CSA Newsletter | July – 2013 - Catalysts for Social Action

Health Check up Camps - The Inside Story
News in A Nutshell - Photo Montage
Health Check up Camps - Images
Young Hearts Volunteering
An Amazing Journey!
CSA Annual Charity Dinner - Sep 2013
News in A Nutshell
Call For Action
AFFECXN (Read: AFFECTION), is a Newsletter
published by Catalyst for Social Action (CSA).
Established in September 2002, Catalyst for Social
Action (CSA) is a Not-For-Profit organisation
dedicated to the cause of child welfare and
adoption.
CSA works as a “catalyst” focusing on a holistic
approach to child welfare and rehabilitation in the
following domains ?
Transforming lives of orphan children via
initiatives ranging from providing education
and training, health and hygiene plans,
nutritious meals and overall well being
?
Promoting and facilitating adoptions
wherever possible
In the area of enabling holistic care of children,
we support a number of child care organisations
in the areas of Nutrition, Hygiene, & Health,
Education & Vocational skills, Infrastructural
support and Recreation activities. We have made
and continue to make a valuable difference to
1600+ children across 48 homes in 4 states that
we support.
As part of our Adoption Facilitation process, we
work with existing rural institutions to facilitate
adoptions. We have successfully facilitated over
200 adoptions so far since inception.
Health Check up Camps - The Inside Story
CSA conducted a 'Health Check Up' camp at almost all of our partner children homes and orphanages across 4 states that covered over 900 children.
The check up covered Physical Examination, Dental, Eye, ENT and BMI (Body Mass Index) to determine the weight of children - if underweight or overweight.
BMI Overview :BMI (Body Mass Index) — is a measure of your weight in relation to your height. BMI is an
approximate measure of fatness. It is an inexpensive and easy way of screening for people in
overweight / underweight categories that may lead to future health problems.
Overall Physical Examination - Issues & Treatments:Physical Examination including Dental, Eye and ENT check ups were conducted
to determine overall health of children
Findings :
?
Goa and Madhya Pradesh show higher percentage of underweight children comparatively
?
Odisha shows higher percentage of children in obese category compared to other states
?
Maharashtra and Odisha show majority of children in the normal weight category
?
More males were underweight compared to females
?
Dental Problems emerged as the highest issue in all 4 states
?
Maharashtra showed highest cases of children with Dental problems
?
Many children require further in-depth examination as indicated by the
Findings :
figures in the areas of Dental, Eye and ENT care
?
Improved, nourishing diet plans is also a critical need
CSA Proposed Action Plans :
?
Specialized Supplementary Nutrition Plans for underweight children after consultation with a
Nutritionist or Dietician
?
Overall Improved Diet Plans for all children to maintain healthy and balanced diet
?
Exercise regimen for all children to help them get fit,active and tackle issues pertaining to obesity
and overweight
CSA Proposed Action Plans :
?
Children will be treated for Dental problems
?
Conduct Oral Hygiene sessions; distribute Hygiene kits which include
toothbrush & toothpaste
?
Many cases of Skin infections such as rashes, boils detected - consult
doctors to provide treatment
?
Other infections like HIV, Respiratory issues also surfaced - conduct
further tests
?
Examine individual cases and arrange for further treatment in the areas
of Eye and ENT care
Health Check up Camps - Images
Madhya Pradesh
Maharashtra - Pune
Goa
Odisha
Maharashtra - Mumbai
An Amazing Journey!
In this issue, we feature another endearing story relating to the
successful adoption of 4 year old twin girls from Madhya Pradesh
early this year. Lekha Parameswaran, a single parent from
Chennai shares her amazing story with us....
"Becoming a mother has been one of the most beautiful
moments of my life. Thanks to the amazing initiative called CSA
and the team they have put together; on March 20th 2013 I
became the “Amma” of 2 beautiful girls (twins) – Juhi and Maahi.
As I watch them playing happily surrounded by family and
friends, I am amazed at their journey and mine.
In January 2012, when I announced my intention to adopt a girl
child – my decision was met with a lot of skepticism. As a
prospective single parent, I met with my share of
discouragement from social workers and adoption agencies.
After a year of struggling to make sense of the adoption process,
a well wisher finally connected me to CSA. From that point
onwards, Dadasaheb Sargar and Lucy Mathews of CSA have been
my guiding angels. Not only did they connect me to the right
agency in MP, but they guided me through every step of the
process and did so with empathy. Thanks to them, the process of
finding and bringing home my daughters has been more pleasure
than pain!
The twins are a happy bunch – they are loved and adored by the
extended family. They are attending summer school and loving
every bit of it. The three of us are in the exciting phase of
exploring new places, new tastes, new games and each other. It’s
just been a month since they walked into my home and heart but
it feels as if they have always been here as an integral part of our
lives."
