Prayas Juvenile Aid Centre at New Delhi with the support of Sadhana Srivastava has not only been providing a shelter to abandoned and lost children but has also been fast progressing as a haven for children, preventing them from falling into the hands of traffickers. Having a setup of over 9 shelter homes and night homes it continues to reach out to many lost children through their outreach staff members present at railway stations ( New Delhi railway station) so that lost children do not get into wrong hands and further can be sent back to their families.
Their efforts do not stop at providing children with a homely atmosphere and proper education but also extend into documenting and finding of lost children so that missing children can safely be sent home. Recently a family from Punjab found their child at their center after 5 years of separation. Their tireless efforts to work for the society and inculcate good values in children however often gets deterred by lack of public attention to abandoned children. All they urge is that people engage with these children creatively and train them so that they do not miss on happiness and creativity during childhood. They wish for a platform that can enable the children to express themselves freely .
My first visit along with a member of the Sadbhawana CC- Thuktan Negi, which works for upliftment of street children helped us to not just connect with these kids but also give these children a chance to share their life stories that define who they are today. If peace can be defined as happiness and safety for live, Prayas Center is then the place where peace can be found.
