Author: Charlotte Terrier

On Sunday 23rd March 2025, Perth Well Wishers celebrated CINI Australia, Child In Need India, by bringing together over 60 people for a fantastic morning at their Family Fun Day at Whitfords Nodes Park, Hillary’s. Together, they raised over $1,600 on the day, with more to be added to the final total. Thank you to everyone who was involved!

The morning started with face painting by Rashmine and exciting lawn games donated by Perth Party Games. Beautiful hand-crafted soy candles, made by Simmer & Glow, and stunning South Asian jewellery from The Luxe Range were displayed for sale. Children ran around having fun while parents and grandparents mingled under the shade of the park’s beautiful trees.

Elisha Balakrishnan from Perth Party Games had this to say:

“It was lovely meeting you, Raj, and all your guests at the Family Fun Day event. We were honoured to be part of this beautiful fundraiser.”

By 10:30 am, the sausage sizzle was ready for guests to enjoy, expertly barbecued by volunteers from Perth Well Wishers. CINI Australia-branded cupcakes were a hit with both kids and adults, and guests indulged in delicious food lovingly prepared by the Perth Well Wishers—a true feast!

Once refreshed, the fun continued with more lawn games. At 11:00 am, Annette Chivers, Chair of CINI Australia, spoke about the organisation’s programs in West Bengal and how CINI supports children from some of India’s most vulnerable communities. Guests gained insight into the severe lack of access to health, nutrition, and education that millions of children in India face daily. Annette highlighted the powerful impact of CINI’s work and encouraged guests to support their mission.

The morning concluded with an exciting game of Bingo, where the lucky winner took home a Kathmandu hiking backpack! Sweet and sticky jalebi were passed around as guests slowly said their goodbyes after a wonderful morning of fun and community spirit.

CINI Australia extends a huge thank you to Perth Well Wishers and, in particular, Jaswinder and Raj Walia, for their unwavering commitment to the charity. Having recently returned from a visit to CINI, they remain deeply connected to the cause: you can read their story here. Their message to their guests on the day was:

“From our perspective, the event was a success. A lot of awareness was created about CINI Australia and Child in Need Institute (CINI), India, and we are thankful to Annette for speaking so well to the attentive audience. We would like to thank all who worked hard (Perth Well Wishers) in making the event successful and to all who registered for the event as well as the generous donors.”

Thanks to Jas and Raj’s enthusiasm and their ability to engage such a fantastic community, over $1,600 was raised at the event, with more to be counted once final contributions have been made. The donation tin will be opened on 5th April after a prayer meeting in the presence of attendees.

If you missed the event, but would still like to make a donation, please visit CINI Australia’s GiveNow page. No amount is too small—every donation brings us closer to our goal of ensuring every child has the right to play, safety, health, education, a clean environment, and a brighter future.

Thank You

Your Invitation to our Next Events

CINI Australia’s Mother’s Day Celebration High Tea Fundraiser will be returning on Sunday, 4th May 2025. We warmly invite you, your family, and your friends to attend. Together, we can uplift women and children and empower their voices for generations to come.

On Friday 2nd May bring along your friends and dancing shoes for a fantastic Music Night of Country and Rock by the Brass Ferrules to raise funds for CINI Australia. 7pm – 9.30pm, RSL Club Bicton, Tickets: $20. 

Become Part of the CINI Australia Family!

If you missed this event and are unable to attend our Mother’s Day Celebration in person, there are still ways to be involved. If you would like to donate a gift for our events, we are always looking for amazing prizes to help raise funds. Or, if you’d like to volunteer—either behind the scenes or on the day—we’d love your help. Our events wouldn’t be possible without your time and generosity. Please email us at admin@ciniaustralia.org.

In the meantime, please join our mailing list to stay up-to-date with news from our programs in India and up-coming events.

Malala Yousafzai, Nobel Prize laureate and UN Messenger of Peace with a special focus on girls’ education speaks at the UN during a high-level event “Financing the Future: Education 2030.” Source: UN Photo/Rick Bajornas.

International Day of Education is celebrated worldwide to emphasise the power of education in creating opportunity, optimism, prosperity, and peace.

Currently, there are an estimated 40 million Indian children aged 6-11 who are not in school. Over half of India’s children will not progress beyond elementary school, and in some cases, children are unable to access education at all. Many children are forced to work rather than attend school, as some families do not value education or believe that the barriers of caste, poverty and gender are just too strong to overcome.

