Dr Jennifer Connaughton Travels to India to Visit the Child in Need Institute (CINI)
In April 2026, Dr Jennifer Connaughton, Co-Founder of CINI Australia, travelled to West Bengal, India to meet with CINI colleagues and visit the three programmes, Ujjan (Adolescents), Indian Initiative Child Centered HIV Aids Approach (IICCHAA) and Child Friendly Communities (CFC), funded by CINI Australia.
Here is a recount of her visit, in her words.
“Just before our Annual Mother’s Day Celebration High Tea Fundraiser, on Sunday 3 May, I made a brief visit to India to catch up with our programmes, discuss next steps and meet with our project teams.
I arrived as CINI’s senior staff were completing its 5-year strategy meeting. They spoke of their successes across the 8 states in which CINI now works. They continue training thousands of health workers, and new projects are addressing climate change, child protection in the context of digitalization and the increasing burden of chronic disease now exploding across India.
IICCHAA & CFC
After an overnight train to Raiganj, I spent a fantastic day with the Uttar Dinajpur tea team. We met the village adolescent and mothers’ groups. With great excitement the girls spoke of how their village resource maps helped them understand their community resources and importantly identify children at risk.
One mother showed the Nutrimix she’d made at home under CINI training, and the improvement in her baby’s weight that she monitors on his growth chart. She now teaches other mums about malnutrition and how to make their own Nutrimix.
Ujjan – Adolescents
In Kolkata I was led through the narrow lanes of Rambagan by the inspiring adolescent peer leaders from our Ujjan programme, who were keen to tell me about how their lives have changed with CINI.
Thousands of families live along these busy lanes. Bathing, cooking, playing, washing, soliciting, and chatting in these narrow spaces. We spoke with 2 fathers who are iron mongers and thankful that their sons are now doing well in year ten with CINI’s support.
A mother was completing an order of clothing, her sewing machine on the floor of the single-room home she shares with her husband and 3 adolescent children. She said Ujjan helps her children understand their health needs and where to access good care.
At the local government clinic, the doctor and his team told us how the collaboration with CINI means the children are receiving much-needed health care. The children told me how important income generation training is. It means they can help their families whilst continuing school. These powerful young peer leaders are mentoring younger children and committed to ensuring they can achieve their goals.
Ayushy, now 18 and studying engineering, started with Ujjan in its first years, when she faced significant mental health difficulties. Through CINI’s counselling support and the backing of her grandmother she trained as a peer leader and now returns as a mentor. She is a leader in her community, earning her own income, tutoring little children and driving the plans for income generation training for adolescents. These children have taken their future into their own hands.
These are a few of the many impacted by our work and your support. The changes over the years in their health, schooling, self-esteem and drive to build opportunities for their children is endlessly inspiring.”
Thank You
