Forum For Street Children (R P Road)

Background
As an IPS officer, Pratap Singh would round up street children and take them to the district magistrate, as per the rules. There they were beaten and put in the company of older hardened criminals, under whose guidance they would learn to steal and cheat better, and be profitably dishonest. Realizing that this was the wrong approach towards street children, Pratap Singh upon retirement took up their cause and founded the "Forum For Street Children", an NGO that shelters, educates and cares for the urchins of Hyderabad.

Activities
The shelter in Secunderabad houses about 40 boys at any given time. Here the boys are given food, clothes, shelter and medicine. They are taught to be orderly, honest and disciplined, but are also given love and affection, something they are desperately in need of. Several are put in local schools where they often perform well.

Pratap Singh explains that the mentality of street children is not like that of ordinary kids. They need to be given the freedom to roam the streets, spend their money as they like and live a hand-to-mouth existence. Some kids run away from the shelter, but the Forum does not think it is healthy to put them under lock and key. Several are now reformed and stay in school.

The most wonderful thing about these children is their resourcefulness and undying spirit of survival. In the face of seemingly insurmountable odds, these boys still scour the city to try and make an honest rupee or two. They pool together money to try and learn skills like driving that can fetch them a job.

The shelter does not take in girls. Singh claims that girls are too big a responsibility, and their safety is a much greater issue than that of boys.

Membership and Volunteer Opportunities
While adopting a child might not be an option for everyone, it is an excellent way to make a real difference to a child's life. It is also possible to become responsible for a child's education by sending in money regularly and following the child's progress.

You could fund a child's personal expenditure such as food, clothes and toiletry. You could also bring in food or sweets for the shelter as a whole on festivals or special occasions.

Other ways to help might be to donate used books and items such as stationery, bags and sports equipment. If you own a supermarket or a clothes store, think of donating old stock to the Forum.

A good service would be to help the street children find gainful employment. If you know of any small jobs that require either skilled or unskilled labourers, contact the shelter at the number provided.

And if nothing else, you could always stop by at the children's home to spend some time playing with the kids. If you are skilled at art, music or dance, you could teach them informally. You could also donate an old TV or music system to the shelter. The possibilities are endless; all it takes is a little effort and sincere goodwill.