VOICE - Voluntary Organization of Community Enterprise

Project Brief: VOICE is a project that teaches children at rail stations in India.
Project Type: Special Needs (description)
Primary Focus: children from slums (description)

Secondary Focus: to go to formal school

Area: Urban
Supporting Chapter Contact: Boston
Status: completed - requirements ended
Project Steward: Mugdha Velankar
Project Partner(s): Garima Bhatia
Other Contacts:
Project Address: , C-2, Triveni,Gilbert HIll, J.P. Road,Andheri,
MAHARASHTRA  400058
Tel: 91-22-2624-4304
Stewarding Chapter: Boston
Jul 2006BostonUSD 5000
Dec 2005BostonINR 123552
Dec 2005SeattleINR 458900
Dec 2005BostonINR 779800
Dec 2005LondonINR 161160
Dec 2005St. LouisINR 1047571
Dec 2005ColoradoINR 678868
Jun 2003CarbondaleUSD 2000
Dec 2003SeattleUSD 10000
Dec 2003St. LouisUSD 2000
Dec 2002BostonUSD 2600
Dec 2001BostonUSD 2500
Dec 2001SeattleUSD 3000
Dec 2001Silicon ValleyUSD 3600
Dec 2001St. LouisUSD 5500
Dec 2001Work an HourUSD 3250
Dec 2000BostonUSD 5300
Dec 2000SeattleUSD 2300
Dec 2000St. LouisUSD 2900
Dec 2000Work an HourUSD 4350
Dec 1999BostonUSD 2300
Dec 1999St. LouisUSD 3400

Total = $130846.7518

Asha-St. Louis is supporting the "Akshar-Ank Anubhav" non-formal educational program at Bandra railway station that is tailored to the needs of street children - flexible hours, relevant curricula and vocational/skill training.
The Akshar-Ank Anubhav program is aimed at children between the ages of 3 and 14, who live and work on the railway platforms. VOICE representatives are in constant touch with them, earning their trust and at the same time urging upon them the imperative of education. Today, approximately 200 children are being educated under such programmes and because of this interface 125 are now enrolled in Municipal/Private schools.
The main objective is to mould this less fortunate children into responsible and contributing members of the society. By educating them they also want to discourage these children from getting into bad vices, at the same time
VOICE is attempting to teach them some basic skills that will eventually encourage and help them to get a job outside the station.
VOICE is a non-governmental organization working towards the overall development of the street child. VOICE was established in 1991 and its core members include development professionals, doctors and voluntary social workers. Since its inception, VOICE has focused on education, healthcare, development of education material, public awareness and staff training. Classes are held by the volunteers on various railway platforms where the children work, with a focus on teaching the children how to read and write, counseling them in matters of hygiene and family related issues, and also encouraging them to join formal school.