Salaam Baalak Trust

Salaam Baalak Trust (SBT) is an Indian Non-profit and Non-governmental organization, established in 1988 with the proceeds from the film "Salaam Bombay!" by noted film director, Mira Nair [ [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pqEdukGlacc Mira Nair Salaam Baalak Trust: For the children...] ] .

Today SBT runs, five 24-hour full care shelters for children, with one devoted to girl children, (Arushi), [ [http://www.indianngos.com/ngos/salaambaalaktrust.htm Salaam Baalak Trust] www.indianngos.com.] , in Mumbai, Delhi and Bhubaneshwar; five outreach contact points mostly near railway stations and a 24-hour toll-free helpline service, catering to children in distress all over India, in all looking after 5,000 children every year.

It is also a project 'H71 partner NGO' of United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), which whom its runs its 'Kishalaya Centre' [ [http://www.unodc.org/india/salambalak.html Salaam Baalak Trust] " United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC)", India.] , and awareness programme at YMCA, Mumbai [ [http://www.unodc.org/india/raja_testimony.html Peer Outreach Worker, Salaam Baalak Trust, Mumbai (SBT), India.] "United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime" (UNODC), India.] .

Today, SBT children, who have been trained in theatre, dance and puppetry, are giving performances all over the world [ [http://www.hindu.com/fr/2008/08/08/stories/2008080850140300.htm Two strings to the bow] "The Hindu", Aug 08, 2008."Journalist:“You don’t look like street kids.” The young artiste kept his cool, saying, “If you want us to dress like that, in torn clothes, we can.”]

History

Original established in 1988, to rehabilitate the children who appeared in the film, Salaam Bombay! (1988) in Mumbai, Salaam Baalak Trust started working in 1989, and by 2005 it had seventeen centre for street child throughout India [ [http://books.google.com/books?id=HEte5ilhCTcC&pg=PA61&dq=Salaam+Baalak+Trust&sig=ACfU3U2zsjEfv-ulxQtXNSID042Ikg_BAw Salaam Baalak Trust] "Mercy in Her Eyes: The Films of Mira Nair", by John Kenneth Muir. Published by Hal Leonard, 2006. ISBN 1557836493, 9781557836496. "page 61".] .

In New Delhi, SBT started its operations with 25 children in the open-air balcony at the police station at the New Delhi Railway Station, when three trustees inspired by the film, started caring for them [http://www.fhi.org/en/CountryProfiles/India/res_SBT_Shekhar.htm Street Children and Youth Get a Chance in India] "Family Health International ". ] .

Starting 1999, Family Health International, with funding from USAID, started working with the SBT, on HIV/AIDS education and prevention, while supplying, street children aged between 4 and 13 with food, medical aid, education, and essential supplies [ [http://newdelhi.usembassy.gov/pr042806a.html U.S. Official Visits Salaam Baalak Trust's Shelter for Children] "newdelhi.usembassy.gov". April 28, 2006.] [ [http://www.usaid.gov/in/newsroom/press_releases/aug05_6.htm U.S. Assistant Secretary Richard Boucher Visits Salaam Baalak's Shelter for Children] "USAID", August 5, 2006.] . Over the its shelters have been visited by various national and international dignitaries, including, Tony Blair and Cherie Blair (2005) [ [http://www.number10.gov.uk/Page8148 PM visits project aimed at helping poorest Indian kids] "www.number10.gov.uk"- "Prime Minister of the United Kingdom" website, September 8, 2005.] [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/4223406.stm Meeting Delhi's street children] "BBC News", September 7, 2005.] .

Since 2003, it has also been working with volunteers from University College Dublin Volunteers Overseas, (UCDVO) [ [http://www.ucdvo.org/index.html Work in Delhi ] "University College Dublin Volunteers Overseas".] . In 2006, Salaam Baalak Trust won the "‘Civil Society Award’" from the National AIDS Control Organization (NACO) and UNAIDS [ [http://www.fhi.org/en/CountryProfiles/India/res_NGOsRecognizedWAD2006.htm FHI-Supported Projects Recognized on World AIDS Day] "Family Health International "., “Salaam Balaak Trust for an HIV prevention project targeting vulnerable street children and youth in Delhi”. ] . Earlier in March, it started a guided city walk, through the areas managed by the Trust, its shelters, contact points, and areas around the New Delhi Railway Station in Paharganj, where the streen children live and earn a living, doing menial jobs, the tour guided by former street children themselves, sensitizing people about the lives of street children in Delhi, and the turnaround possible in their lives, when given an opportunity [ [http://www.sawf.org/newedit/edit05222006/index.asp Indian Street Kids Offer Glimpse Into Their Lives With Guided Tours] "South Asian Women's Forum", May 22, 2006. ] [ [http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/life/2007/04/06/stories/2007040600050100.htm Runaway guides] "The Hindu", "Businessline", April 6, 2007.] [ [http://www.telegraphindia.com/1070312/asp/nation/story_7505005.asp Discover a Delhi underbelly you never knew, through the eyes of child guides] "The Telegraph", March 12, 2007.] . Its latest home, "Arushi", built exclusively for girls, was open in New Delhi, in August 2008, and provides shelter to over 70 girls [ [http://www.tehelka.com/story_main40.asp?filename=cr230808salaam_namaste.asp Salaam Baalak Trust opens a new home exclusively for girls..] "Tehelka", Vol 5, Issue 33, Aug 23, 2008.] .

Residential programs

* Arushi-Shelter for Girls
* Aasra- Shelter for Boys
* Apna Ghar- Shelter for Boys
* Drop-In Shelter- Shelter for Boys
* Short Stay Home

Educational programs

SBT is working with National Institute Of Open Schooling (NIOS), Formal Education it is also offering Non-Formal Education (NFE) and Bridge Education/ Course to street children. Apart from this it also runs, Mobile Learning Centre (Mobile school), along with Government of Delhi, covering area around Connaught Place, New Delhi [ [http://www.hindu.com/2008/02/11/stories/2008021158920300.htm Sheila Dikshit launches two mobile schools] "The Hindu", Feb 11, 2008.] .

Further reading

* "India: the forgotten children of the cities", by Amrita Chatterjee. Published by UNICEF International Child Development Centre, 1992. ISBN 8885401082, 9788885401082. "Caste Studies VI:Jagriti; Page 32"

References

External links

* [http://www.salaambaalaktrust.com/ Salaam Baalak Trust , Delhi website]
* [http://www.salaamstreetkids.org/ Salaam Baalak Trust, Mumbai Website]
* [http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=Salaam+Baalak+Trust&search_type=&aq=-1&oq= Salaam Baalak Trust videos]
* [http://flickr.com/photos/8162276@N02/ Salaam Baalak] at "Flickr".
* [http://www.monsoontrust.org/monsoon/what-current-salaam2.php Monsoon Trust for Salaam Baalak]