Apr 2005 : Family Service Centre – Women and Children in slums (Have FCRA)
FAMILY SERVICE CENTRE
EMPOWERING THE FAMILY IN DISTRESS
Registration No: F 425 BOM
About us: Dedicated public-spirited women with a view to strengthen families who are in difficult circumstances founded F.S.C. in 1955. F.S.C is managed by professional guidance of College of Social Work, Nirmala Niketan, Mumbai. The centre believes that since socio-economic pressures in urban areas often result in family stress, disintegration and child destitution, special interventions need to be evolved as a response to the needs of such families ‘at risk’. A shift from “Welfare” to “Development” and from the ‘needs’ to the ‘rights’ approach is a significant change that the organization is striving to achieve. This broadening of concern is reflected in intervention strategies that are non-institutional, community-based, family oriented, preventive and developmental in nature and thus the main programmes of the centre are Adoption, Fostercare, Sponsorship and Community Development.
Vision: Empowering the family, the core unit of society, by creating an enabling and supportive environment, providing counselling and developing positive human values.
Services:
EDUCATION & SPONSORSHIP: Life skill development, Personality development
FOSTER CARE: “Preventing disintegration of families”
ADOPTION: “Every child’s right to be brought up in a nurturing family environment”
DEVELOPMENT: Capacity building through Mahila Mandals, saving and credit societies, bal mandals and vocational training.
HEALTH & HYGIENE: RCH, sanitation, T.B control, HIV / AIDS
Impact: Educational sponsorship provided to 360 children.
Projects:
The Family Service Centre has tried to strengthen, consolidate and replicate its “Non-Institutional, community Based Approach” in five urban slums. The integrated holistic perspective, and a participatory approach help in the all round progress and sustainable development of the people in the community and the focus is on the most vulnerable groups women and children.
We believe that there is strength in partnership and networking and hence FSC is a very active member of all the networks in the city CCVC, VCA, FACSE and QICCA. The FSC also works closely with the Child Welfare Committee, established under juvenile Justice Act 2000, in order to prevent institutionalization of children, by providing alternate family based service like Adoption, Foster Care and Sponsorship.
FSC has worked with corporates like Taj Group of Hotel and Camilin in their community support project, taken up as part of their Social Responsibility.
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT:
F.S.C’s community development programme has grown tremendously since inception in 1997. The projects undertaken are:
· Food Security and Rationing: Rationing was a felt need in the community therefore it was first addressed by providing access to Public Distribution System (PDS).
· Garbage disposal: Volunteers work in close contact with BMC for removal of garbage.
· Bal mandal: Children’s group formed by children themselves, are now a part of FSC and address issues like cleanliness, sanitation, etc.
· Balwadi: There are 31 pre-schools age children awailing of this service.
· Study Class: Students in study classes are given evening meal along with regular tuitions.
· Self Help Groups (SHG): Mahila Mandal women members initiate the process of economic empowerment through SHG.
· Tailoring programme: Adolescent girls and women enroll for this programme where issues like gender discrimination, marital separation, child care and family like education are addressed.
ADULT LITERACY: The programme was initiated by Mahila Mandal members. Women regularly attend the class by paying Rs. 20 as fees.
· Hobby Classes: Session on painting earthen pots, making of diyas and lamps, fancy embroidery, etc.
HEALTH PROGRAMME:
· T. B . Project was started in collaboration with Rotary Club of Bombay Harbour and BMC. At present it is been continued independently with the support of Taj Group of Hotels.
· Reproductive and child health: In collaboration with Deepam has created awareness on sexual health, reproductive health and hygine, pre and post natal care and transmission and prevention of STDs / HIV / AIDS.
ADOPTION: The adoption programme of FSC is based on the basic principle of ‘best interest of the child’. FSC is a pioneer agency in Pre-adoptive foster care programme. Last year FSC had 10 foster mothers who fostered children awaiting for adoption. FSCe regular group meetings and provide them training input on effective child care, nutrition, etc.
Recipient of Ahiliyadevi Holkar Award for the year 1998-99, & Shortilisted for BCPT/CAP AWARD 2005.
Financials:
Yearly Budget: Rs. 20 lacs
Revenue Sources: General / specific donations
Organization:
full time: 13
part time: 8
volunteers: 11
Help Needed:
Volunteers: yes
Donations-in-kind: yes
Services needed: yes
Donation possibilities: One can sponsor a child by giving Rs. 3600 per year.
Contact Details:
FAMILY SERVICE CENTRE
EUCHARISTIC CONGRESS BLDG. NO.III, 5 CONVENT STREET, MUMBAI-400001
Phone: 22021432
Fax: 22828862
email: director@fscmumbai.org
website: None
Contact: Ms. Nigama Mascarenhas
Trustees:
President: His Eminence Cardinal Ivan Dias, Archbishop of Bombay
Vice President: Ms. Gracie Joseph
Chairperson: Dr. Nilima Mehta
Hon. Secretary: Ms. Meilin Augustine
Hon. Treasurer: Dr. (Mr.) Frederick de Souza
Members:
Dr. (Ms.) Mary Alphonse
Mr. John Lobo
Ms. Kalindi Mazumdar
Dr (Ms.) Gracy Fernandes
Father Rocky Banz
Ms. Jenny Talwalkar
Msgr. Stanislaus lobo
Ms. Geeta Balakrishnan
Ms. Antoinette D’Costa
Ms. Nigama Mascarenhas
“Rajesh (name changed) is a 12 year old boy studying in std. 4th in a municipal school. Rajesh’s family condition compels both his parents to work. Rajesh had not been attending school for a long period of time. The reason of this dropping out of school was that he had met with an accident and hurt his hand. His classmate used to tease him with regard to his broken hand. Troubled by this attitude, Rajesh complained about this to his teacher, who also did not show him positive behaviour. The social worker primarily concentrated on convincing the teacher to allow him to attend school on regular basis. Thus through a lot of persuasion, Rajesh was taken back to school and he is presently doing well. The social worker worked on the attitudinal change of the teacher, thus creating a positive environment for Rajesh to go back to school.”