Name: Aarushi- Shelter Home for Girls
Location: Gurgaon
Number of Children: 52
Manager: Shanta Nag
Description: Arushi literally means the “ray of hope.” Arushi, the first girl child shelter of Salaam Baalak Trust came into existence on 4th October 1999 with the support of USAID and FHI. Children Hope has been supporting the project since 2002. It started with five girls in a rented space in West Delhi. The rented space was unable to accommodate the increasing number of girls therefore a building was constructed, keeping in mind the requirements of the children. In May 2008 Arushi was shifted to Gurgaon to a building owned by Salaam Baalak Trust. Today Arushi has a capacity of 55 beds, a spacious theatre area, a computer lab, two classrooms, 6 rooms with bunk beds, a large dining space, a kitchen and a garden area in front. Little things like a personal cupboard, somebody to serve meals, a counselor to be friends with and a curtain in the room gives the children here a sense of belonging. During these 11 successful years we have benefitted almost 886 female children with shelter, education, medical assistance, psycho- social support and employment to lead a life of their choice and be part of mainstream society. Presently we have 52 girls in the age group of 5- 18 years. 21 girls are attending formal education at Anantam School & Little Flower School- Gurgaon, 13 are enrolled in the national open school, 15 are in non-formal education, 1 is in graduation level from IGNOU and 2 are attending special education at Orkids. Our girls are undergoing trainings in fashion designing, beauty culture, training in 5 star hotels, computers with NIIT and hobby trainings in pottery, fabric printing and embroidery, clay modeling and very special arts for the physically challenged. The medical area is monitored by a medical social worker and a doctor visits twice a month. For investigations or emergencies we have a civil hospital. We have full investigations twice a year to monitor the health of every child. Periodic sessions are held to educate the girls on health and hygiene. We have a mental health program and a counselor to address the emotional and psychological issues of the girls. Extra-curricular activities like martial arts, yoga, outdoor games and dance are taught for skill and personality development.
Services: The following services are provided to the children: safe shelter, education, clothing and nutrition, recreation, sports, health care, mental health, life skills education, vocational training, job placement, repatriation and volunteers’ support.
Goals: To provide for a safe and nurturing shelter to girls living on the street and in vulnerable situations; a healthy childhood and conditions for a secure future with a life of dignity; and thus empowering them to become citizens at par with others.
Number of Children: Arushi shelters about 52 girls, ranging between 4 to 18 years.
Recognition: We are on the website of iam gurgaon under the head Gurgaon NGO’s, an initiative of Gurgaon Citizens. In the last quarter of 2010 a program called “Childline se Dosti” was organized by Childline Gurgaon at the Arushi-Shelter home and was published in one of the local newspapers – as Arushi supports the childline and children are given shelter at this home . The program was sponsored by Big Bazaar.
Volunteer: Through a volunteers program of SBT coordinated by an exclusive volunteer coordinator, around 100 national and international volunteers get associated with us in a year and support children of SBT in various ways. They contribute immensely to the training of children in many areas. In Arushi too, the volunteers have been imparting various expertise and skills to our children on education, the English language, drawing, painting and more. Most importantly, children feel more appreciated and cared by more people around them.
Address:
Aarushi Home for the Girl Child
Plot no. 819, pocket-E, Sector 21
Gurgaon, Haryana
Phone: +0124-2365366
