Guwahati, Assam :

The Assam social welfare department has launched the ‘After Care Project’ for adults who have completed institutional care in the government children’s homes in Assam.

The programme is aimed at benefitting schoolchildren for whom becoming self-dependent becomes important after attaining the age of 18 years. Under the project, the state government provides financial assistance to them to make a living.

The first such After Care programme was organized at Fatima After Care Hostel at Ila Snehalaya, Betkuchi here on Friday, with the objective of helping young adults who have grown up in children’s homes to become self-reliant through vocational training, higher education, life-skills education and job placement.

The project, sponsored by the state social welfare department, has benefited six boys and four girls.

Pratima Devi, chairperson of the Social Welfare Advisory Board, Assam, was the chief guest at the launch function. She said the youths should have confidence in themselves and they must help them become self-reliant.

Fr Lukose, director of Snehalaya, a shelter for underprivileged kids in the city, said each child was unique and that’s why there had to be an individual plan for every beneficiary of the After Care Programme.

“There is no fixed process by which they can be integrated into society. As caregivers, we must be able to help them accomplish their best. They have to regulate and manage their lives by themselves with the financial assistance they get on a monthly basis while the girls stay in a hostel and the boys in rented houses. They have to learn to use their time and money judiciously,” he added.

The After Care programme is the final stage of care, leading to the completion of social re-integration of children who have been staying in childcare institutions.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> City> Guwahati / TNN / September 15th, 2014