The Child in Need Institute (CINI) works to address all forms of social exclusion that contribute to keeping children, particularly girls, out of school. International Day of Education coincides with National Girl Child Day in India, underscoring the critical role of education in transforming lives. A key message is that for every year a girl continues her education beyond fourth grade (age 9-10), her family benefits significantly: wages increase by 20%, child mortality decreases by 10%, and family size is reduced by 20%.

Awareness of Education Rights

Knowledge of the law is the foundation of empowerment. When people know their rights, they can identify issues, address deficits, and gain the tools needed to facilitate change.

CINI empowers women and children living in poverty by providing education and information about their rights, including:

• Their right to free and compulsory education.
• Child protection laws that prevent child labour and child marriage.
• Their right to access quality services.
• Their ability speak up to service providers and the local government.

By supporting individuals to understand their rights and enabling them to participate in making decisions that affect their own lives, women and children become leaders in their communities. They help to transform their network to be inclusive of the most marginalised and poor members. This concept sits at the core of all CINI programs, who can then address and support immediate local needs.

The Power of Education in Our Programs

Child Friendly Communities

• CINI Education Centres provide ‘safe spaces’ for first generation learners to attend or return to school and succeed. By working with schools, CINI ensures teachers understand children’s rights and create child-friendly environments. Schools are also shown how to access government resources.
• Young women learn their right to access quality health services early in their pregnancy. The whole family learn how to support the mother, and are educated about health, hygiene, feeding practices, nutrition and reproductive health.

Ujjan

• Adolescents that join Ujjan are the face of the initiative and the catalyst for change within Kolkata’s Red-Light District for their age group. Peer Leaders are trained in groups to bring about change in their lives, focusing on school enrolment, reducing dropout rates, child marriage, trafficking and teenage pregnancy. They share their training with their peers, extending their knowledge throughout the community.
• CINI works on the ground to identify children who are not in mainstream education or are at high risk of dropping out. By leveraging local community networks, they teach families that the long-term benefits of education outweigh the short-term gain of a child’s income.

IICCHAA

• Public education about HIV and AIDS plays a significant role in reducing stigma in villages and wider communities. As awareness grows and fear subsides, people are welcomed back to work, and children are re-integrated into schools.
• Education about HIV, health, hygiene and sexual reproductive health enables families to manage illness and improve overall health.
• Families are taught how to access regular medication, government schemes for housing and education funds, plus vocational and leadership training, which all help their economic stability.

CINI’s Vision for the Future

Recognised as a leading authority on mother and child nutrition and healthcare in India, CINI set up an independent body in 1974 to provide appropriate education and training. In addition to training over 25,000 government workers and its own staff, CINI has trained staff from major charities such as UNICEF, CARE India and CRY (Child Rights and You), as well as those from smaller local Non-Government Organisations operating in other countries.

By continuing to develop a range of appropriate training materials, CINI provides support to frontline health workers, midwives, nutritionists, teachers and local government workers in child rights, healthcare, and capacity-building.

CINI ensures education becomes a reality for vulnerable populations, equipping them with knowledge and skills to break the cycle of disadvantage. Together, we can ensure every child—regardless of their circumstances—has the opportunity to learn, grow, and thrive.

If you wish to support our life-changing programs, please visit:

Sources:

• “Ujjan The Brighter By-Lanes”. Child in Need Institute (CINI). 2024.04.29.
• “International Day of Education 24 January”. United Nations. 2025-01-03.
• “International Day of Education 2021: Theme, History, Significance”. S A NEWS. 2021-01-22.
• “Why January 24 is celebrated as ‘Education Day’ globally”. The Indian Express. 2020-01-24.

Give the Gift of Hope This Christmas

Please consider giving the gift of education to a child or the promise of a heathy baby to a new mother this Christmas.

From as little as $10 a month you can change the lives of women and children living in poverty and disadvantage. The CINI Method creates lasting change by empowering individuals and their communities; by supporting our Christmas Appeal, you will help build a strong foundation to fund our programs in 2025.

What your donations can do:

• $10 a month for 2 years helps a child succeed in school and provides a safe space to learn and play.
• $15 a month for 30 months supports a mother and baby from pregnancy through the first 2 years of life.
• $10 a month provides essential food packages for one child, including staples like rice, oil and lentils.
• $50 a month trains peer leaders and youth volunteers to protect vulnerable children from labour, trafficking, and early marriage through IICCHAA.
• $100 a month educates women about their right to access quality health services early in their pregnancy, and then through childhood and into adolescence.

