The Mission
Don Bosco Anbu Illam community has a dispersed presence in three locations. This is due to the nature of its work and apostolic activity. The Coordinating Office is at Park Town, where all the project-based documentation and administration are centered and is the point of reference for the Government, Public and Funding Agencies. At this centre the children first contacted on the street are brought and temporarily housed before being returned to their homes or relocated elsewhere. The Rector of the community resides here, while the other two priest-members of the community reside elsewhere but work from here.
The Main Shelter Home for street children is at Royapuram. This place has the highest number of street children, around 64, at present. For the last two years the community has been gathering here for practices of piety and all community-based activities. The Vice Rector of the community resides here. The centre is the property of the Chennai Corporation, because of which no improvements could be made on the land and the buildings, which are in a poor state of disrepair. It is imperative that the shelter be located in another place.
Mannady Shelter Home, in Broadway, is where the senior street children stay together with the Assistant Director. The new home under construction at MKB Nagar will be able to house all the Salesians as well as the children who stay at different places.
The Beneficiaries
Don Bosco Anbu Illam offers its apostolic services to a target group of mainly destitute children within a radius of about 20 kilometres from its main office in Park Town. The following are the various classifications of the children for whom the community works:
STREET CHILDREN who are abandoned, neglected, deserted and thrown out from the families, found in streets, railway stations, bus terminals, market places, etc., and have come to the city of Chennai to make a livelihood. Presently, there are 450 children, 17 staff members, 2 Coordinators in 9 centres.
WORKING CHILDREN who are forced to work in small scale industries, restaurants, lodges to make a living. They may live with their parents or by themselves, and often work for long hours at a nominal wage. At present, there are 300 children, 9 staff members, 1 Coordinator in 9 centres.
SLUM CHILDREN who are vulnerable to become dropouts from school, or who are obliged to work due to pressure from their families. They generally hail from broken families.
PAVEMENT CHILDREN are those who live with their parents without a roof over their heads due to utter poverty and misery. They do not go to school, nor have regular meals and live in misery.
CHILDREN IN DISTRESS are those who are sexually, physically and psychologically abused. They may come from any background, rich or poor, educated or illiterate. A toll free number 1098 is in use for the city of Chennai. Anyone can call at any time of the day and Anbu Illam would rescue the children.
CHILDREN IN DISASTER are those who are either directly or indirectly affected by the recent tsunami. They are given care because of their specific vulnerability. There are 2300 children, 26 staff members and 18 volunteers in this sector.
TSUNAMI AFFECTED PEOPLE are the ones who were evicted from their place of dwelling due to the tsunami. There are also many unemployed youngsters in this group. There are 300 youth with 2 staff members in 1 centre, and 1200 families with 11 staff members covered by this project. The work for this community is to bring about their rehabilitation and development.
YOUTH at Risk are those who were themselves child labourers, but continue to work in unskilled and untrained jobs. There are also youngsters who are addicted to drugs and alcohol. At present, there are about 150 youth, animated by 12 staff members.
MARGINALIZED WOMEN who are mothers of child labourers and those who live under the poverty line due to lack of skill and employment, often send their children to work to make a living. Presently we have 300 Self-Help groups for women in Chennai slums, with 3 staff members and 1 coordinator.
SLUM COMMUNITY are the urban poor who are either homeless or live in huts and on pavements. Anbu Illam work with the slum community is done on a limited scale seeking resilient community development.
According to their needs, Don Bosco Anbu Illam offers its beneficiaries, educational empowerment, technical skills, social integration, behavioral modification, children’s parliament, children’s development bank, relief materials, livelihood programmes, training and motivation programmes, counseling, etc. There are about 110 dedicated and qualified staff members assisting in the various Anbu Illam projects. About 50 of them are Catholics, while the rest, Hindu. They meet regularly and are animated by the Salesians.
Given below are the statistics of the Anbu Illam Projects
Developmental Projects:
- Street Children – 450 children, 17 staff members , 2Coordinators in 9 centres
- Working Children – 300 children, 9 staff members, 1 Coordinator in 9 centres
- Homeless Children – 6 Staff members, 1 coordinator in 3 centres
- Potential Drop-outs – 1200 children, 9 staff members and 24 volunteers in 17 centres
- Self Help Groups – 300 groups, 3 staff members and 1 coordinator
- Youth Group – 150 youth, 12 staff members
- Shelter Home – 80 children, 3 staff members in 3 centres
Tsunami Work
1. Children – 2300 children, 26 staff members and 18 volunteers
2. Youth – 300 youth with 2 staff members in 1 centre
3. Families – 1200 families with 11 staff members
Contact:
E-mail : anbuillamchennai@gmail.com
Website : www.anbuillamchennai.com
Don Bosco Anbu Illam
25, Kulandai Street,
Park Town,
CHENNAI – 600 003.
Cell – 91.(44) 25352101
91.(44) 25356885
Anbu Illam (YAR)
Street children’s work in Chennai. Spread over 5 Centres.
Works for Street children, slum children, has all the stages of an organic
plan of following them up from the streets to home or settlement. Child line is also working there.
Rector/Dr. Bashyam johnson