Saving Childhoods

A story of resilience and community support unfolds in the serene village of Kambiyar, nestled 25 kilometers from Srinagar in north Kashmir. 

It revolves around Danish (Name Changed), an eight-year-old boy whose life teetered on the brink of institutional care until a dedicated child protection initiative changed the course of his family’s destiny.

The Shadow of Loss

The troubles started when Danish’s father, a daily wage earner and the sole breadwinner of the family, succumbed to a chronic illness in 2021. After his death, the family was forced to leave their home and stay with maternal relatives. The small one-room home they were living in seemed to reflect their narrowing world of options.

As resources dwindled and dependence on relatives grew, well-meaning neighbors and family members suggested what seemed like the only solution: sending Danish and his sister to a childcare institution. It was a prospect that threatened to tear apart what remained of their family unit.

A Community Rises

However, Kambiyar was not an ordinary village. It was one of the intervention areas under HWVO’s UNICEF-supported project, “Building Community-based Care Mechanism for Children in Need of Care and Protection.” Under this initiative, a Child Protection Group (CPG) had been established and trained to identify and support vulnerable children within the community.

During one of their regular meetings, a community member brought Danish’s case to light. What followed was a masterclass in grassroots action and community mobilization. The HWVO team, working in concert with CPG members, began with a thorough family assessment. They discovered that the family lacked essential documentation – from Aadhar cards to bank accounts – creating barriers to accessing government support systems.

Building Bridges to Support

The CPG members started working on it, navigating all the bureaucratic channels to get the necessary documentation. Their persistent efforts bore fruit when Danish’s application for Mission Vatsalya’s preventive sponsorship program was approved, providing the family with a monthly support of Rs 4000.

But that wasn’t the end. The team campaigned for Danish’s mother to be hired as a helper/AAYA at a local body school. They were successful when she got the job. She now brings in a regular income for the family and, above all, pride.

Mother’s Triumph

“Now I can keep my children safe from being taken away from me,” Danish’s mother says in a near whisper full of quiet triumph. “No one can suggest the possibility of institutionalizing them again. With my pay from the education department and Danish’s sponsorship under Mission Vatsalya, I can educate them on my own now.”

Early Intervention to the Rescue

This success story highlights the transformative power of early intervention and community-based child protection mechanisms. Regular monitoring and follow-ups by the case management team continue to assist Danish and his family in overcoming different emerging challenges.

Their story is a testament to what can be achieved when communities come together to protect their most vulnerable members. In the face of adversity, it wasn’t just financial support that made the difference – it was the unwavering commitment of local champions who refused to let a family fall through the cracks.

For Danish, his sister, and their mother, what started as a story of loss has become one of hope, resilience, and the enduring power of community action.