| Child Focussed Community Development Program (CFCDP) |
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| Rationale: |
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| HCDI has designed an innovative approach to the community-based development programme with the child at its centre in the hope that equitable and sustainable development interventions around the child, its family and community would eventually percolate and lead to the holistic development of the child. Since the concept was novel it was open ended for any possible refinements with the passage of time through the gaining of experiences gathered from various geographical regions and people groups/tribes/clans with whom HCDI works through its partners spread out in various parts of India. This refinement would ensure that when the programme is phased out it would be owned by the community so that the process of development is carried forward unhindered. |
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| From the beginning HCDI has been very clear that success of CFCD projects will be determined both quantitatively and qualitatively. Development will be determined using not merely the indicators pertaining to visible and physical development. Transformation in motivation, abilities, behavior, social relationships, team work, linkages and the economic enhancement of the people will be of equal importance as these aspects are very crucial for the functioning of community organizations after the phasing out of the external support. |
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| Key Components of CFCDP’s |
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| The major four Key areas of intervention in the CFCDP are – Education – both early childhood care and regular schooling support, Health and nutrition, Livelihood and Community organization. |
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| HCDI does not advocate a welfare program to transfer funds or make available resources so that immediate needs of the poor are met. A four pronged strategy has been adopted by HCDI to achieve its objectives – (1) participation of the children, their families and community in the development process; (2) promotion of interests, rights and dignity of children; (3) strengthening the capacities of the children and their families; and (4) mobilization of maximum resources from within the community. |
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| Initially the role of the women in the entire development program was visualized more from the point of view of their role as mothers. But then raising awareness amongst the mothers for improved health and educational status of children was considered necessary, since mother is the most powerful influence in the universe of a child. |
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| In the last five years HCDI has added another dimension to its many activities of rural development i.e. forming women’s groups and enabling them to address their issues on a common platform. The concept of Mahila Mandal was initially introduced to organize women; but this was only restricted to the mothers of children who visited the balwadis. Because it was a large group it was difficult to sustain the interest of the members. Based on the exposures and proven models elsewhere, it was decided to transform the mandals into self help groups thereby entering into the area of women’s empowerment through implementation of the SHG program. |
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| HCDI does not implement one single program across different socio-cultural and geographical regions. From land development program to income generation or from health care education to self-sustenance, HCDI today touches the totality of life of the marginalized people across age, gender, caste and creed. At the centre of all development efforts of HCDI is the vision that the next generation lives in an environment bereft of hunger, poverty, deprivation and darkness and over the years become self-reliant and responsible as citizens. |
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| A Concept Note on CHILD FOCUSSED COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT |
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| Child focussed community development is a development approache in which children, their families and their communities participate and take ownership of the entire development process that affects children. It enables them to understand that, they have the capacity and ability to work together on common issues. |
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