Activities: Bal Ashram- Long term
Rehabilitation Center
• During the reporting period, 96 children were rehabilitated at Bal Ashram Viratnagar, Rajasthan, where they benefited from a holistic care and education program addressing their emotional, social, and intellectual needs.
• Non-formal education continued to bridge the learning gap for children aged 6–14 who were either school dropouts or first-generation learners. Regular curricular and co-curricular activities were conducted with the support of teachers and house-fathers.
• Currently, six children are enrolled and preparing for their high school examinations.
• Children aged 14–18 received vocational training in stitching & tailoring, carpentry, and electrical work while continuing their education through the Rajasthan State Open School. The vocational training equips them to secure jobs or start their own small businesses.
• Regular counseling sessions, led by in-house counselors, helped children overcome trauma and improve emotional well-being. Training sessions and workshops instilled values of compassion and social responsibility.
• A career guidance session, in partnership with KSWA Yuva Parivartan Academy, introduced children to opportunities in the hospitality industry. Inspired by the session, several expressed interest in pursuing careers in hotel management.
• In November 2024, Bal Ashram held its annual Bal Panchayat election, where children elected their leaders, including a Community Head (Sarpanch), Deputy Head, Secretary. The Bal Panchayat (Children Council) plays a vital role in addressing children's issues while fostering leadership, responsibility, and teamwork.
• The National Bal Maha Panchayat (National Level Child Parliament) at Bal Ashram brought together 200 child leaders from seven states to discuss leadership, compassion, and collective action. The event featured a call for change by Mr. Kailash Satyarthi and key discussions on governance, child rights, and education. Terisa Sakarwal was elected National-Level Bal Sarpanch (Children Head), leading a council dedicated to building a child-friendly society.
• On December 10, Bal Ashram celebrated Mr. Kailash Satyarthi’s tenth Nobel Peace Prize anniversary with essay writing, painting, and group dance competitions. Winners received smartwatches, backpacks, and stationery. The celebration reflected Satyarthi's life journey and the struggles of children in slavery, reinforcing the importance of compassion, child rights, and education.
• The first ever ‘Compassion in Action’ Youth Retreat was held at Bal Ashram in late December, bringing together nine young participants, including four SMGC Youth Leaders. The retreat provided an immersive experience in compassion-driven leadership, fostering deep connections through shared experiences, discussions, and reflective learning. This retreat served as a stepping stone for future experiential learning opportunities, uniting individuals from diverse backgrounds to ignite their innate compassion and drive personal and societal transformation.
Activities: Banjara Education Center (BEC)
Educational Support to 5 BECs
Remedial classes continued for first-generation learners, providing essential academic support. Children eligible for mainstream education were successfully enrolled in formal schools.
Linkages with Welfare Schemes and Benefits
Nomadic communities often lack government identity documents, limiting their access to social welfare benefits and mainstream society. To address this, door-to-door visits were conducted to help community members and children obtain identity documents, enabling access and linkages with social welfare government schemes and benefits
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Children mainstreamed into formal education: 10
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Adults and children were facilitated in preparing identity documents prepared and linked to government social welfare schemes: 210
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Adults learnt to write and sign their names for official documents: 53 (28 females, 25 males)
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Families in Nomadic Community were notified with certificates: 30 families
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Employment received under Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) Scheme: 10 beneficiaries
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Interlocking road constructed (with Gram Panchayat support): 700 meters
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Toilets constructed under Swachh Bharat Mission to promote basic hygiene: 1
Training and Awareness
Workshops and community events promoted values of compassion, fostering more inclusive and compassionate communities. A teacher capacity-building program enhanced subject expertise, lesson planning, and interactive classroom engagement.
Surakshit Bachpan (Safe Childhood) Week
Kailash Satyarthi’s birth anniversary was observed as Surakshit Bachpan Diwas, reinforcing every child’s right to a safe and secure childhood. Various activities inspired and educated children about his vision and child rights.
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Essay Writing: Reflected on Kailash Satyarthi’s contributions to child rights.
