This Rehabilitation Centre was established in 1995
for the many street children who were wandering on
the streets of the adjacent Industrial Area. At
present up to fifty boys attend the centre on a
regular basis.
They come
wash, have breakfast and attend non-formal school in
the morning. After lunch they engage in extra
curricular activities; art, music, football,
gardening, scouting and some craft work. Group and
individual counseling is an integral part of the
programme and is carried out on a very regular
basis.
Twenty-five of the children who really want to
address the problem of substance addiction are in
residence while the remainder treat it as a
“drop-in” facility. The twenty-five being helped
with substance abuse remain in the centre for one
year. Afterwards, they are moved back to school
where the social workers there give them support and
encourage them to continue their education.
They also
receive a hot meal in school. During their 12 months
in the Rehabilitation Centre, the social workers
contact the relatives of the children and prepare
them for their children’s return. Some extend a warm
welcome to the children while others don’t seem to
care. These are the ones that continue to offer
challenges to the staff.
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