Helping children get a better future, NGO Generation Yuvaa is making the city proud

Working with the sole aim of helping child-beggars lead the normal lives they deserve, Generation Yuvaa NGO marks a decade of starting off at the grass-root level of this huge challenge. Sayantika Adak unfolds the story in this article and we are so proud of her.

It all started when the Founder of the NGO, Naresh, quit his plans of higher studies and dedicated his life to understanding and fighting the issues that endanger children’s future in the city. In the year 2007, fueled by his desire to give back to the society, Naresh along with Rakesh, founded the Welfare Society, Generation Yuvaa.

Their search took them to the darker underbelly of the begging industry. From abusive parents to whitener-addicted kids, they saw it all. During their journey they discovered that the school dropouts, child laborers and child beggars neither had the means to study nor any intention to. In the beginning, they tried establishing these kids into various orphanages around town and even admitted them to government schools. It didn’t work as the kids kept returning to their lives.

Noting that the most affected lot were the children begging on the streets, they decided to rehabilitate them through the NGO Generation Yuvaa. However noble the idea was, implementation was not easy. The kids resisted leaving their source of income, their parents harassed them and the society didn’t approve of having such delinquents staying nearby. But Generation Yuvaa’s core team persevered and today, nearly 5 years after the establishment of this welfare home, they are happy to have reduced the number of child beggars in the city by 80%.

The rehabilitation plan has three stages. First they reduce the income by distributing pamphlets which discourage people from giving alms. Next, they meet and counsel the parents and bring the kids to the home. Finally, for the next 6-8 months, the kids are counseled and tutored in-house, following which they are enrolled in private schools. Their education, food and living costs are all covered through sponsorships. They also run a nursery and a craft store which gives the older kids an employment opportunity while adding to the home’s funds.

Today, the home has two campuses, one on NH5 that is home to all the girls and a branch in MVP colony where the boys live. The 175 kids of the home are in the age group of 3 – 17 years. While the younger ones are still taking baby steps towards leading a normal life within the society, the older ones are all prepped up to claim what is rightfully theirs in the world. There is also a resident Granny, caretakers, volunteers and 3 ‘Mothers’ who facilitate the day-to-day management. The mothers are rehabilitated women who used to beg due to unfortunate circumstances. They’re now model mothers who care for every child in the home like their own.

The founding team claims that their biggest achievement is the experimental village constructed within the premises of the home on NH5. It has several huts, which are used as a sickbay, tuition center and activities center. They hope to expand this village to provide homes to the families of these kids so that they can stay in their family unit while acquiring education.

For notifying team Generation Yuvaa about a child beggar, contact: 9985266229, 9052547538

For sponsorship schemes, donations and volunteering, visit www.genyuvaa.com