Most of the orphanages in the country are poor in infrastructure. Across reports submitted to the government, poor lighting, cramped accommodation, regular violence as a means of discipline instead of proper child behavior methods are just some examples of poor infrastructure at orphanages. HWF’s Orphan Care focuses on construction of Orphanages providing safe and secure shelter for orphans.
So, far we have constructed/supported 7 orphanages in West Bengal, Jharkhand, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, and Goa. Three orphanages are under construction- one in Rajasthan and two in Haryana.
Under Orphan Care Program, HWF disburses monthly financial support to orphan children living with their families and relatives. 4000 orphans across the country are receiving monthly financial assistance under the program. In 2020-21, 206 new orphans got enrolled in our program.
The Scholarship distribution is one of the highlights of the Orphan Care Program run by HWF. HWF provides scholarships to orphan beneficiaries on a quarterly basis. We try to ensure that the amount is primarily spent on their education and allied needs.
During 2021-22, we have released scholarships to the beneficiaries by organizing more than 20 distribution programs. The majority of the beneficiaries belong to Assam, Tripura, and Uttar Pradesh including the 18 states where the program is currently running.
We commenced ‘Project Ehsas’ in October 2021 by setting up community kitchens in the city of Kolkata and Delhi where a large number of migrant workers and slum dwellers struggle to manage the expenses for essentials. The project is to serve the cooked meal to the downtrodden and was initiated in the wake of worsening hunger crisis due to the Corona- 19 induced lockdowns and consequent loss of jobs in India. We have set-up kitchens Jogeswari in Mumbai and Lucknow in UP.
We are planning to set up more kitchens in other cities as well. Under the program, in one year from the commencement, we have distributed more than 200,000 food packets.
India has slipped to 102nd position (among 117 countries) in the Global Hunger Index (GHI) 2019, slipping from its 2018 position of 95 and behind its neighbors Nepal, Pakistan, and Bangladesh. Poverty is a major hindrance to the growth of any society. Keeping this in mind, HWF implements the Hunger Relief Program helping thousands of people fight hunger. Under the program, we provide food kits to the neediest twice a year.
HWF’s Ramadan food program has been instrumental in getting food aid to vulnerable people in poverty ridden areas throughout the country in the blessed month of fasting. We ensure that those who receive this aid are among the most vulnerable in their communities, including widows, orphans, the elderly, internally displaced persons, refugees and the poor.
Every year HWF celebrates Eid-ul-Adha with the poor and needy people across the country. Last year, we distributed Udhiya Food Packets at several places in different states such as Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, West Bengal, Assam, Haryana, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Odisha, and Chhattisgarh. and Punjab. We ensure that those who receive Udhiya food aid are among the most vulnerable in their communities, which include widows, orphans, the elderly, internally displaced persons, refugees and the poor.
The Community Learning Centers serve as crucial hubs for providing essential support in basic literacy and education to these children. The primary objectives of this initiative are to bridge the educational gap for underserved children and prepare them for enrollment in regular schools. This preparation involves familiarizing them with the formal education system, its structure, and the curriculum used in mainstream schools.
Additionally, the program identifies and reaches out to individuals who have dropped out of the formal education system. These dropouts may have left school due to various reasons, such as economic constraints or a lack of motivation. The initiative’s goal is to understand the reasons for their dropout and provide the necessary support to help them re-enter school. This personalized approach helps children gain confidence in their abilities and progress at their own pace.
CLC also provides guidance and counselling services to students and parents regarding education, career and family in order to guide them to the right path. Under this program, workshops on parenting, career guidance, family counseling and youth awareness are conducted.
Nutrition care of children is important for their overall growth and development. Children need a variety of nutrients from different food groups to meet their needs. In addition to providing nutritious foods, it is also important to counsel parents about nutrition and create awareness about promoting desirable food behavior and nutritional practices.
Students going through a basic literacy program are provided with nutritious foods like bananas, milk, eggs, yogurt, peas, and lentils. Parents are counseled about nutrition, and awareness is created about promoting desirable food behavior and nutritional practices.
Community Learning Centers play a vital role in addressing the educational needs of non-literate adults. These centers serve as inclusive hubs offering a wide range of educational services, all with the ultimate goal of empowering individuals with the skills and knowledge they need to become self-reliant and effectively access government assistance. These services encompass fundamental literacy skills, including reading, writing, and numeracy. The centers provide tailored programs that recognize the diverse needs of adult learners, ensuring that each individual has the opportunity to acquire these crucial skills.
The primary objective of this program is to promote self-dependence among non-literate adults by equipping them with basic literacy and a broader education. Many non-literate adults are unaware of the various government assistance programs available to them. Community Learning Centers bridge this information gap by educating individuals about the resources and services provided by the government, as well as other support programs that can significantly enhance their quality of life.
Imparts skill oriented short-term vocational training programs to the youths in the target regions for developing technical and professional skills and help them participate in economic activity through their inclusion in financial institutions. Training is imparted in computer basics, typing, data entry and sewing.