Project title:
Sparsha – “We Care for You” – A support system for COVID19 impacted children belonging to financially marginalised families.
Vision:
Ensure continuity in education of every child impacted by COVID19 and minimise the socio-economic impact on the families.
Mission:
Working in collaboration with Donors, Corporates, State and Central Government for the rehabilitation and the well-being of COVID19 affected children and families in the field of education, daily needs, vocational training and job placement.
Objectives:
1. This program will act as a bridge between ‘who want to help’ with those ‘who need help’ in fulfilling the below two objectives
2. Provide educational empowerment to about 2000 children who belong to below the poverty line and marginalized communities, who lost one or both parents due to COVID19
3. Rehabilitation and well-being of corona virus affected families, for their socio-economic, health empowerment and holistic development
Get Program Information
Geography:
Sparsha “We Care for You” project activities will be implemented and monitored across 31 districts of Karnataka State
Beneficiaries:
We intend to impact about 2000 Children and their immediate family members
Beneficiary Criteria:
Families affected by COVID19 and whose monthly income is less than Rs.15,000/-
Some of the working categories listed for illustration:
Corona Warriors, Hospital Nurses, paramedical staff, Security personnel, BBMP Poura Karmikas, Teachers of unaided schools and others under this category.
Daily wage earners, Street vendors, Rag pickers, Drivers (auto rickshaw & cabs), BMTC drivers and conductors, Construction workers, Urban homeless, Garment workers, Maids & domestic helpers, marginal farmers, small businesses, migrated people in search of employment and disabled earning members.
Stakeholders:
1. Government Departments
2. Immediate Family members
3. Corporate Donors & Volunteers
4. Individual Donors & Volunteers
5. Civil Society Organisations
Introduction to Sparsha Trust
- Sparsha Trust® is a registered, charitable Trust that started in 2005. The Trust is working for the holistic development of needy and vulnerable children, and is focused on protection of Child Rights.
- It identifies, rescues and rehabilitates children from 6 to 18 years old from very poor families. After identification, the children are enrolled in different shelters and day care centres managed by Sparsha Trust.
- These shelter homes and day care centres provide the children with food, accommodation, medical care, quality education, life-skill training, vocational training and reintegration with parents.
- Till date, it has reached out to more than 8000 children, and successfully rehabilitated more than 3000 working and street children, enrolling them in various schools including local Government schools or state run schools. It also operates a night shelter for urban homeless people with an average of 45 persons staying every night
Role of Sparsha Trust:
1. Through this project, Sparsha Trust is aiming to develop a concept and a plan for five years to connect with the children & their families who are affected.
2. Sparsha Trust will act as a bridge between the Needy and the Supporters, and ensure the genuine beneficiaries avail the benefits in a transparent manner.
3. Sparsha Trust will channelise the necessary financial & knowledge resources, with the support of Stakeholders
Karnataka COVID19 Status as on 13th May 2021
(Note: Data was compiled from media, google, war room and state health department reports)
a) Pandemic across 31 districts of Karnataka State from March 2020 and till date has affected lakhs of families, people and children. The Pandemic has created threat to physical health, and also impacted psychological, emotional, relational, social and economic lives of these families.
b) Many primary bread winners of these families have lost lives due to various reasons, like lack of proper care and medical facilities.
i. Many children have lost their parents and in some cases have single parent. They are left uncared.
ii. Families are now struggling to have one meal a day and are unable to send their children to schools to continue education.
The pandemic situation has affected most families and has forced children to work instead of continuing education due to which there is an increase in child labour, child marriage, begging and illegal adoptions. Stress has led to anxiety and trauma and children have left homes and are subjected to sexual abuse, harassment, child trafficking and other illegal activities 2,053,191 people are so far affected in Karnataka. 1,440,621 out of 2,053,191 have recovered. Sadly 20,368 could not survive.
Approximately 15% of the deaths relate to the families having children below 18 years of age (~3000). Approximately 6000 children are affected (considering 2 children per family). Of these 6000, about 50% belong to lower socio-economic status. Thus, the beneficiary group is about 3000 children
Sparsha’s aid to the Impacted Families
Every impacted Children and Families, will go through these typical stages in a progressive manner towards normalcy. This project has outlined primary objectives impacting some of the stages, however will deliver impact across all other stages even to a limited extent.
1. Emotional and Psychological Support to the children and immediate family members
2. Fulfil their basic survival needs
3. Ensure children continue education
4. Necessary Social entitlement for children and immediate family members
5. Job placement or self-employment for financial stability
Problem Statement – Response – Impact
| Sl. No. | Problem Statement | Project Deliverable | Impact |
| 1 | Pandemic has created Health hazards among families | Family health awareness & vaccination. Facilitate Medical kits. Referrals to Medical facilities & hospitalization in their vicinity. | Health awareness has been inculcated among family members that include safe hygiene practices |
| 2 | Anxiety, emotional disturbance and trauma – among children and remaining family members | Provide Counselling to children and family members, in addressing psychological, emotional and personal problems | Children & Family Members are able to manage the anxiety, stress & trauma effectively. |
| 3 | Loss of income due to: Death of primary bread winner (including other earning family members) and employment termination | Referral and job placement. Networking with local banks and providing social entitlement | Family members connected to job opportunities. Linked to Government schemes and Banks to improve their earnings |
| 4 | Denied educational opportunity to children due to the loss of their family or the bread earner | Education support, scholarship and hostel facility for school going children | Ensure children continue to get quality education under the Right to Education Act |
| 5 | Forced child labour practices among school going children, Child marriages, and illegal adoption between enrolled families | Create awareness among parents on the violation of child rights and its adverse impact on the child & family growth (Child protection, Care, Education and Development) | Awareness among the parents and family members and the impact of violation of child rights |
| 6 | Lack of earning skills to support family livelihood | Skill development trainings and providing Job placement opportunities | Acquired skills of other family members ensure employment opportunities and access to social welfare schemes and social entitlements |
Project Key Milestones
| Sl. No. | Milestone | Timeline |
| 1 | Concept and Proposal Development | May 2021 |
| 2 | Formation of Core committee | Jun 2021 |
| 3 | Appointment of Working Team members | Jun – Jul 2021 |
| 4 | Need Assessment & Data collection | Jun – Dec 2021 |
| 5 | Detailed Project Plan | Jul – Aug 2021 |
| 6 | Fund generation and Execution partners on boarding | Jul 2021 onwards |
| 7 | Project Implementation | Jun 2021 – May 2026 |
| 8 | Project Progress Report to Stakeholders | Twice in a year |
This is a Five Year Project, starting from June 2021 till May 2026
Financial Governance:
1. Few members from ‘Sparsha We Care for You Core Committee’ will be responsible for Funds review and approval
2. Dedicated Bank account for this project – inflow and outflow of funds
3. Quarterly Financial audit by the Chartered Accountant
4. Annual Financial statement to Corporate donors