Send a Christmas Card with your Online Donation

You can choose to send a digital Christmas Card created by CINI Australia by downloading one of the designs below and following the steps on GiveNow. 

• Green Christmas Card: Download here
• Red Christmas Card: Download here

Thank you for your support of CINI Australia

CINI Australia is a registered charity with DGR status, so any donation over $2 is tax deductible. $2 goes long way in India and at least 92% of funds raised in Australia goes directly to women, families and communities in India.

help the mother… help the child…

The world can end AIDS – if everyone’s rights are protected. With human rights at the centre, with communities in the lead, the world can end AIDS as a public health threat by 2030.

• In 2023, an estimated 39.9 million people were living with HIV globally.
• Approximately 630 000 people died from HIV‑related causes in 2023.
• An estimated 1.3 million people acquired HIV in 2023.

On 1 December WHO joins partners and communities to commemorate World AIDS Day 2024. Under the theme “Take the rights path: My health, my right!”, WHO is calling on global leaders and citizens to champion the right to health by addressing the inequalities that hinder progress in ending AIDS.
(Source: www.who.int/campaigns/world-aids-day/2024)

CINI sits at the forefront of creating long-lasting change for those living with HIV/AIDS in India. We are proud to support our powerful program IICHHAA (Indian Initiative Child Centered HIV Aids Approach), creating change on an individual and community level.

CINI Australia has supported this lifechanging program since 2011, reaching over 300 families and 350 children for whom HIV compounds the difficulties of poverty, low literacy and irregular income. A majority of these children have a single parent or are orphaned due to HIV.

There are no government programs specifically addressing the holistic and complex needs of a child infected by HIV or with a parent with the illness. CINI addresses these needs and excels at supporting the individual, the family and the community. 

• IICCHAA provides psychosocial support and counselling that dramatically improves a family’s communication and mental health, nutritional supplies and improved access to treatment.
• Education about HIV, health, hygiene and sexual reproductive health enables families to manage their illness and improve their health.
• Each year new families join the program as others become healthy, confident and financially secure and independent.

IICCHAA reaches families in 3 districts and over 100 villages of West Bengal. We need your help to raise $75,000 a year to keep this vital program going but to also grow and flourish.

What your donation can do:

• $10 a month provides food packages for one child, containing essential staples like rice, soya beans, oil, lentils, and more through IICCHAA.

• $400 a year supports one family in transitioning from the challenges of an HIV diagnosis towards independence. This includes psycho-social support, health education, healthcare access, children’s education, housing advocacy, and income generation training. 

• $2,500 a year employs outreach workers who are trained to assist families facing the challenges associated with HIV. Their understanding and courageous advocacy for rights is instrumental in driving change for these children.

IICCHAA Success:

In 2023-24 our IICHHAA programs received approximately $76,000 in donations. This employed 9 staff who were empowered with a wealth of knowledge, skills and experience through their training. IICCHAA reached 223 children from 185 families across 3 districts. Each child receives a monthly essential nutrition bundle, a total of 2,676 food bundles in the year.

Please consider making a donation today, or set-up a regular donation, to help us continue this vital program.

Contacts us with any questions
If you would like to discuss how to support a village or family or district or to partner CINI Australia in this wonderful program let us know. Please email: admin@ciniaustralia.org

Please forward and share this message to help continue this much needed program. Thank you for being an important part of the team.

CINI’s Comprehensive Efforts in Addressing Community Challenges

Beyond the focus of our three main programs, IICCHAA, CFC, and Ujjan, individuals in India face numerous economic, environmental, and social challenges that CINI addresses through their expansive work. By targeting ongoing issues such as menstrual hygiene and climate change, along with responding to immediate threats like Cyclone Remal, CINI continues to work hard on the ground to create better outcomes for those who are often impacted the most.

On May 26th, Cyclone Remal hit with high waves and wind, devastating villages in the Sunderbans and displacing communities to cyclone shelters. CINI began warning the community by using established mothers’ groups and adolescents’ groups to assist in this effort. During the meetings, the community was advised to take their important documents, medicine and food, and to take shelter in flood shelters or other safe places, undoubtedly saving lives.

