Three days of training for the second batch of project Directors and staff of CREAM III was organised at Don Bosco, Hospet from 8 – 10 December 2020. The event was inaugurated by Mr. HC Raghavendra, Member, Karnataka State Commission for Protection of Child Rights (KSCPCR). The dignitaries present on the occasion were Mr. H Vishwanath, Executive Officer, Hospet taluk; Mr. K Raghavendra Bhat, Regional Coordinator, Child Protection Project-UNICEF, Koppala; Fr. Joy Nedumparambil, Executive Director, BREADS; Fr. Jude Anand, Rector, Don Bosco Hospet. There were 29 participants from 5 project locations namely, Yadgir, Bidar, Raichur, Kalaburagi and Ballari. The event started with a prayer dance by the children from Don Bosco Vimal Nivas and the dignitaries were welcomed by Mr. Gonibasappa, Social Activist, CREAM. A theme dance on child rights was performed by the children from Savio Home, Hospet. The inaugural ceremony concluded with the unfurling of the CREAM III Vision and Mission scroll.
Mr. H C Raghavendra took the first session on the legal perspectives in taking CREAM III forward with the local self-government. The next session was handled by Mr. K Raghavendra Bhat on the UNCRC, its principles, and the State responsibility towards children. Thereafter, Fr. Joy Nedumparambil facilitated an in-depth discussion of the goals and indicators of CREAM III among the project Directors.
The second day of the training was dedicated to community-based child protection systems. Sr. Dulcine Crasta, Consultant, UNICEF Mangalore explained the Integrated Child Protection Scheme, the key functions, objectives and role of the Child Protection Committee. The session post-lunch was conducted by Mr. Harish Jogi, Coordinator, Child Protection Unit, UNICEF, Koppala on child protection and efficient advocacy with the local self-governments at the district, taluk, gram panchayat and the village levels. The trainings by these experts with years of experience in child rights improve the planning and strategy development of the CREAM III programme for greater impact.
On the third day, Fr. Joy Nedumparambil detailed the programme activities, targets, objectives, impact, expected outcomes and indicators of CREAM III for the coordinators and social activists. In another session, the Management Information System (MIS) and the templates for the baseline survey to be conducted in the districts were explained to the participants. The district teams were given an opportunity to present their programme activities implemented since October. The post-lunch session was used effectively by Mr. Manjappa – CREAM State Coordinator, to explain the handbook developed for child rights training in schools. The three-day CREAM III training/meeting concluded on 10 December 2020 at Don Bosco Hospet, having renewed the CREAM team with a strong dedication and efficacy in the protection of children’s rights across 20 districts of Karnataka.
