The Gold Standard Award for NGO Engagement identifies excellence in NGO engagement with external groups. It applies to domestic and international NGOs operating in Asia Pacific or to Asian NGOs operating overseas. The winners of this award have achieved "Gold Standard" in their strategic engagement with government, business or civil society.
Read more about why CRY was chosen for this award.
Despite the growing size of India’s economy (GDP has now passed $1 trillion),India continues to have widespread problems regarding vulnerable and uneducated children. Child Rights and You’s (CRY) analysis clearly shows that a range of policies are impacting children negatively. CRY campaigns for equal inclusion of everyone, including the poorest, in a village’s decision-making.It builds resilient communities which can demand entitlements for their children and themselves. Using this approach, CRY now works with over 700,000 children and their families in 7,745 villages and urban slums,spread across 20 states in India. This progress is due to the support of over 250 volunteers and 200,000 individual donors worldwide.
CRY’s approach in children’s education works through a three-phase engagement: firstly by identifying the most marginalised, secondly through an examination of the root causes of the deprivation, and thirdly in providing real solutions to problems by making sure that the laws and policies that guarantee their rights are actually implemented.
A hybrid of corporate and development sector cultures that defies the conventional definitions of philanthropy exists as the preserve of the wealthy.
CRY is aiming to change the philanthropic paradigm and mindsets regarding how children are viewed by policy makers, media, non-profit organisations and the general public, and this has the potential to achieve sweeping change for children and marginalised communities.
CRY started work on empowering under privileged children and the communities they belonged to by actively partnering smaller/grassroots-level NGOs working in remote and neglected areas of India. These smaller organisations are trained to mobilise rural and urban communities to access their entitlements through collective action. Such policy advocacy work continues with two key demands today: one, to extend the right of education to all children (it currently covers children from six to 14 years of age only); and secondly, to ensure that state governments pass the requisite policies to implement the entitlements guaranteed by this law.
The impact of CRY’s work on children’s education manifests at two levels. A look at the impact of year 2010-11 showcases that at the level of the village and/or slum,it has ensured that 384,109 children are enrolled in schools. A further 21,676 children who had dropped out of school have been re-enrolled,with 80 new government schools being opened as a result of campaigns and sustaining follow-up with local Education Departments at the Block and District levels. A further 157 government schools were upgraded and 103 were prevented from closing down by repeated petitioning of the authorities concerned.
CRY’s work made sure that these schools had one teacher per class who attended regularly, and that the essential infrastructure, such as separate toilets for boys/ girls and potable drinking water, are in place. In the last 30 years, CRY’s work in education and other fundamental rights has reached 1.5 million children across India.
CRY’s model is currently being used directly by the 220 partner organisations working in 23 states across the country. A further 500 organisations who are part of the state-based alliances CRY supports are now convinced about, and are attempting to replicate, the model in their field areas. CRY plans to consolidate the impact of its work across states and to advocate the relative advantages of this approach in strengthening inclusive democracy. Besides this, the plan envisages ensuring that the voice of children is heard and addressed at the levels of administration, judiciary, law enforcement, and policy making–in short, in all governance mechanisms. In 2010, CRY had press conferences in four metro cities of the country where children spoke directly to the press on the hurdles that they face while accessing their fundamental rights.
(Courtesy: Public Affairs Asia Gold Standard Awards)
Sunday, January 29, 2012
Friday, January 13, 2012
FULL-Fight Undernourishment Little by Little.
FULL-Fight Undernourishment Little by Little aims at giving 18,000 children a healthy, wholesome future, by activating healthcare centres, providing nutrition supplements and building health-awareness amongst women and children in India.
Shaheen, Sahiba, Shameem and Soni are among 13 severely malnourished girls in Dhannipur, a village in Varanasi. They weigh so little and are so weak that even a cold is fatal. If they do live, the long-term ill effects last for life. Stunted growth, brittle bones, disease-prone and worst of all, them giving birth to unhealthy babies. What they need is the right dietary supplements at the right time, so they can tip the scales and be healthy again. So they can have a wholesome future.
Mohammed Idrish was forced to make the toughest choice of his life. Selling his loom, his only means of earning four square meals, to afford the health care his son Sahabuddin so desperately needed. Sahabuddin, aged two, weighed a measly six kilos, but carried the weight of poverty, hunger and deprivation on his little shoulders. The loom fetched Mohammed some extra money. But it didn't last very long. And neither did his son. Unable to sustain themselves, several other weavers in Dhannipur face similar fate. What they need is the health care they are entitled to, so their children can lead full lives.
