All our staff and volunteers are based at Mango House. From there an
outreach programme is run mainly in two local slums. Below is a breakdown of
some of the help we provide
Arts and Crafts
As well as getting the children into school, we continue to help by providing homework classes for the school-going children and also provide informal education for the other children. Another main aspect
of our work is Craft and Art work. This is often overlooked at other schools, but our volunteers produce a huge range of activities for the children. We are also starting sewing classes.
Food and Health Care
We have a varied menu that includes fish, chicken, egg and vegetables.
Lunch is cooked and packed at Mango House and delivered to the children
in the two local slums. As well as the children on the register, we invite other working children to join us for a meal during the day. In the mornings, for the younger children we provide juice and biscuits. In the afternoon we provide all the children with milk, fruit and vitamins.
Keeping Clean and Tidy
Each child is given three sets of clothes, a towel, nail brush and toothbrush.
Every couple of months the children are given a new set of clothes in
exchange for an old set.
Stars
We have a star system to reward good behaviour. Each child has the chance to earn stars for being helpful, working hard and helping others. These stars are 'banked' at the end of each month and can be used to buy items such as pencils, pens, clothes and toys.
 Education
Our main objective is to give the children a chance to have an education and provide a way out of the slum. Each year we provide all the requirements to attend local government and private schools. This year alone we have helped over 100 children with all their educational needs. We provide uniforms, shoes, bags, raincoats, books and stationery, and support them all through the year. We also provide constant incentives to keep the children in school (eg
rice supplements for good attendance).
Health Care
Health has become a major part of what we do. Most of the work started by providing first aid to the children in the slum who often get cuts, burns and skin conditions due to the environment in which they live. The injuries themselves are often minor but the chance of infection is high. These cuts and burns keep our volunteers busy as the children always show the volunteers each and every cut they have.
As well as these minor requirements, we have had to deal with cases of Leprosy, Malaria, T.B., Rabies and third degree burns, with one 12 year old girl receiving burns on 75% of her body
 Fruit
We provide fruit to around 150 children every day. The children love
receiving the fruit which provides vital extra nutrients
Clothes, Toothpaste, Soap Etc..
We are often given good quality clothes, toothpaste, soap, etc. We give
out supplies to the two local slums where we mainly work and other slums
as appropriate. Most of the children we meet are wearing inadequate clothing that is either being held together by a safety pin or is five sizes too big, or perhaps not wearing anything at all. Giving out clothes is quite a difficult task as the clothes need to be sorted into size order and then matched up to the children. But to see the smiles and the difference a set of clothes can make is amazing.
Celebrations (Diwali, Christmas, Eid, Holi...)
 As well as the more serious side of the work we do we also like to give the children a bit of fun and celebrate most holidays, Hindu, Muslim and Christian. A couple of our favourites are Holi (The Hindu festival of colour) and Christmas.
Holi
During Holi we go down to our two local slums and celebrate by handing out 'colour' (power paint) and water bombs to the children and then run as the children cover each other (and the volunteers and staff) with bright colour. The children enjoy it as it's messy and allows them to run wild for 30 minutes.
Christmas
Each year we try and give out as many wrapped presents as possible. Visitors and supporters provide the presents that we then sort through and wrap up. We then dress up in festive attire and drive around Goa distributing the presents as we go. Last year we gave out wrapped presents, fruit and sweets to over 1000 children. This is all dependent on the amount of items we are given throughout the year. |