Smile Foundation and Salaam Baalak Trust have taken up an integrated programme for the benefit of around 200 homeless and working children in New Delhi. The children will be in the age group of 5 to 14 years.

About Salaam Baalak Trust

After the success of the film “Salaam Bombay”, Ms. Mira Nair, the famous NRI founded an initiative called Salaam Baalak Trust (SBT) came into existence in year 1988, dedicated to care, support and protection of neglected street children, in and around New Delhi Railway Station, crowded bus stops, congested business and tourist areas, as well as slums. Since then SBT provides help and support to nearly 5000 children annually providing them food, shelter, education and other developmental activities, repatriation of those children (who desire to join back their families and details about their family-address etc. are somehow made known) and rehabilitation/ mainstreaming of those who wish to pursue studies/ take-up vocational skills training/ get employment etc.

The various activities of the Trust thus encompasses providing NFE, mainstreaming to formal schools, Health services, Skill training, Restoration & Repatriation, Sports & Recreation, Child Line, Night out- reach programme. The organization runs many day care centers for girls and boys.

The Project

The project aims to work with such children - increasing coverage -through strengthening of Contact Points and Shelter Homes. The Contact Points will also function as Day Care Shelter for Working Children, providing them food, clothing, medical aid and a place to unwind their emotional upheavals. Many children coming at such Contact Points are exposed to high – risk behaviour and are therefore required to be given personalized counseling, NFE (non-formal education) and formal education to those (who are willing), education on health and hygiene, HIV/ AIDS, STDs and drugs and substance abuse.

The total number of beneficiaries to be covered under this project is 200 children in a year through four Contact Points; it will cater to the needs of the children in the age group of 5-14 years. These 4 Contact Points in Delhi are:

1. Kishalaya-Hanuman Mandir, C.P.
2. Prerana - Tourist Platform, New Delhi
3. GRP Camp - New Delhi Railway Station
4. Akansha- Tourist Platform- nearby community

The objective of the project is to provide care and support to these children through education, medical care, sports & recreation, vocational training; & also try to restorethem back to their family, if possible.

Special Focus

The project, in specific, intends to:

• Motivate children to come to the safe and secure environment of a Shelter.
• Assessing children’s IQ level and accordingly provide educational support through NFE, higher education, remedial classes, and mainstreaming them to regular private or public schools.
• To provide vocational skills to the children through liaison with different companies and corporate for their placement.
• Try to rehabilitate them to their families and mainstream society