewed and vigorous activism all through 2012- 13. (photos pasted) Orientation of Little Citizens on Summer Activism by Mr. Umesh Varma of JAW Achievement of Little Citizens: During the field visits carried out in May- June 2012, apart from many findings, students noticed that dog biting menace was rampant in some areas leading to incidences of rabies. They took up the issue as a challenge, carried out a detailed survey of the affected area and made a representation to the Chief Veterinary Officer, GHMC. As a result, dog squads came into action immediately to catch stray dogs and the incidence of dog bites came down substantially and immediately in the affected areas making the students happy with their first success in Social Activism!! From June 2012 there will be follow up by the students on social activism on the issues of situation in government schools, hospitals and initiatives for more and improved recreation facilities. Face To Face with Little Citizens: In continuation of the Children’s Activism Program, Face To Face with Little Citizens was organized on 20th December 2011 to provide an introduction to children to different dimensions of responsible citizenship and propel them on to the path of becoming concerned and motivated members of society committed to social transformation. The students were involved in the program for 3 weeks that included research, field visits and interviews to finally culminate in interaction with and interrogation of policy makers and officials on issues and problems affecting children. Students from 25 schools from the old city areas of Hyderabad took active part in this program while over 800 students from 40 schools witnessed the proceedings. The participating students interacted with political leaders and officials on issues of Health, Education and Recreation. The Members of the Panel included Mr. Syed Amin Jafri, MLC, Mr. Ayub Hussain, Academic Monitoring Officer, Rajiv Vidya Mission, Mr. P. Lakshma Reddy, Regional Joint Director, School Education, Mr. B.Madhusudana Rao, Joint Director Department of Medical & Health. The Chief Guest for the program was Dr. Jafer Qureshi, Vice Chairman, Muslim Aid, UK. The Little Citizens participating in the Face To Face Program passed Resolutions demanding for their rights pertaining to children’s health, education and recreation and later submitted representations to government officials from different departments. The high point of this program was the demand of the students for a Master Plan for play grounds and parks just like there is a Master Plan for road widening where buildings are demolished for creation of roads. 2 Their contention was that if building could be demolished for road widening, then why they should not be demolished to create the required areas for parks and play grounds in the densely populated areas where no free space is left for parks and play grounds. The Child activists propose to take up this issue during 2012-13 with the State Government and concerned authorities. This program received extensive media coverage and appreciation from managements, parents and members of the public. (Left: Mr. Amin Jafferi, MLC awarding gifts and mementos to the Little Citizens – Right: students of member schools witnessing the proceedings) Teachers’ Orientation for Students’ Project Work: Two Teachers’ Orientation programs were organized on 20th and 28th January 2012. 70 Teachers of member schools were sensitized on the issues of Environment, Child Labour, Health, Sports and Govt. Schools. These teachers played role of mentors for preparing students for the Project Works on selected topics to enable them to prepare project modules and reports and to participate in the competition. Dr. Mazher Hussain, Executive Director, COVA taking orientation session for teachers Project Work Exhibition: As part of the Children’s Activism Program, COVA and ICAN (India Child Action Network) organized a Display cum Exhibition of Project Works on Social Activism by School Students on 16 February 2012 at Hyderabad. This program trained school students to undertake systematic study of different social issues equipped them to work towards 3 their solution as socially conscious and responsible citizens. Around 100 Students from 30 schools of the old city areas of Hyderabad displayed Project Works on 5 Topics of Social Relevance, viz. Environment, Child Labour, Issues of Government Schools, Health and Sports and Recreation. Prof. Tirupati Rao, Former Vice-Chancellor, Osmania University was the Chief Guest and Mr. Asad Pasha, Chairman, Pasha Educational Trust, Dr. Mehar Omar, Director, Webster School, Hyderabad and Prof. Hameeda Nayeem, Kashmir University were the Guests of Honour for the valedictory function. Dignitaries and other visitors applauded efforts of children for highlighting the burning issues. It is proposed to continue this program in the coming years to develop temper of social consciousness and responsible citizenship amongst the students. Left: Students are explaining Exhibits of their Project Work to Prof. Tirupati Rao. Right: view of Valedictory Programs in Schools: 167 awareness programs were organized in 80 member schools of COVA during June 2011 to May 2012 reaching out to 10590 children (5000 girls and 5590 boys) belonging to all communities. Important themes and topics that were covered were: Personality Development, need to promote Peace & Communal Harmony, recreation through Games for Peace, back to school, awareness on child rights, issues of girl child, stress management, Self Motivation & Smart Learning, Road Safety Measures, , animal welfare, nature/Forest &Wild Life, Energy Conservation (Petroleum & Gas Saving), Mobile Science Lab, social activism, Lokpal Bill and Corporate Corruption etc. Resource persons from MAKRO Foundation, Vignan Vahini, PCRA, FACT, CGC, SDA, Traffic Police apart from professionals, lawyers and social activists conducted the sessions. 4 Back to School Rally: On 11th and 13th of June 2011 Back to School Rally was organized in two clusters of slums to sensitize parents on value of education to their children