Helping Children Grow Up! - A TOI article - 14/01/2008

Help for youth to meet challenges of growing up

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Mumbai: In keeping with the growing need to address the concerns of the youth and promote healthy attitudes and behaviour in them, the Times Foundation launched “Growing up Challenges’’, a project for adolescents on Saturday at Anjuman-I-Islam School.
The programme is targeted at 35 schools across Mumbai that admit children from low income groups, who otherwise do not get the opportunity to learn about various issues they have to cope with while growing up.
The programme also runs in tandem with the women empowerment initiative, which aims to spread awareness about the potential of women. The project, which will help adolescents meet challenges of growth and change, will address their concerns through informative workshops and deliberative sessions conducted by resource partner for the project—Family Planning Association of India (FPAI).
“The age group of 10-21 years is very crucial. There are many changes that take place in a child’s life and it is very important to inculcate the importance of responsible behaviour and value system,’’ said gynaecologist Dr Mahender Watsa. “They should have the courage to say no when an embarrassing situation arises,’’ he added.
Experts felt that this kind of awareness programme is critical especially in this technological world, where the child is a global citizen and is exposed to several things through the internet. “We will help them deal with the various psychological and physical changes they are faced with. Parents and teachers should come ahead and support the kids’ curiosity and provide answers to their questions,’’
said Dr Ashwini Bhalerao.
Former hockey player and coach Mir Ranjan Negi, the chief guest, emphasised his faith in women and the need for their empowerment while sharing his experiences in coaching the Indian women’s team. “The sincerity and devotion with which they take up their job is wonderful. It is important for the youth to realise their dreams and it is the parents’ duty to encourage them,’’ said Negi.