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A Voice For the Voiceless

The Advocacy Project helps marginalized communities to tell their story, claim their rights and produce social change. We recruit graduate students to volunteer as Peace Fellows with partners.

The Impact of Service "I look at myself as having the potential to be as strong and caring as the amazing women I met in Kenya." Kate Cummings (Tufts University) volunteered in 2009 as a Peace Fellow for Vital Voices in Africa. For more 2009 feedback click here.

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Partners > Asia > Butterflies

Butterflies

Butterflies addresses the challenge of making the Convention on the Rights of the Child a reality, particularly of those children who are most vulnerable, neglected, abused and exploited. Butterflies is committed to work toward solidarity among NGOs, governments and all civil society organizations to address the concerns of all children.

• Topics: Children’s Rights, Medical Services, Education
• Area: India
• Founded: 1988

• Bal Sabha forms the core of Butterflies program. It is a forum where the children can speak, share their ideas as well as critique the programs and orientation of the organization. Further, they learn the principles of democracy i.e. every person has a right to an opinion and freedom of expression, a consensus must be reached to take a final decision and that sometimes a compromise is needed.

• On average, the children Butterflies helps earn between 30-100 rupees a day, most of which the police will steal because they don’t believe these children can legally make this much money. In response, Butterflies has set up sensitization and training workshops for police officers. (Street Children Use Humor to Steer Clear of Sexual Exploitation)

• In September of 2001, Butterflies established a bank for street children. Those who saved money for six months without withdrawing any funds will earn 50 percent interest on their investment and are eligible to receive loans to start small businesses such as a tea stall or shoe shine stand. (Street Children Use Humor to Steer Clear of Sexual Exploitation)

• Butterflies works to make education more accessible and of a better quality for children. The organization also provides vocational and skills training for children including its community kitchen and computer education iniatives.

• Butterflies Alternate Media gives children the space to create their very own media that gives expression to the unheard voices of children. Furthermore, the media project provides opportunities for children to participate in the production of their own newspaper, radio programmes and theatre.

• Butterflies provides emergency services for children including Crisis Centers, a hotline named Childline, night shelters, as well as a program named Night Reach.

• Butterflies addresses the child health problems by training children to be Child Health Workers, providing medical attention through a mobile health cooperative, and providing health education.

• The organization has helped form a child worker union named Bal Mazdoor Union in order to help them fight for their rights.

• Reports

Butterflies produces newsletters that are accessible on their website.

Butterflies also produces reports and books.

• Blogs

In 2006, AP sent Donna Laverdiere a Duke University Public Policy master's student to Butterflies. Read Donna's blog.

In 2005, AP sent Karen Adler, a second-year medical student at Cornell University, to help Butterflies with their mobile health unit and the crisis center. Read Karen’s blog.

Outreach Partners

• National Institute of Public Cooperation and Child Development (NIPCCD)
• Centre for Women's Development Studies (CWDS)
• Habitat Learning Centre
• Presentation Convent School
• Delhi Child Rights Club (DCRC)
• For more, see Butterflies "Friends of" page.

Contact:
U - 4, Green Park Extension
New Delhi - 110 016
 Tel.:91-11-26163935, 26191063 
Email Butterflies

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