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Sports Activities: Encouraged teamwork, discipline, and a healthy lifestyle.
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Book Reading & Art: Children read “Spark of Compassion” a book by Mr. Kailash Satyarthi and expressed insights through paintings, reinforcing messages of child protection, Compassion in Action and problem solving.
Indoor and outdoor classroom activities at Banjara Education Center
Activities: Bal Mitra Gram (Child-Friendly
Village) Program
The project titled "Increasing Access to Quality Education for Gender Equality" is being
implemented across seven villages in the Sarurpur Block of Meerut District, Uttar Pradesh. The primary focus of the project is to address critical issues concerning safety and protection of out-of-school children, child labourers and victims of child marriage and child trafficking, through strategic interventions.
During the reporting period, several impactful activities were planned and executed as follows;
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Satyarthi Khel Mahotsav (Sports Event)
It was organized in all Bal Mitra Grams (Child-Friendly Villages). This event was held to
commemorate the 10th anniversary of Mr. Kailash Satyarthi’s Nobel Peace Prize award. In this event, children in all 7 Bal Mitra Grams participated in different sports like races and kho-kho competitions. A total of 365 people attended the event, which encouraged children to engage in both education and sports.
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Surakhsit Bachpan Diwas:
It is celebrated every year on 11th January to mark the birthday of Nobel Peace Laureate Mr. Kailash Satyarthi. He has relentlessly worked for the past 40 years for the liberation of children from child labor, slavery, trafficking and all other forms of exploitation. This year total of 766 community members including men, women, children and senior citizens participated in different activities. In the first some of them were felicitated for their outstanding contributions and support to children's education, safety, and community welfare. Storytelling sessions were conducted to raise awareness on compassion. Apart from this various activities including sports, drawing and art competitions, cultural programs etc. were organized.
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On International Girl Child Day:
Satyarthi Movement for Global Compassion organized a program in Mainaputhi and Bashir Khan Inter College, Sarurpur Block, Meerut. Children heard inspiring stories about Kailash Satyarthi and the power of compassion. School leaders encouraged girls to pursue their dreams and support one another. A total of 560 girls participated in the event, which celebrated their strength and rights.
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Health Camp:
Satyarthi Movement for Global Compassion organized a free health camp in Badruddin Nagar Nanu, benefiting people from several nearby villages. A medical team provided check-ups, medicines, and treatments to 429 people, with 78 cataract patients sent for free surgery, 240 treated for fever and cough, and 57 given free glasses.
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Legal Camp:
Satyarthi Movement for Global Compassion organized a legal camp at Bal Jyoti Inter College, Basir Khan Inter College and Gandhi Smarak Inter College in Meerut , with the participation of youth from Jainpur, Mainaputhi, and Khedi Kala. Police officials and legal experts educated students on the POCSO Act, cybercrime, and the role of the Anti-Romeo Team. Officials advised children to report any sexual harassment or cyber threats and shared helpline numbers. Police officials emphasized child safety, good touch vs. bad touch, and legal rights. A total of 800 participants attended the sessions.
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National Maha Bal Panchayat:
In Sarurpur Block, Meerut, 12 children from different Bal Mitra Grams participated in the National Maha Bal Panchayat. Nancy, 13 years old girl from Badruddin Nagar- Meerut became the President of the Maha Bal Panchayat. After becoming a member, she met with the Block Development Officer, Block Education Officer, and Block Child Development Project Officer to discuss children's rights. Along with the Bal Panchayat, she also led awareness campaigns promoting gender equality, encouraging people to treat boys and girls equally. She continues to work on this campaign actively.
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Events and Celebrations:
To promote unity, inclusivity and compassion among people, various festivals and national days are celebrated in the villages from time to time. Events like Teacher’s Day, Constitution Day, Gandhi Jayanti, Dussehra, Diwali, and Makar Sankranti are organized with great enthusiasm. These celebrations bring the community together, fostering a sense of togetherness and cultural harmony. Around 2883 people participated in these events, making them a huge success.
