Village Child Protection Committee (#VCPC) Toolkit
In 2014, we began work in preventive child protection in communities in Madhubani, Bihar, with the belief that families and communities care for their children. They do want a better life for their children, and would take actions to protect them if provided with the right support and options to do things differently.
In 2015, while we were traveling through several villages of Madhubani this faith was validated and we were encouraged with what we observed- against all odds community members are creating the space to take actions for the safety and protection of their children.
In 2020, the faith was further validated when we moved closer to our vision of creating an ecosystem where #caringfamilies, #alertcommunities and a #responsivegovernment work together to ensure rights and protection for every child.
As a prelude to launching our new micro campaign #ITTakesAVillage, we go deep into memory, and share some field diaries as old as 2015. These couldn’t be more relevant in #PandemicTimes.
#vcpctoolkit
Pass the mic. Allow the communities to speak for themselves.
Artwork Credits : Simone Kneebone
#StrenghtenCommunityLedChildProtection
#ItTakesAVillage: Why Community Led Child Protection Cannot Wait Any Longer
Taking the Madhubani learning forward, in June 2017, the State Government of Maharashtra, Maharashtra State Child Protection Society (MSCPS), UNICEF, and Leher entered into a partnership to build synergy (linkages and relationships) between communities, young people and the child protection system. Creating a “Virtual companion aka a VCPC Tool Kit” was the key aspect of this partnership. Creating space for communities to be protagonists in their own journeys of change, using local culture-folklore, language and humour, this kit helps to break down complex issues into simple yet relatable scenarios. It demonstrates that no problem is too big to solve if a community is prepared to come together to understand, think and do-it-themselves.
#ItTakesAVillage: As a prelude to launching our 8 films that aim to strengthen community led child protection, here's a glimpse into our "VCPC Song."
#ItTakesAVillage: As a prelude to launching our 8 films that aim to strengthen community led child protection, here’s a glimpse into our “VCPC Song.”
Shot in Kalmundi village in Ratnagiri District, the VCPC song takes into account the cultural-folklore of Maharashtra while talking about a Village Child Protection Committee.
Credits
A partnership with UNICEF India and Government Of Maharashtra
Concept and Producer: Leher
Ideation and Script: Syed Amir Abbas Rizvi
Cinematography, Cast, Music and Direction: Yalgaar Sanskritik Manch
Location of the shoot: Kalmundi Village, Ratnagiri District.
Logo and Animation: Dhimant Vyaas.
#VCPCToolKit
#CaringFamilies #ResponsiveGovernments #AlertCommunities #ForEveryChild
#ItTakesAVillage: These 8 Films Show How We Can Strengthen Community Led Child Protection
8 films
1 year in the making
30+crew members
10+collaborators
One Mission: To strengthen community- led child protection and ensure safe childhoods for our children. #ItTakesAVillage #VCPCToolKit
Credits
A partnership with UNICEF India and Government Of Maharashtra
Concept and Producer: Leher
Ideation and Script: Syed Amir Abbas Rizvi
Cinematography, Cast, Music and Direction: Yalgaar “Cultural Movement for Human Liberation”
Location of the shoot: Kalmundi Village, Ratnagiri District.
Logo and Animation: Dhimant Vyas
Here's a glimpse into our fifth film 'What's in the laws for Children.'
Here’s a glimpse into our fifth film ‘What’s in the laws for Children.’
In this 45 sec clip we show how Child Marriage is simplified for members of Village Child Protection Committees to comprehend.
#ItTakesAVillage
#CaringFamilies #AlertCommunites #responsivegovernments
#VCPC
#ItTakesAVillage:Frequently Asked Questions About Your VCPC Tool Kit
#ITTakesAVillage: Here are some Frequently Asked Questions About Your #VCPCToolKit
#CaringFamilies #AlertCommunities #ResponsiveGovernments
#ItTakesAVillage: IEC and Tools in Your VCPC Tool Kit.
#ItTakesAVillage : Here are IEC and Tools aimed at providing ready information to equip communities to protect their children. These supplement the films.
Design: Sourav Brahmachari
Illustrations: Abira Bandyopadhyay
#VCPCToolKit #CaringFamilies #AlertCommunities #ResponsiveGovernments
Numbers do not always tell the entire story!
