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Programs — Section @ GCI World

Programs

The Schooling Project

The Schooling Project

The Schooling Project is the flagship program of GCI.

We believe that education is the most important requirement to build positively contributing citizens, upholding equality of all people and learning to live in harmony with the environment.

The Schooling Project was initiated in 2002 with support from friends of GCI, led by Suresh Venkat, Abhay Toshniwal, Sneha and Tushad Talati, Chatura Padaki, Shabari Padaki and Nitya Rao.

Our belief is that every child must have access to formal school and holistic learning to enhance their potential and inspire them to discover and follow their dreams.

The Schooling Project was initiated in 2002 with support from friends of GCI, led by Suresh Venkat, Abhay Toshniwal and Nitya Rao, Tushad and Sneha Talati, Chatura Padaki, and Shabari. Their belief: that every child must have access to formal school and holistic learning to enhance their potential and inspire them to discover and follow their dreams.

In 2002 five friends pooled money to keep 10 children from vulnerable and poor families in school. Over the years the number of children steadily increased, as did the number of friends supportingthis initiative. This group supports 300 students with part school fees, uniform and books.

What Guides Our Work

The children supported by The Schooling Project come from challenging social and economic circumstances and most often difficult family backgrounds. Many are rescued from child labour, some are rescued from trafficking, and a majority are at risk of being trafficked. Many who are forced to drop out of school, are counseled along with their families, to re-join and complete school education.

A five pronged approach continues to guide our work:

  1. an integral general education,
  2. a means of preparing for occupational fields and for effective participation in the world of work
  3. an aspect of lifelong learning and a preparation for responsible citizenship with values and ethics
  4. an instrument for promoting environmentally sound sustainable development,
  5. a method of self enhancement to facilitating poverty alleviation,

Since 2013, the Sansera Foundation of Sansera Engineering supports 450 children annually, in 10 schools.

Since 2003, The Schooling project has succeeded in supporting:

Children's Creativity Centre

Ananya Children's Creativity Centre

Our Children's Creativity Centre opened in L.R. Nagar in March of 2020.

Global Concern India (GCI) through its flagship program The Schooling Project, works to promote and encourage scholastic education among children from especially marginalized and vulnerable communities in our society, including children rescued and those-at-risk of being trafficked, children forced to labour, beg and school dropouts.

Global Concerns India (GCI) facilitates an 'after-school-sessions' called 'Assisted Learning Program', that augments scholastic education. The sessions are conducted inside the govt. aided schools premises and at the Centre in a slum (L.R.Nagar). This involves endorsing and elevating competencies of children and young people on creativity, critical thinking, ability to organize, social and communication skills, adaptability, problem-solving, ability to cooperate on a democratic basis, and actively promote interactions that are respectful and dignified. A team of volunteer Mentors conduct scholastic and life-long learning sessions for children.

Children's Creativity Centre-The land for the was purchased with funds raised in 2011 by friends of GCI who organized a Golf Tournament, at the Banglore Golf Club. In 2018 the Southern Lodge of Freemasons stepped up with the funds needed for constructing the building itself.

The Global Concerns Trust and Basis Education Foundation (Basis) funded doors, windows, electrical wiring, and sanitary fittings, tiles for the first floor.

GCI is runs the Basis Digital Ethical Literacy Unit at CCC. The goal is to facilitate children and youth between the ages of 8-18 digital skills and the wisdom needed to integrate the technology of our times into their thinking and decision-making.

Combatting Human Trafficking

Combatting Human Trafficking

GCI's emphasis remains in addressing violence against women and children, living in vulnerable situations of violence, conflict or allied challenges.

Human trafficking technically is labelled within the realms of organised crimes. Crimes of sexual exploitation, organ trade, pornography and forced/bonded labour through the trafficking of people. GCI works with a network of CSOs & the Govt. to combat Human Trafficking and supporting survivors of trafficking in the restoration of their lives.

GCI is passionately committed to the prevention, rescue, protection, prosecution, home placement, and rehabilitation of children and individuals, prosecuting those perpetrators who exploit them through human trafficking. By partnering with various government departments, we ensure effective intervention in trafficking cases at all levels.

As a vital member of the State High Power Committee and the State District (Bengaluru Urban) Legal Services Authority Against Human Trafficking, GCI plays a crucial role in shaping policies. Our involvement in discussions with policymakers, civil society organizations (CSOs), international bodies, and corporations serves to raise awareness and drive action against exploitation and slavery. Together, we strive to create spaces that will ensure a future where everyone is free from the horrors of trafficking, exploitation, and all forms of slavery.

Our program involves rescue, prevention, protection, prosecution, rehabilitation and restoration, in cooperation with civil society organizations working on various aspects that challenge and address human trafficking.

GCI and it's volunteers are challenging the myths, perceptions, practices, and attitudes that force children and women to be sold as commodities, forced to endure gender absed violence and face challenges of accessing systemic justice.

GCI is the Convenor of Mukti - An Alliance Against Human Trafficking and Bonded Labour in Karnataka. This is a collective of over 200 registered organizations in Karnataka, working aganist human trafficking and it's various facets of exploitation, servitude and oppression.

Adaikalam for Women

Adaikalam for Women

GCI is fundraising to add an additional two floors to the

Ananya Children's Creativity Centre;
the top floor will be a dedicated space for women.
It is to be named "Adaikalam"
which means "place of solace"
(the third floor will be for the Sanmathi Ethical Digital Literacy program)

The Story

A few weeks ago one of the many strong, powerful, beautiful women that GCI works with lamented that every member of her family expected her to be doing household chores all the time, even when there was nothing else to be done at that moment (85% of these women work outside their homes as domestic help, street vendors, street sweepers, work in shops or small hotels cleaning and cutting vegetables, etc.).

She dreamily joked how happy she would be to go to a place where, for a little while, she would not be expected to do anything, a place where she could just be.

Such a simple idea, really, but all the other women sitting in the meeting retorted: "such a place is non-existent for women like us."

We asked the women what they would expect in such a place, if such a place could exist. Almost all of them said, "Nothing. We could just go, sit around and do nothing, maybe talk to someone, watch a film, sing songs, play some games." They mentioned several indoor games that they used to play when they were girls.

Adaikalam will be a place where women can feel a sense of belonging, regain their inner strength, join a yoga session, calm their minds, laugh, play games they have almost forgotten and be themselves without anyone expecting them to do anything for anyone else, even if just for a little while!