Shilpa Child Protection Centre currently provides secure shelter and protection to 50 girls displaced by war, natural disaster and family breakdown. As well as a caring home environment, the girls have access to a number of services such as education and training, counselling, healthcare, and sports and recreation. Shilpa aims to rehabilitate the girls and, if appropriate, reunites them with their families.
Upon arrival at the centre, the girls’ immediate needs are addressed. Often malnourished and traumatised, Shilpa nurses the girls back to health by providing them with the care and support they so badly need, often including a number of counseling and therapy sessions with trained practitioners. They can then start attending remedial education classes, which prepare them for (re)introduction into formal education. Within weeks, or sometimes days, depending on each individual girl’s situation, they are enrolled in nearby state schools. For older girls who are unable or unwilling to attend school, Shilpa runs a number of vocational training courses.
While staying at the centre, the girls have access to a wide range of sports and recreational activities such as music, dance and visual art. These activities boost their health, build their self-esteem, improve their academic performance, and help them deal with trauma.
“I have seen so much injustice doled out to children that my ambition is to fight for children’s rights by becoming a lawyer or a policewoman.” Asuntha, aged 14
Once they reach 18, the girls leave the centre and are placed in secure accommodation with subsidised rent for up to three years. Shilpa also helps them to access further education, training and employment, enabling them to achieve full independence.
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