Aasra Profile Details

AASRA CHARITABLE TRUST : A PROFILE AASRA [Advocacy for Alternatives, Sexuality, Reproductive Health and AIDS] started off as an informal initiative to provide counselling to young people and others in gender distress and to disseminate need based reproductive health and HIV related counselling through telephone in 1997. Following a UNICEF supported base line survey of street and working populations of Patna aged from 13-19 years in 1999, The AASRA project [as we were then known] identified two main areas for intervention: [a] child protection [b] young people aged 14 to 19, with focus on vulnerable populations. We were, and continue to be a group of volunteers of different ages who meet together to advocate positive change and to encourage a child friendly and people friendly environment in our city. AASRA became a registered Charitable Trust in September 2001.

ACTIVITIES The AASRA volunteers donate their time and skills to conduct a variety of programmes involving young people and fellow citizens. Educational support programme: we support children from dysfunctional families through initiatives to keep them in school. This means partial or full support such as books, uniforms, school or hostel fees. For children from dysfunctional families at Patna, there are periodic tutorial sessions conducted by volunteers. This year we are supporting 8 children in schools in Sasaram, 2 children in Patna with school fees and uniforms. We have aided 20 children with text book and educational materials support. Children and families with HIV programme: children who are HIV AIDS orphans [or about to be HIV-AIDS orphans] are of special concern to us. We do not think that institutionalization is a practical way of dealing with the HIV crisis in a resource poor state like Bihar. Our support is need based: nutrition for the very poor so that the immune system is boosted, planning for educational and other needs for the HIV infected or affected children. Emotional support and counselling, and where possible referral to any services available from other NGOs [usually in Mumbai or Calcutta]. Families we reach out to are 14 in number. Media education programme: In collaboration with Ravi Bharati, AASRA has conducted media education programmes for school children. This activity is on-going. 8 schools have been covered so far and the target is 20 schools before the year-end. It is a two day programme for 30 students of class 8, 9. Video training programmes for kids: We do this whenever we get financial support from UNICEF. A batch of 14 to 24 disadvantaged children is

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taught to make video programmes: all the basics of video production. They produce their own projects. This is part of developing a wider understanding of the media for children. Audio training programme for children: For international children’s broadcasting day, in 2002, AASRA with support from UNICEF conducted a two-day workshop for street and working children and school children resulting in an audio tape of their songs, plays and programmes, part of which were broadcast by All India Radio. International Aids Candlelight Memorial Day: An annual event in May which brings together performers, students, school children and the community at large to remember those who have passed away due to HIV Aids. Training teachers and community leaders in Child protection: With help from the British council and UNICEF we trained principals and teachers of 45 schools in Patna on Child protection between 1999 and 2001. We also trained 45 young people. Video festivals and value education films: through its ‘AASRA Communication services’ wing, AASRA experts help other organisations conduct media based programmes. The communication services feature media practitioners and media educators who are competent to conduct video festivals, film appreciation courses and workshops. A video and print documentation service also helps raise money for the charitable trust activities. MATERIALS DEVELOPED  Leaflets on Domestic violence in English and Hindi used as advocacy material and training material in our workshops for teachers, youth and community influencers. (dangerous homes/ khatarnak parivar]  Leaflets on Child Sexual abuse in English and Hindi for advocacy and training material in workshops on child protection.

 What is child abuse: a poster which was used as part of a child protection campaign and placed in several establishments including doctors’ waiting rooms, police stations and public places.

 Dear Teacher a booklet based on the Convention on the rights of the Child for teachers as part of the child protection campaign.  Several other publications as information and education material for children and adults on children’s issues, HIV –AIDS issues.

OUR COLLABORATORS The following organisations have collaborated with AASRA Charitable Trust as sponsors, co-organisers, or as participants in various programmes:

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o UNICEF Bihar field office: Baseline survey; Child protection workshops, Children’s Video workshops, Media based programmes for street and working children.

o The British Council, Calcutta : Child protection workshops, training our o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o

staff/volunteers in child protection strategy, therapeutic dance, event management Lawyers’ Collective, Mumbai: Strategy for HIV /Aids related work, legislation, support for Candlelight memorial, sexuality related work. Naz Foundation international: supported work for marginalised populations and unorganised youth for HIV Aids MSM- awareness; support for candlelight memorial, training programmes, work with LGBT communities. Bihar State AIDS Control Society: supply of free condoms for distribution; use of our Nukkad team for Aids awareness AARZU Charitable Trust : Associate organisation exist in New Mumbai working for LGBT Community with focus of HIV/AIDS PAHAL Samiti : Associate organisation promoting computer education in rural Allahabad Childline India foundation: AASRA has been a resource agency since the inception of Childline in Patna. Bal Sakha: collaborates in joint activities involving street children. Bamon International Consultants: sponsored specific activities involving MSM HIV positive people, supports IACM activity. ARMAN [Lucknow]: support for HIV positive people, referral services Kurji holy family hospital: a variety of collaborative efforts, they use our trainers for school Aids programmes; support for children in distress who need medical and surgical help, VCTC linkages. Student World Assembly : Network of students of social work for promotion of democracy Student Global AIDS Campaign : Promoting HIV/AID with students AIDS Health India Care : Promotion of HIV/AIDS Testing Treatment and Care. State Bank of India: donated books for our small children’s library in the year 2000, supported IACM with banners and T-shirts in the same year. Patliputra Round Table: supported Children’s prayer 2000: candlelight procession on the eve of Jharkhand Bihar split as sole sponsor. Ravi Bharati Institute for communication Arts: collaborate with Media workshops, video festivals, radio training programmes and nukkads Notredame Communication Centre : is Patna based production house provide us equipment and man power for nominal cost.

Our Team : Founder Member: Board of advisor

Executive Board Member :

Dr.Aman Kumar Ms.Neerja Lal Dr. Sanker Dutt Ms.Avhinav Jaiswal Frank Krishner Mr.Aditya Banopadhya Ms. Muniba Sami Ms.Vandna Nair

Mr.Frank Krishner [Managing Trustee] Ms.Margaret Martin {Trustee] Christina Alexander [Trustee] Mr.Manoj Patel [Trustee]

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Debolina Chakroborty Sagrika Mukherjee Birendra Kumar Ravindra Kumar Swetank Jain

Sr.Jyosita

Patron : Mr. Edgar Grämiger Mr. Geoffrey Heviside Ms. Veena Lakhumalani Project Director : Mr. Birendra Kumar Soni Supported by several citizens and students from College of Arts and Crafts, Patna Women’s College, BN College, Patna University who donate time and talents to assist in our projects. We have association with all non Govt high school in Patna. Registered Office : AASRA Charitable Trust Centre Road No : 6 Rajiv Nagar Opp : Heena Beauty Parlor 110042 Patna : 800024 Fax : 011-2781101 Helpline : 0612 – 3290987 9910711112 Email : [email protected] [email protected]

AASRA

Bright

Future

A-1 / 1 Kushak Road No : 2 Saroop Nagar , Delhi Phone

:

011-27811001

Mobile : 09999592535 / Email

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