IN 142- Project Blooming Buds An overall development of children in 40 villages of Namakkal District in Tamilnadu

Background

HIV epidemic has emerged as a major public health problem in India, within a span of last five years, threatening the gains of development made during the post independence period. The prevalence of the infection in all parts of the country highlights the need for multi-focused action to contain the epidemic. Namakkal district in Tamilnadu is amongst the worst affected by the HIV/AIDS epidemic in the country both in terms of prevalence and impact. The HIV prevalence rate of 4.4 % (2003) and 2.8% (2004) among the antenatal clinic attendees is among the highest in the state. This is in contrast to the mean of 1% for Tamilnadu. The high prevalence rate among antenatal clinic attendees highlights the extent of vulnerability among women of child-bearing age and general community at large.

Key contributing factors to such high prevalence levels include the presence of a large trucking industry in Namakkal which employs roughly 2,00,000 men and adolescent boys in various aspects of the industry and a rig industry with about 5000 rigs, each engaging about 5-7 people who travel as far north as Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan to repair and maintain rigs.

AIDS orphans, defined as children who have lost their father/mother or both parents to HIV/AIDS before reaching the age of 15, are predicted to be high in number in Namakkal District. The extended family system, which would traditionally provide support for orphans, is greatly strained in communities most affected by AIDS. When these HIV/AIDS infected /affected children are cared for by other family members, this places an added financial burden on these care givers. After their parent's death, children can lose their rights to the family land or house. The children often must shoulder responsibility for their care and that of younger siblings.

Without education, work skills or family support, children may end up living on the streets and are engaged in hazardous occupations. These children are especially vulnerable, often becoming sexually active at an early age and at risk from HIV themselves. Poverty is an overwhelming problem among them. These orphans not only lack money, but basics such as clean water, drugs, food, shelter and essential medical supplies. They do not have information about how to protect themselves, and have poor access to doctors, nurses, and other health care facilities. The needs for the children on quality education, parental/guardian support, additional nutritional support and financial support is much higher and at of utmost need. The lives of children who do not have HIV themselves are affected when family members have AIDS. Families face increased poverty and stress because adults have to leave their generous paid employment, or are too sick to farm their land. Women may be ill themselves, as well as caring for other sick family members and looking after young children. Girls in particular often become the care providers for sick relatives and their brothers and sisters. Sometimes children have to leave school to look for work or care for other family members. In addition, denial or neglect of girls' human rights results in gender discrimination, giving young women little access to socio- economic opportunities.

The Project: IN 142

At this outset, Terre Des Hommes, Nederlands supports WORD to implement Project Blooming Buds which aims for an overall development of children in 40 villages of Namakkal block is being implemented from September 2007 with the funding support of Terre des Hommes-Nederlands. The project activities aim for the overall development of children in terms of health, education, psycho-social and socio-economic development.

In the health side WORD has made a remarkable achievement in the improvement of anemic status of the children.

The provision of nutritional food supplements, promotion of kitchen gardens and the nutritional demonstrations are being fetched the desirable results. Other health referral services include referrals to VCTC, PPTCT services, Opportunistic Infection Referrals, CD4 & ART.

A residential school for 60 drop-out children is being run by WORD in Namakkal under this project.  Two children have been selected for Mathagondappalli Education Centre at Hosur during the academic year 2007-08. This gives tremendous boost and motivation to the teaching staff and the project team to deliver the maximum results. Other 7 children are about to mainstream in the formal stream.                     A vocational training institute offers training in tailoring with embroidery and computer trade at present. This vocational training institute aims to provide earning skills besides learning skills. Considering the importance of socio-economic development, the socially and economically deprived families are being given interest free loan assistance to initiate various income generation activities. The women living with HIV/AIDS have got the assistance to start micro-enterprise like petty shop, goat rearing & doll-selling and started to get more income.

IN 142- Project Blooming Buds
(An overall development of children in 40 villages of Namakkal District in Tamilnadu)

Buildings for Residential School and Vocational Training Center:

TdH also supports for the construction of the residential school and the vocational training centre in Namakkal for our organisation. The buildings were inaugurated on 23rd November 2009 by TdH-NL Regional Director,   Mr. Lei Brouns in the presence of Mr. Meru Miller, Program Officer, TdHNL-India in a glittering ceremony held at Namakkal.  The detailed summary of the program report can be accessed through the following file.

8 students from WORD have got admission in Mathagondappalli Model School (MMS) in Hosur for Class III for the academic year 2010-2011.

Mr. Fons, Regional Communication Officer, Terre des Hommes- South Asia visited blooming buds project on 2nd August 2010. He visited Namakkal and interacted with the blooming buds staff team at the project office, visited the residential home for children and visited Puzhavarpalayam, one of the service village under blooming buds project to get to know the results through the various services from the project activities. Click here for the photo gallery.