Shelter for Children in Difficult Circumstances

Vulnerability of the small child
In my years in Charity work, I have seen how vulnerable the small child in difficult circumstances is.
Many sad stories abound of the vulnerability of children.
A paralysed child's legs being gnawed by rats where he was abandoned to die.
A little boy and his toddler sister living barefoot, hungry and alone in the bushes - both parents having died.
Parents having died tragically from Aids, leaving little bewildered orphans wandering in the streets.
A baby found left in a hole in a mud track.
Infants being rescued from dirtbins and trash heaps, rescued from hungry dogs.
Infants rescued from anthills or fields, rescued from ant bites.
A young girl murdered after assault, her hands cut off, her body burned.
Infants, toddlers, small children decapitated.
Children forced into service as child soldiers.
Young girl child soldiers bearing babies without maternity services.
Children with limbs blown off by bombs.
Children who witnessed their parents being assaulted, killed in front of them.
Children wandering roads after bombings, shootings, ransackings of towns. No-one left for them.
Children with cholera; children dying.
Children with eyes of no hope.
Children with no future.

What can we do?
Perhaps Divine Providence has led you to read these words; there is surely something we can do.
If each one of us takes on the cause of at least one child in difficult circumstances, and assists that child to receive shelter, care, medication, medical attention, counselling, education - then together we of the global village can help many.
One person alone cannot heal all the ills and difficulties of the world; together, holding hands, we can certainly make a difference.

Caring readers
Since beginning this blog, Lumiere has heard of many readers who have started libraries in slums and squatter camps, assisted with the rescue and education of children.
Readers have given provisions and medical supplies to groups assisting those in need.
Food and clothing have been given to those in need.
People have assisted others with support, understanding, kind words.
Bricks have been donated. Houses for the disadvantaged have been built, and orphanages established.
Water wells have been sunk.
Agricultural projects have been begun.
Disadvantaged adults have had their education sponsored.
Medical assistance has been made available.
Teachers have taught disadvantaged students with no charge.
There are many more stories; and may blessings be yours for your kind heartedness.

Tips on how to start a Project to help Children in Difficult Circumstances
Sometimes it is difficult to visualise what to do for children in difficult circumstances.
When planning a Project Outline for the Charity, I find the following points helpful:

1. Name the Project
2. Define the Project;
e.g. Project for Girls in Difficult Circumstances or
Project for Boys in Difficult Circumstances or
Projects for Ophans
Project for Aids Orphans or
Project for Infants dying from Aids or
Project for rescue of Child Soldiers or
Project for Girls' Shelter or
Project for Girls/Women needing support during and after pregnancy or
Project for Domestic Violence; Women's and Children's Shelter or
Project for Children needing cleft palate surgery or
Project for Children needing orthopaedic surgery or
Project for Children needing education
3. Geographical Location of the Project;
(Address where the Project is located)
4. Define the categories of children you wish to help;
e.g. There are children of different categories from
- Stations
- Streets
- Runaways
- Pavements
- Slums
- War areas
In other words, define the need of the disadvantaged children you wish to help
4. Define the age group;
which the Project is being planned to assist
5. Give a profile of the children your project wishes to assist;
e.g. The children come from different backgrounds and realities, and their circumstances are disadvantaged.
Special facilities will need to be in place in order to give competent assistance to the children.
6. Define what your Project is being planned to do;
e.g. The Aim of the Project is to provide the children with the basic necessities of life;
- Good Nourishment
- Education
- Clothing
- Shelter
- Recreation
- Health Care
- Safety
- Counselling
- Search for family members and reuniting of families if indicated
- Assistance of disadvantaged families if indicated
7. Delineate the educational resources available for the Project;
e.g. The children will be able to attend the local school.
They will be encouraged and assisted with their studies, homework, and communication and language skills.
Children will be assisted to learn arts, crafts and sports if they show aptitude and interest for same.
Development in the following is envisaged;
- Recreation
- Life Coping Skills
- Updating and preparation of the children for the future.
It is extremely important to note that after a child has been assisted through a Project and has received e.g. an education, that post graduation assistance be given to the child to help him or her get a job, decent housing in safe circumstances.
Sometimes the post graduation child, now a young adult, gets married.
At these time, perhaps those of us who have helped the child through the Project years are the only family the child may have known.
Assistance with negotiating through concrete cultural needs such as a dowry, advice in setting up a new home for the married couple,  how to get a birth certificate, how to plan a wedding and so on may be required by the young adult.
8. Define your outreach to possible Benefactors/ Supporters for your Project;
e.g. We would be glad if you could support us in this our endeavour to help these children receive the care they so desperately need, and in order for the children to become independent, happy, and integrated into society.
9. Plan your Constitution for the Project;
What will the guiding plan for your Project be.
10. Plan your finances:
How will you finance your venture?
Check with your local Revenue regarding rules re same.
Check with your local Lawyer regarding rules guiding your Project.
Check you have Garda/ Police clearance to work with a Project for Children.
Keep records of any finances regarding the Project in accordance with your Revenue requirements
11. Who will your volunteers be?
If you have volunteers for the Project, check they have Garda/ Police clearance to work with a Project for Children.
Note there are rules a charitable venture has to follow when volunteers give their time to assist those in need.
Apprise yourself of the same.

The above are some guidelines I find helpful in drawing up Projects.
They are not meant to be a full list to guide a new charitable venture.
However, they may prove helpful to browse if you feel in your heart you wish to help children in disadvantaged circumstances.

Let us light up our world
Our one little candle of our personal life cannot light up the world.
However, if we pass the flame of our devotion and assistance on to others' candles, maybe we can light up our world with care, respect for children and others, and a better future for all.

Blessings be yours.