World Environment Day was observed at different intervention areas of CINI on June 5th, focusing on this year’s theme ‘Our Land, Our Future’. CINI launched the campaign ‘Adopt a Plant and Build Your Planet – The #GreenDream initiative’. The celebrations included rallies, block-level seminars, awareness campaigns, and tree planting.

Menstrual Hygiene Day, observed on May 28th with the theme #PeriodFriendlyWorld, was celebrated by CINI Ujjan in collaboration with the Adolescent Clinic at Calcutta National Medical College and Hospital. The event featured a virtual video by singer Shreya Ghoshal on period education, followed by group discussions on menstruation misconceptions, menstrual hygiene, and the disadvantages of teenage pregnancy. Awareness sessions also included healthy menstrual hygiene practices, the importance of using sanitary pads, cleanliness, mental health care, the importance of food, stopping food wastage, and sanitary pad distribution.

We invite you to read CINI’s Quarterly Report to gain a better understanding of the breadth of their incredible work:

Dear Friend of CINI Australia,

Our End of Financial Year (EOFY) Appeal is a great opportunity to take advantage of CINI Australia‘s tax deductible donation status.

Your contribution can help a family with HIV to thrive, an adolescent in Kolkata’s Red-Light district to reach her potential and a rural village to see young mothers receive the best care.

CINI Australia helps to break the cycle of intergenerational poverty and disadvantage in India. Any support or donation you give will make a real and lasting change in the lives of women, children and local communities. 

Please consider making a tax-deductible donation before June 30th and help us raise $20,000!

Use the ATO’s Donation Tax Deduction Calculator to help you estimate the tax advantages you may receive: Click here.

What Your Donation Can Do:

• $100 funds the development of skills and knowledge for each of the 545 adolescents in the “Ujjan” Program, empowering them to navigate adolescence successfully and become community leaders.
• $400 supports one family in transitioning from the challenges of an HIV diagnosis towards independence. This includes psycho-social support, health education, healthcare access, children’s education, housing advocacy, and income generation training.
• $2,500 employs outreach workers who are trained to assist families facing the challenges associated with HIV. Their understanding and courageous advocacy for rights are instrumental in driving change for these children.
• $5,000 will enable the “Child Friendly Communities” team to reach an additional 12 remote villages and enhance safety, health, and education for children and mothers.

CINI Australia is a registered charity with DGR status, so any donation over $2 is tax deductible. At least 92% of funds raised in Australia goes directly to women, families and communities in India.

Every dollar counts and even small change can create big change. Please consider making a donation today. Thank you!

Dear Friend of CINI Australia, 

We are excited to announce that you can now purchase your tickets for this year’s High Tea Fundraiser on Sunday 5th May!

Celebrate Mother’s Day with us this year with a delicious high tea, including scrumptious food, aromatic plunger-coffee and the option to buy a glass or two of sparkling wine.

There will be a talk by CINI Australia where you will hear all about our recent visit to India and the latest news from our programmes, plus live entertainment, a shawl stall and beautiful gifts to purchase for Mother’s Day.

Fundraising activities will include our famous ‘Lucky Sip’, plus prizes to be won in our raffle and an exciting silent auction with many amazing prizes.

Help CINI Australia raise funds for our programmes that improve the health, nutrition, education and protection of women living in poverty in India.

The girls of today are the mothers of tomorrow.
Let us lift them up and empower their voices!

CINI Australia Mother’s Day 
Celebration High Tea Fundraiser
Sunday, 5th May 2024, 2.00pm – 5.30pm
Exhibition Hall, John XXIII College, Mt Claremont, 6010

Tickets: $60 Full, $50 concession, $440 table of 8. (Wine extra).

Can’t attend? Please consider making a donation. Our 3 programmes need your support! Even a trickle can cause a flood, so no donation is too small.

Or contact us about hosting your own Fundraising Tea by emailing: admin@ciniaustralia.org. Thank you!

Dear Friends and Supporters of CINI Australia,

This message was written from the Child in Need Institute headquarters in Pailan, just south of Kolkata, to share the 50 year celebration of CINI’s work empowering women and building safety for vulnerable children.

Thank you for your wonderful and continued support.

Let me give you a glimpse of what we saw and heard in the villages and slums where your contributions are changing lives.

Families told us that they want to continue on this path and request we continue to fund these life changing programs.