Read More Stories
Not having the right nutrition at the right time has life-altering effects during the first two years of a child’s life. Causing irreversible damage and in most cases, death, malnutrition is fast claiming children's lives across the country. There is no better time to reach out, than now.
Donate Now to Fight Undernourishment Little by Little (FULL).
Together with our supporters,CRY has ensured activation of healthcare centres, provision of nutrition supplements and awareness-building activities across several regions in India.
Right Food – Right Health Care – Right Nourishment- Bright Future! This is what every child deserves & this is what we aim for every child.
Every little step can help bring a child closer to a happy, full life. Take one now.
Join us to Fight Undernourishment Little by little.To know more about this initiative ,Visit us on:
FULL site
FULL Facebook page
Wednesday, January 11, 2012
Bal Sawaal, Bal Dhamaal- CRY's initiative to share the voices of children.
My name is Priya Patil and I work as General Manager, Resource Mobilisation at CRY - Child Rights and You. I write to you today to thank you for what you have made possible by supporting CRY.
As a celebration of children's achievements, on 14th November,2011 CRY hosted 'Bal Sawaal. Bal Dhamaal' in Delhi, Pune, Kolkata, Chennai and Bengaluru. Here, children from various CRY-supported projects shared stories of how they ensured rights for themselves and their community. Despite my dozen odd years at CRY, I was (still am) so inspired and motivated with what I saw and heard at this event in Pune that I had to share this with you.
The Pune event brought together 8 children from CRY- supported projects in Maharashtra. Meeting children from our projects is something that I always look forward to - it gives me a chance to see the positive impact created by CRY partners and donors. And every single time, I am overwhelmed!
So, I would like to share some of their stories with you... The first is that of Krishna Pinnalwar. He is 13 but looks much younger. Soon I learnt that he was no ordinary 13 year old, but he was the "Chief Minister" of his school's Cabinet of Ministers. Krishna's school had only 4 teachers for 7 classes; this was not acceptable. His children's group approached the school authorities and addressed petitions to the education office to demand more teachers. The result... 2 new teachers were appointed within a week.
He said their struggle does not end here- their school needs better facilities, a playground, a lab among other things and he knows that he will be able to get them.
Next I met Sachin Kilnakhe from Nagpur. He is all of 15 years and growing like a beanpole. Very confident, very outspoken... at times sounding very grown up, and then suddenly like a child again. He proudly shared the story of how his group helped implement the Right to Education and prevented a girl from dropping out because her parents couldn't afford a uniform. He confidently pointed out that under the RTE, the school was supposed to provide it. He also strongly believed that all children in the age group of 0 to 18 should be included in the RTE. He said - you can vote at 18 as per one law, but you stop being a child at 14 as per another. Either let me vote now or let me come under the RTE and complete my education.
The stories that these children had to share were endless. Each small step - getting 1 teacher, getting water, or even a toilet, has been the result of a huge struggle. But they made it sound so easy, we did this and we did that and we got the teachers, and we stopped child marriages, and we stopped our friends from working and they now go to school. But most importantly... we have so much more to do. What stood out most was that despite all their efforts, they realize there still is a long way to go.
When I got back from the event, all I could think about was my experience with the children and the sheer joy I felt at their achievements. I do hope you feel as proud as I do because you have played a key role in ensuring their confidence and determination.
I believe in children and their power to change the world. And I thank the thousands of children across the 5242 slums and villages that CRY supports who never fail to inspire us in what they can achieve.
I hope I have been able to give you a glimpse of the kind of change your support has created; change that is visible in the children whose lives we have touched together.
We have a long way to go to ensure that each and every child has the right to live, learn, grow and play and I look forward to your support to help us realise this dream.
With faith and goodwill,
Priya Patil
As a celebration of children's achievements, on 14th November,2011 CRY hosted 'Bal Sawaal. Bal Dhamaal' in Delhi, Pune, Kolkata, Chennai and Bengaluru. Here, children from various CRY-supported projects shared stories of how they ensured rights for themselves and their community. Despite my dozen odd years at CRY, I was (still am) so inspired and motivated with what I saw and heard at this event in Pune that I had to share this with you.
The Pune event brought together 8 children from CRY- supported projects in Maharashtra. Meeting children from our projects is something that I always look forward to - it gives me a chance to see the positive impact created by CRY partners and donors. And every single time, I am overwhelmed!
