ANISHA - India

ANISHA, which means "from darkness to light," works primarily with neglected children and women living in the slums of Bangalore City. It is a Public Charitable Trust registered with the Government of India, run by Ms. Valli Rajan. Early in 1998, a group of young advocates came together, pooled their resources and initiated this work.

Some of Anisha's key programs include:

• Empowering neglected women and improving their socio-economic status, including training, provision of microcredit programs, and free legal services.
• HIV/AIDS care and education.
• Providing pre-primary education for children, supplementary education for children already in school, and non-formal education for working children.
• Supplying nutritious food for families, children, and the elderly.
• Health screening and medical support for children and families.
  

Focused Children's Programs

Child labor is a major issue in India. In Karnataka State alone, more than 3.5 million children are working full-time. These children are losing their childhood, and their physical and psychological development is stunted. Anisha strives to reduce child labor among the poor. To help prepare children to enter public school, Anisha holds pre-primary classes, including educational tours, for children aged three through six years. With the high incidence of malnutrition, there is a nutritious meal plan. For the children's' healthy development, Anisha provides medical screenings and services, health awareness programs, and emotional and mental counseling. Anisha's "weekly savings plan" matches the amount saved by the children, and this grant money is used for their educational expenses.

Education and Schools

• Pre-primary education - This includes running pre-primary classes, health and nutrition education, mothers' meetings, medical support, and enrollment in formal schools. Teachers are trained in child psychology and teaching methods for pre-primary children.

• Children attending school - Anisha conducts tutoring, provides uniforms and fees, gives medical support, and helps with school dropouts, including the provision of bridge courses.
• Education for victims of child labor - This involves identifying victims of child labor and motivating parents to send their children to school, along with the formation and promotion of community-based organizations and self help groups.
• Additional education and training – Anisha helps promote enterprises and supplies medical help, leadership training, legal education, and skills training.

In general, Anisha's schools are staffed by two teachers and one coordinator. The teachers take care of the pre-primary centers, recreation, organizing parents meetings, and conducting evening supplementary classes for children in school and family visits. They also take children to hospitals, when necessary, and teach health education classes. Teachers also conduct training programs and workshops, and take up community issues on regular basis.

Key Women's Programs

• Microcredit - Anisha's main constituency is women-headed households who are basically dependent on unskilled labor such as packing for retail shops, cleaning, and rag picking. Their jobs are irregular, which can force them to take high-interest loans from private financiers to meet their family expenses. To reduce this economic loan burden and high interest rates, Anisha has organized a self-sustaining savings and credit program, support to become small entrepreneurs, and opportunities to build cooperative businesses.
• HIV/AIDS - Anisha networks with other organizations to educate and help women suffering from HIV/AIDS.
• Domestic Violence - Anisha partners with other organizations to assist women experiencing domestic violence.

Advocacy and Community Development Activities