Ashalayam - Specifics

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Mission statement

Staff of Ashalayam

Approach

Specifics

	Freedom
	Trust & Family
	Modest conditions of life
	Permanent dialog
	Identity of the child
	To be responsible


	Specifics

	Freedom Children come to Ashalayam on their own will and can leave when they want to, if they cannot adapt to a structured way of living. For them to decide between the two ways of life (the street and Ashalayam), it often is necessary that the child comes and then leaves. But after three of these “coming and goings”, if a child leaves again, certain conditions are imposed upon his/her return, in order for him/her to understand that some choices HAVE to be made, especially where his/her future is concerned.

TRUST and a FAMILY atmosphere

They find in Ashalayam a home-like environment. All the staff share the life of these children; eat with them, play and work with them, sleep together on mattresses in a huge dormitory…..breaking down, slowly but steadily, the fears, suspicions and lack of trust these children have built towards adults.

The preventive pedagogue of Don Bosco, by its idea of being constantly present next to these children, tries to foresee their problems before they can surface, solves them in time and thus tries to avoids any sort of punishment.

MODEST conditions of life

It is very important that the children get used to living in the same conditions as the ones which they eventually will encounter later on in their lives.

	Permanent DIALOG
	Maximum time is spent speaking to the children individually; progression by objectives and evaluation of each child; importance is given to "good-night" talks (each night, before sleeping, a short story is told which makes them think and recollect on the events that they have experienced). Each child has to sum up his/her day and speak about it; regular meetings of teams, workshops...

	IDENTITY of the child
	Each child receives an Ashalayam ID card with a photo. The existence of the child is then officially recognised by the police. Respect towards different religions and cultures is taught, in order to make the children open minded and tolerant towards others different to themselves.

Priority to being RESPONSABLE

An oral contract of 4 points binds the children: not to steal nor lie; not to take drugs nor drink alcohol; not to fight with and exploit the younger and weaker ones; study, work and save money. In their daily lives, each child is an “actor” : they cook, clean, take care of animals and the gardens, manage their workshops and participate in important decision making that effect their lives. The children are a part and parcel of each step towards the development of the project : Ashalayam does not work for the children of the streets but with the children of the streets.

To give love and affection signifies also the know-how to be firm and implement discipline (precise working hours, older ones with more responsibilities than the younger ones…). The youngsters in order to forget totally the streets, stealing, drugs etc.. must never remain idle.

ASHALAYAM is not a paradise but a school of life