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February 2009
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| Recent building and renovation work has provided a much needed shelter for vulnerable girls in Siliguri which was previously unavailable. Renovations have created a safe environment for girls who are picked up off the streets or from stations by CINI staff or the police. The shelter provides girls with a safe and clean place to stay. Whilst their immediate needs are being met, they are able to receive counselling, with the hope to reunite them with their families if appropriate, or to admit them into a local boarding school, or help them access vocational training, so they have the skills needed to live independently in later life. |
Background
Siliguri is located in North Eastern India, neighbouring Nepal, Bhutan and Bangladesh. Malnutrition is extensive among women and children, particularly the poorest migrants. Large numbers of trucks pass through the town, and with the growth of tourism (people pass through on their way to Darjeeling) and the seasonal migration of labour, there has been high levels of trafficking in children and women, who are subsequently at risk of being sexually exploited.
Many children who have been physically or mentally abused, or have simply run away from home looking for a better life, end up on the streets or at the train station. Large numbers of runaway children congregate around the train and bus stations, surviving by begging, pick pocketing and hawking. Before this building work was complete, there was no licensed shelter for vulnerable girls.
 Expected outputs of the girls' shelter
- Each year 100-150 girls will be provided shelter and other services, with facilities for 15 to 20 girls staying on the premises at any one time;
- The children will receive nutritious meals, and access to health services;
- The girls will have access to education services;
- There will also be access to counselling;
- Childline staff will answer distress calls and stay in touch with the girls who have left the centre;
- CINI staff will talk to the girls, visit their families and consider if the girls can safely return home. Where this is not appropriate, CINI will secure the girls' admission to boarding schools or vocational training centres.
Renovation
Between November 2008 and February 2009, the two storey building, owned by CINI, was renovated to provide a safe place for girls to stay. The first floor, terrace, mezzanine room, courtyard, backyard and reception areas have all been renovated, and the exterior of the building has been painted. The building is now an attractive and friendly safe place for girls in need.
There is now a kitchen, dining room, a food storage room, two bathrooms, and a dormitory with lockers for the girls to keep their belongings. All doors and windows have been painted, new electrical fittings and fans have been installed, and each room is equipped with solar powered lights, which will help reduce the carbon footprint of the shelter, and minimise running costs.
The building has been renovated into a safe, clean, child-friendly haven for girls in distress. Safety precautions have been considered: The staircase has been fitted with grills; all electrical equipment has been earthed; there are separate entrances to the reception and the shelter; and the boundary wall, which was weak, has been replaced with strengthened walls.
Key activities undertaken
- A new kitchen has been installed with cabinets providing good storage facilities;
- A storage unit has been built opposite to the kitchen to store mattresses and plastic mats;
- A dining room has been fitted with two dining tables and four benches;
- The two bathrooms have been tiled and painted, and the taps have been connected to the solar powered hot water tank. This provides girls with hot water facilities for washing;
- Girls are able to keep their personal belongings safe in their own lockers;
Workman installing the solar panels
- Solar panels for electricity and hot water have been installed on the terrace, and a new 200 litre water tank was installed. This is not only economical, therefore helping to keep costs low, but is also environmentally friendly;
- The mezzanine room has been decorated, to be used to conduct counselling sessions;
- The terrace has been painted with murals of cartoon characters representing issues about child rights. This is a safe space for children to play. In addition, the terrace has been covered with corrugated sheets and galvanised mesh between the roof and the boundary wall to deter children from climbing out.
Children playing at the shelter’s inauguration |
Exterior front boundary wall with paintings
Solar panels working on the roof of the shelter
Outside space providing safe play areas
- The courtyard and backyard have been created into safe and attractive spaces for children to play and relax in. The ground has been levelled and the floor has been tiled. Swings and two seesaws have been installed. In this area there are more paintings that reflect child rights, as well as other cartoons, including one of Noah’s Ark.
- The garage has been renovated and has
been converted into the reception room.
Thank you for helping to give girls in distress in Siliguri a safe place to stay! |
See here for a printable version of this report (Word document)
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