Child protection has mostly been synonymous with child labour, child trafficking, child marriage, abuse and more recently with Covid-19 and it’s vulnerabilities.
Data on the subject is presented in the form of numbers, statistics, percentages, etc. The practice of limiting the picture on child protection to mere numbers has been critiqued widely. Numbers do not always tell the entire story. They cannot always present the journey of a community towards social change – a parent who is now more confident and feels acknowledged by the community for allowing his 16-year-old daughter to continue her education by postponing her wedding, a shop owner who now is hesitant and fears selling gutka, pan, beedi to the children in the village, a teacher who is no longer irregular to school and is watchful about the quality of mid-day meal being served, a girl who is confident enough to tell a boy teasing her that she will report him to 1098 if he continues teasing, or children changing the route they take to school to ensure they are safe and that that another girl does not drop out!
Six years into the journey, it is the rich conversations, experiences, stories, which are very telling, which reaffirms the need to focus on ‘repeated conversations’ and ‘process’ in order to drive community organization for social change.
Picture Courtesy: Abhishek Chandra,.
#ITTakesAVillage
#VCPCTooLKit
#CaringFamilies #AlertCommunities #ResponsiveGovernments #ForEveryChild
Earlier this March, just before the lockdown, Leher launched the #VCPCToolKit at a Training programme organised by Maharastra State Child Protection Society (MSCPS) with representatives from across 36 DCPUs.
Our 8 films, IEC and tools acted as a practical guidebook to strengthen community led child protection. Through the two day workshop, the DCPUs shared stories from the field and had vibrant discussions on child protection mechanisms.
We then handed over the Tool Kit to 36 DCPUs as #ResponsiveGovernments can ensure safe childhoods for our children. Because, #ItTakesAVillage to protect our children.
#CaringFamilies #AlertCommunities
In Pandemic Times, restrictions of physical movement led to working online from home for those who could. This “Virtual Kit” is a template for adaptation and further building to suit different regions, cultures and contexts. Virtual discussion platforms, workshops and training have been utilized effectively to connect people across geographies even on child protection issues. Working together to strengthen community-led child protection, Leher and #MiracleFoundation have entered into a 2 year partnership. Leher has facilitated 4 sessions with them and here is some feedback we wanted to share with you all.
#ITTakesAVillage #VCPCToolKit
#CaringFamilies #AlertCommunities #ResponsiveGovernments
Take a look at this short clip that gives a glimpse into how we can talk about child protection problems in our communities with Village Child Protection Committees.
This clip is part of our #VCPCToolKit and you will find it in film 3 titled “Child Protection Problems In Our Village”
#ItTakesAVillage to ensure safe childhoods for our children.
#CaringFamilies #AlertCommunities #ResposiveGovernments
Who is a teacher? A mentor, a caregiver, a guide who works with children and perhaps even adults?
A teacher can be someone who opens doors for new learnings, possibilities of exploration and facilitates a process of growth.
For us, our constant teacher for the last 6 years has been our field team in Madhubani who has deepened our belief of using participatory processes to test and learn the potential of local leadership in communities.
Our learning from our team in Madhubani has shown us communities can take ownership of protecting their children.
In a span of six years, our team in Madhubani has reached 36 villages, 36 children groups, 36 VCPCs and they have shown us you have to give ownership to the communities. There’s a lot we have learnt from our team in Madhubani.
Here’s wishing our teacher, and team in Madhubani, a #HappyTeachersDay!
Because, #ITTakesAVillage to ensure safe childhoods for our children.
In the photo above-Sarita Lata, Nirmala, Rajiv Prasad, Devottam Chandan, Abhishek Chandra, Gitanjali Kumari.
Yes, Child Protection and Child Rights is everyone’s business. When #CaringFamilies and #AlertCommunities and #ResponsiveGovernments come together, we can strengthen community led child protection.
We take this opportunity to share the #VCPCToolKit for the use of State Governments, and NGOs. Leher offers these resources towards any collaborative efforts.
Should you have anything you would like to say to us, please feel free to DM us, ping us or for any additional information do write to us at contact@leher.org
Because, #ItTakesAVillage to ensure safe childhoods for our children.