In 2010, Jeevika Development Society began its journey towards ensuring the protection and promotion of child rights, in the district of South 24-Parganas, and ever since, the organization has dedicated its efforts towards creating a safe and nurturing environment for children especially girls, awareing them about their rights, and providing them with the support they need to thrive. Recently, we have expanded our work and now, we work on both sides of the Hooghly River across Howrah district and South 24-Parganas (encompassing mainly 6 blocks of Budge Budge-I & II, Bishnupur- I & II, Thakurpukur Maheshtala and Basanti). The main idea leading to the formation of the group and that of the volunteers was to act as a support group and provide assistance to other adolescent girls vulnerable to early marriage.

Child Rights and Protection

Awareness and Advocacy: Jeevika works tirelessly to raise awareness about the importance of child rights and the need to protect vulnerable children. The organization seeks to educate the public and policymakers about the issues facing children today through campaigns, workshops, and community outreach programs, especially about Sexual & Reproductive Health Rights (SRHR) practices, prevention of Early Child Marriage (ECM), Child Trafficking (CT), Sexual Abuse (CSA) and others. Apart from general awareness programs, Jeevika has also been conducting school awareness campaigns to aware the youths about their rights and also about gender, sexuality, and other relevant topics.

Our work with the children

Jeevika’s basic procedure of operating with the children in its operational areas is through:

Jeevika envisions a world where every child has the opportunity to grow up in a supportive and caring environment, free from exploitation and abuse. By focusing on child rights, the organization aims to create a society where children are valued, protected, and given the chance to reach their full potential.

In its pursuit to prevent Early Child Marriage and to reach out to the larger community, Jeevika developed the first group of 25 adolescent girls named Moner Kotha, consisting of girls aged between 13 to 18 years in 2017. A space was created for the young girls in a local village at Samali, near Joka so that they could get together, feel safe, speak freely, share their dreams or aspirations, learn about many things through fun activities and at the same time break the gender stereotypes. Initially, the girls were from the local village of Samali however, over time girls from neighbouring villages have also joined and become part of similar activities. At present, Jeevika has a total strength of about more than 200 children who are part of its 8 Adolescent Groups (6 being girls groups and 2 mixed groups).

Counselling & Psychosocial Support: Jeevika understands the importance of addressing the emotional and psychological needs of children who are victims of child exploitation or have faced serious trauma. Through counseling services and support groups, the organization helps children heal from their past experiences and build resilience for the future. Apart from these, Jeevika occasionally also arranges for career councelling for the children so that they come to a decision about their career goals and help them narrow down the field of possibilities and provide direction.

Education and Empowerment: Jeevika believes education is the key to breaking the cycle of poverty and vulnerability. The organization often provides educational support to children from marginalized communities, ensuring that they have access to quality schooling and the resources they need to succeed. Besides this, the organization also offers sponsorships for various Vocational Trainings like Digital Learning through Computer, etc.; by organizing Capacity-Building Training for its Adolescents through Football coaching, Wenlido training, etc. and their mental well-being through DMT (Dance Movement Therapy)

Legal Support: The organization provides legal support to children who have been victims of abuse, exploitation, or neglect. By connecting them with experienced lawyers and advocates, Jeevika also ensures that these children have access to justice and can seek redress for the violations they have experienced.

Collaboration and Partnerships: Jeevika works closely with government agencies, other non-profit organizations, and stakeholders to create a holistic approach to child rights. By collaborating with like-minded partners, the organization can amplify its impact and reach more children in need.

Rescue of Children: Jeevika also works to rescuing and protecting children who are in need of help and support. The organization works tirelessly to rescue children from dangerous and harmful situations, such as forced child marriage, elopement, trafficking, and abuse.