Terre Des Hommes Core Trust

In India, Childline 1098 stands as the country's premier national 24-hour toll-free emergency helpline dedicated to aiding children in need of care and protection. Its mission, guided by the principles of 'Connect,' 'Catalyse,' 'Collaborate,' and 'Communicate,' strives to establish a secure system ensuring the rights every child deserves worldwide.
Terre des Hommes CORE Trust is an affiliated partner organization of Childline, operating across the districts of Tiruvannamalai and Vellore. In Tiruvannamalai, it executes Child COLLAB initiatives throughout the entire district. Additionally, in Vellore, it manages a sub-centre encompassing three Panchayat Unions.
To address the plight of child beggary, Terre des Hommes CORE initiated an intervention, working in conjunction with Childline 1098. As a result of the joint efforts, the practice of child beggary has significantly diminished within Tiruvannamalai town.

"Alaigal," a term in Tamil means "waves". It symbolizes the project's endeavour to initiate transformative waves for girls in need. It also serves as the title for the Alaigal Association (Zurich), which sponsors all Alaigal homes established by Tdh CORE.
Founded on June 13, 2002, Alaigal Home was established with the primary objective of providing refuge to girls who have been subjected to sexual or physical abuse or rescued from child labor and enslavement. This secure haven offers these young girls a nurturing environment where they can experience a peaceful childhood and embrace a joyful daily life. Within these premises, girls are reintroduced to their right to dignity and are valued for who they are.

Thanks to this project, the very young children can embrace their childhood fully, surrounded by peers and caregivers. For these little ones, it becomes more feasible to leave behind their harrowing past and begin anew in a suitable environment. The role of the organisation is to make this transition possible.
The Kids Home provides them with refuge and security, ensuring a safe haven: equipped with trained caregivers who nurture them, a warm and inviting atmosphere, and a space where they can play and interact together. The Kids Home ensures healthcare for the children, ensuring continual access to a nurse, robust medical support, and provision of safe food and water.
Child begging is a prevalent issue in the Tiruvannamalai area of Tamil Nadu, and Terre des Hommes CORE is actively engaged in combating this distressing phenomenon.

In December 2004, a devastating earthquake in the Indian Ocean triggered a tsunami that impacted the coastal region of Tamil Nadu. This natural calamity claimed the lives of hundreds and displaced numerous individuals, including many children.
During this crisis, TDH CORE actively engaged in providing essential aid such as food, medical assistance, shelter, clothing, and more. It devoted its efforts to the area's recovery and focused on assisting the affected children and community members.
Matt Home, situated near the Ocean in Cuddalore District, stands as a testament to the memory of a young Italian boy. Initially serving as shelter for children rescued from the disaster, it has evolved into a home catering to all children in need of care and protection within the region. These children hail from varied backgrounds, including instances of child marriage, psychological or sexual abuse, and begging. All of them are girls from the vicinity around Cuddalore.

The Educational Sponsorship Programme (ESP) is a field-based initiative focused on delivering comprehensive education and holistic development to underprivileged families residing in villages and remote areas. Its inception traces back to 1994 when Tdh Core identified 12 children facing the challenges of growing up without paternal support. In the Indian context, fathers traditionally serve as the primary breadwinners, and the absence of a father figure posed significant economic hardships for these families, often with 5 to 6 children and no paternal guidance. This dire situation often pushed children into early labour, jeopardizing their childhood.
The project intervened by facilitating these children's access to education, enrolling them in schools, and ensuring they received quality education. Simultaneously, it aimed to support the families in establishing a sustainable livelihood.

The Poonthaleer project has significantly transformed families' attitudes toward female infants through extensive engagement with expectant mothers and families, emphasizing the invaluable importance of these babies' lives.
Recognising the heightened risk of infanticide with the arrival of a second female child, the project targeted pregnant women who already had one daughter. Beginning from the fifth month of pregnancy, the project engaged with families, offering support and pledging assistance for the upbringing of the baby girl. In cases where families remained unwilling to retain the child, the project provided a safe haven by offering to care for the baby under its guardianship.
Over the last two decades, the Poonthaleer project has achieved an incredible milestone by successfully eradicating the killing of baby girls in the Salem Area, reaching a count of zero casualties within the community.

The primary focus of Sustainable Tribal Education Program (STEP) is to introduce education opportunities to children in tribal areas, providing access to schools and competent teachers. By doing so, the organisation aims to shield all children in the region from the perils of trafficking and child labour.
STEP is a community initiative dedicated to rescuing children living in Tribal Areas surrounding Jamunamarathur (Jawadhu Hills), located approximately 75 km North-west of Tiruvannamalai, Tamil Nadu, India.
The Tribal region faces critical challenges such as child trafficking and a severe deficiency in the education system. Before this intervention, there were no accessible schools or teachers in the area. Child labour brokers and traffickers often target families, compelling children to work in bamboo forests in Kerala or in the mining industry in Karnataka. Consequently, many children in this area are denied their fundamental rights.

Maya Community Based Rehabilitation is a dedicated community initiative aimed at assisting families with children infected by HIV/AIDS in the Tiruvannamalai area.
The organisation’s specialized team conducts door-to-door visits to assess the situation of these mothers and children, offering comprehensive support encompassing medical care, psychological aid, nutritional assistance, and educational guidance.
The primary role involves providing essential medications, dry food supplies, housing support, and necessary treatments while offering dietary recommendations to enhance their well-being. The organisation endeavours to find solutions to various challenges they encounter. It extends assistance for skill development to benefit the entire family.

The prevailing social stigma in India surrounding disabilities poses significant challenges, particularly for mothers with babies facing such conditions. Often, these mothers lack support and face neglect and disrespect from their communities.
The Early Intervention Centres (EICs) conduct rehabilitation sessions involving both children and their mothers. Professional physiotherapists assist mothers in managing their children's disabilities, providing stimulation, education, and crucial support for these children to grow with integrity and dignity.
Within the Tiruvannamalai area, the organisation operates three Early Intervention Centres.

The Mobility Research Centre focuses on crafting bicycles designed for individuals with disabilities and those in need within the community. What sets this centre apart is its team, composed of individuals who have completed their education in special schools and have disabilities themselves. These individuals transition into roles within the Mobility Research Centre, becoming self-reliant staff members who receive a stipend for their contributions, aiding them in leading independent lives.
The centre provides training programs for disabled individuals who have completed their education in special schools, aiming to equip them with technical skills to work in the Mobility Centre. Most of the staff members at the centre have either attended these Special Schools or have been part of community-based rehabilitation programs.

The Paul Institute for Special Teacher Trainings is a private institution dedicated to training teachers specializing in the education of children with specific needs, focusing on mental retardation, cerebral palsy, and multiple disabilities.
Accredited and endorsed by the Government of India and licensed by the "Rehabilitation Council of India" in New Delhi, the institute offers a comprehensive two-year Diploma course in Special Teacher Training. The faculty comprises highly skilled educators and lecturers committed to providing top-notch education. The program integrates practical training sessions conducted at the Special Schools for disabled children and Early Intervention Centres.