So, I would like to share some of their stories with you... The first is that of Krishna Pinnalwar. He is 13 but looks much younger. Soon I learnt that he was no ordinary 13 year old, but he was the "Chief Minister" of his school's Cabinet of Ministers. Krishna's school had only 4 teachers for 7 classes; this was not acceptable. His children's group approached the school authorities and addressed petitions to the education office to demand more teachers. The result... 2 new teachers were appointed within a week.
He said their struggle does not end here- their school needs better facilities, a playground, a lab among other things and he knows that he will be able to get them.
Next I met Sachin Kilnakhe from Nagpur. He is all of 15 years and growing like a beanpole. Very confident, very outspoken... at times sounding very grown up, and then suddenly like a child again. He proudly shared the story of how his group helped implement the Right to Education and prevented a girl from dropping out because her parents couldn't afford a uniform. He confidently pointed out that under the RTE, the school was supposed to provide it. He also strongly believed that all children in the age group of 0 to 18 should be included in the RTE. He said - you can vote at 18 as per one law, but you stop being a child at 14 as per another. Either let me vote now or let me come under the RTE and complete my education.
The stories that these children had to share were endless. Each small step - getting 1 teacher, getting water, or even a toilet, has been the result of a huge struggle. But they made it sound so easy, we did this and we did that and we got the teachers, and we stopped child marriages, and we stopped our friends from working and they now go to school. But most importantly... we have so much more to do. What stood out most was that despite all their efforts, they realize there still is a long way to go.
When I got back from the event, all I could think about was my experience with the children and the sheer joy I felt at their achievements. I do hope you feel as proud as I do because you have played a key role in ensuring their confidence and determination.
I believe in children and their power to change the world. And I thank the thousands of children across the 5242 slums and villages that CRY supports who never fail to inspire us in what they can achieve.
I hope I have been able to give you a glimpse of the kind of change your support has created; change that is visible in the children whose lives we have touched together.
We have a long way to go to ensure that each and every child has the right to live, learn, grow and play and I look forward to your support to help us realise this dream.
With faith and goodwill,
Priya Patil
Monday, January 02, 2012
Poem by the CRY team.
Our dream for children, we share today -
to live, to learn, to grow and play.
For all, a happy, healthy childhood we seek.
No matter how young, no matter how meek
Our dream for children, we share today -
to live, to learn, to grow and play.
For each, good education is a must,
A school and good teachers is right and just.
Our dream for children, we share today -
to live, to learn, to grow and play.
Nutritious food fills every tummy
For every child, daddy and mummy!
Our dream for children, we share today -
to live, to learn, to grow and play.
No hours of work should any child see,
Time for play keeps them happy and carefree
Our dream for children, we share today -
to live, to learn, to grow and play.
Girls and boys are equal we say,
And no one is wed before their eighteenth birthday.
Our dream for children, we share today -
to live, to learn, to grow and play.
Dignity, Equality, Justice for all
No matter how different, no matter how small.
Our dream for children, we share today -
to live, to learn, to grow and play.
-CRY team
to live, to learn, to grow and play.
For all, a happy, healthy childhood we seek.
No matter how young, no matter how meek
Our dream for children, we share today -
to live, to learn, to grow and play.
For each, good education is a must,
A school and good teachers is right and just.
Our dream for children, we share today -
to live, to learn, to grow and play.
Nutritious food fills every tummy
For every child, daddy and mummy!
Our dream for children, we share today -
to live, to learn, to grow and play.
No hours of work should any child see,
Time for play keeps them happy and carefree
Our dream for children, we share today -
to live, to learn, to grow and play.
Girls and boys are equal we say,
And no one is wed before their eighteenth birthday.
Our dream for children, we share today -
to live, to learn, to grow and play.
Dignity, Equality, Justice for all
No matter how different, no matter how small.
Our dream for children, we share today -
to live, to learn, to grow and play.
-CRY team
Run to Make Change that stays!
Started in 2004, the Standard Chartered Mumbai Marathon brings together people from all walks of life with the common mission to 'Run for a Cause'. Over the years CRY’s focus has been ensuring every child his/her right to education, and the right to learn, play and grow to his/her full potential. Thousands of supporters have pledged their support and joined in our endeavour, by running for education.
Join the excitement and feel the momentum building, as supporters, enthusiasts and volunteers gear up for the marathon. From posters to interactive initiatives, several innovative ways help us reach our message across to people like you.
The time has come again to get together in teams, and partner with us to make this dream a reality.
If you want to get your own Marathon T-shirt, Visit CRY World
Get the CRY Marathon badge on your Facebook and twitter profiles.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)