News in A Nutshell
z
Adoption Facilitation -
-15 adoptions in all have been successfully facilitated since April 2013 by
CSA (Maharashtra-11, Odisha-2, Madhya Pradesh-2)
z
Education Support -
- CSA provides Educational Support (Annual School Fees) for 23 children
- CSA provides Additional Educational Support (Tuition/Coaching Fees) for
46 children
z
Vocational Training -
- 60 girls from Observation Home in Bhivandi, Mumbai completed Basic
and Advanced Tailoring course
- 27 girls from Observation Home in Bhivandi, Mumbai received training
in Mehendi course
z
Stakeholder Training & Sensitization -
- CSA in association with the Department of Women and Child
Development, Government of Goa organized a one day training and
workshop titled "Registration of Children’s Homes under the Juvenile
Justice Act”. 87 participants with representatives from 60 Children’s
Homes attended this workshop.
A direct impact is that 52 homes have applied for registration with the
Goa Government.
z
Fun Activities / Recreation -
- Painting in Goa: Finger painting session organized for 85 children in
Goa as part of Art based Therapy. Finger painting is therapeutic –
children express their feelings visually & it stimulates creativity and
imagination
- Fruits of the Season: 464 children from Maharashtra and Madhya
Pradesh orphanages relished fruits of the season (Mangoes, Apples,
Watermelons)
- Rajo Celebrations (Oriya festival): 100 Children enjoyed this fun event
in Odisha and a no. of competitions such as Essay Writing, Painting,
Singing, Carrom and Puchi (Local Dance for girls) were organised.
Prizes and traditional sweets were distributed to the children
- Art Based activity in Panvel: 60 children from the Warier Foundation,
Balmandir in Panvel participated in an art based activity titled 'Six
Piece Story Making' - children were given paper and colors for this
activity and were asked to fold the paper into 6 parts, draw or scribble
the story on paper as they wished. Underlying principle being,
children could use their imagination and interpret the story as they
saw it.
News in A Nutshell - Photo Montage
WCD workshop on Registration of Children's Home - Goa
Tailoring Course at Bhivandi, Mumbai
Fruit of the Season - Apple
Rajo Celebrations, Odisha
Finger Painting Session - Goa
Mehendi
Tailoring
Course
Course
at Bhivandi,
at Bhivandi,
Mumbai
Mumbai
Fruit of the Season - Watermelon
Puchi Dance, Odisha
Young Hearts Volunteering
Two young, enthusiastic volunteers, Ira Sharma and Sasha Iyer spent time
volunteering with CSA supported agencies in Pune.
Besides visiting and conducting some workshops and activities with the
institutions, they also helped with creating presentations on Seasonal Fruits
and their benefits, Personal Hygiene, Health Diet and Oral Care.
Amongst various activities conducted, presentation on Fruit of the season Mango at Nirankar Orphanage in Pune, Dance activity for Girls Observation
Home and an Environment Day activity at the Girls Observation Home in Pune
deserve a mention.
Ira
Sasha
First hand account of the Environment Day activity conducted on 5th June
2013 by Ira and Sasha....
"On the occasion of Environment Day, 5th June, we visited the Girls
Observation Home, at Nana Peth, Pune. We spoke to the girls about the
significance of Environment Day and why it is necessary to protect it. Then the
girls split into groups and were given a topic to make posters on. These posters,
were then displayed for all to see.
Thereafter, we took the older girls in groups to plant saplings that we had
carried with us. The girls especially enjoyed this activity of planting flowering
samplings which included fragrant plants like mogra and zui, which they
already knew of."
Ira and Sasha at a children's home in Pune
CSA Annual Charity Dinner - Sep 2013
CSA's annual fund raising charity dinner is coming up in September 2013.
Expected Attendees to include High Network Individuals, Professionals from IT and Finance industries, Businessmen,
Philanthropists, Government officials, Consulates, Expatriates etc and extensive media coverage is also expected.
Highlights of the event include
?
Brief presentation on CSA telling the audience about us, our work and how attendees can engage
?
Art auction of one-of-a-kind artifacts specially created by leading celebrity artists such as Arzan Khambatta, Bina Aziz, Brinda
Miller,Gurcharan Singh, Jaya Lamba and Shola Carletti. Besides these collaborative exclusive art pieces, additional art pieces
will also be up for auction
?
Dance Performance by a few adoptive parents who will be trained by Sandip Soparrkar, CSA's cause ambassador and an
adoptive parent himself. This is another initiative through which we aim to raise funds
Watch this space for a complete account on the charity dinner in our next newsletter issue!
A dedicated website has been created. Kindly click on the link below to get a complete lowdown on the charity dinner
www.csa.org.in/charity-dinner/index.shtml
How you can get Involved
The welfare of orphans depends on your contributions. Donate today!
By Cheque:
made payable to “Catalysts for Social Action” and sent to:
CSA, C/o Accelya Kale Solutions Ltd, 3rd Floor, Modi House, Eastern Express Highway, Naupada,
Thane (W), Mumbai 400602.
By Credit Card:
Please visit www.csa.org.in to donate online through 'Give India' or 'Global Giving' both of which are
secure and independent web portals for donating to reputable Charities.
By Volunteering:
Please contact us by phone
Mumbai : 022-67808888, Pune : 020-24227090