Thank you,
Jennie Connaughton
Founder CINI Australia

Note: Photos: names have been changed and permission received for use of photos

Foundation Day

CINI Australia visitors joined the fantastic celebrations of CINI’s 50th anniversary on Thursday 1st February.

The guests of honour were the 4 children from 4 of the states in which CINI works. They spoke to us about their lives, the change CINI has helped them make, of their dreams and aspirations and their determination to achieve their rights and be heard. Their beautiful regional dances were joyous celebrations, their dramas skilfully addressed family violence, gender equity, inclusion and child marriage.

Outstanding staff received well deserved recognition for their dedication and work over the past 50 years

Congratulations and recognition came from the world’s leading organisations working against child exploitation and violence against children including the UN, SAIEVAC, ECPAT and the West Bengal Commissioner for the Protection of Childs Rights.

Support groups came from Italy, Switzerland and Australia joined this celebration of extraordinary achievements.

IICCHAA: For Children Affected by HIV 

A home visit to Naimah and Sabira

After squeezing into totos then making our way across the padi fields, we received a warm welcome into Naimah’s home where she lives with her 4 daughters at the edge of the padi field. Curious neighbours gathered around, a stark contrast to earlier days when the family was ostracised because of fear of infection. Naimah clearly feels very supported by Anaewara, Nazia and Succhandra, the IICCHAA team. Lots has changed since they joined this program.

Naimah and her daughter, Sabira, are now both healthier, on regular ART medication and no longer afraid. They are again a part of their community. Sabira, who had never been to school, is in grade five and has mastered the alphabet in 2 languages. She is the first generation able to sign her name, a huge step towards independence and security. IICCHAA’s tutoring assistance is helping her catch up to her age-appropriate grade. 

Income generation skills enables Naimah to support her family through sari making, piece work that earns her about $5 per day. Sabira showed us the vine spinach, tomatoes, eggplant and a young mango tree that they have growing in the kitchen garden, a strip of land between their home and the padi. A great help to their finances and nutrition.

Child Club: A Safe Place for All Children

In the next village we joined the IICCHAA Child club, a room bursting with noisey, excited girls. The community provides the space where infected and non-infected children come together to play and learn about their health, their rights and how to advocate for themselves to the authorities.

The children, under direction of one of the fathers presented a beautiful drama illustrating how they educate their community about HIV, are supported by the IICCHAA team and act to prevent child marriage.

Rashma, who we met 4 years ago when she was unwell and so low that she was barely able to talk with others, now speaks with confidence about her illness, replacing myths with facts and giving other positive children hope for their future. Dr Rumeli described the intensive support she required. Through CINI’s income generation training she is establishing her financial security. As she is now well and thriving, she has  been phased out of the program. She returns to help with children’s meetings and awareness events.  She is an inspiring role model for other children in the same situation.

Memory Work: Bringing the Present and Past Together 

Simply put, this is a process to sync the child’s family history and memories with his/her present and is a powerful way to build close communication between child and parent, ready for more challenging conversations about HIV.
 
We heard countless stories of change in the health, social inclusion and emotional wellbeing of families. Income generation development has had an enormous impact. Access to sewing machines, tailoring training (by one of the fathers) and computer training is building much needed financial stability. The team identifies each child’s strengths, be it academic, dance or artistic and encourages them to develop these interests to their further education. The children were excited and proud to share their paintings, creations and dance.  
 
The strongest message came from two mothers who took the floor. Zia said, “Slowly I am learning to sew, I do not want to stop, I want to learn more advanced sewing”. Rahima explained “with what we have learned, we know how to protect the rest of our family, we don’t feel ashamed, we can interact with anyone positively”.

The Facts and Figures

The 2024-25 budget for our IICHHAA program’s is approximately $76,000. 

Remarkably, this amount employs 9 staff who, between them have a wealth of knowledge, skills and experience.

They reach about 223 children from 185 families across 3 districts. Each child receives a monthly essential nutrition bundle, a total of 2,676 food bundles in the year.

Thousands more learn about HIV through IICCHAA’s advocacy and community awareness campaigns. To maintain this effective and deserving program we have a fundraising challenge ahead.  

Contacts us with any questions: If you would like to discuss how to support a village or family or district or to partner CINI Australia in this wonderful program let us know. Please email: admin@ciniaustralia.org

Please forward and share this letter to help continue this much needed programme. Thank you for being an important part of the team.