This year we invite those of you in WA to come along to out Celebration Fundraiser on 7th May, Sunday, 2-5:30 pm
CINI Australia Mother’s Day Celebration Afternoon Tea Tickets
Are you too far away or can’t make it on the day?
You can still contribute to maintaining our three important projects in India with the CINI Australia Mother’s Day Appeal or hold your own gathering and ask family and friends to help reach your goal set up your fundraising page here
Child in Need Institute, India has launched an urgent response to the COVID disaster in India. As the catastrophe engulfs the country and the health system is overwhelmed, preventing COVID transmission is critical.
Families desperately need practical information and assistance to prevent further devastation from COVID. CINI has 47 years’ experience reaching families in the city slums and rural villages. It’s field workers are trusted in areas where resources are scarce and poverty is severe. They are the best people to spread these urgent and lifesaving public health messages.
Our appeal will fund the emergency COVID response and CINI Australia’s ongoing community development programs in rural villages and with families affected by HIV/AIDS. These programs address poverty, illiteracy, malnutrition and child marriage which have worsened with the devastating impact COVID on already vulnerable families.
Donate at https://mothers-day-celebration-2021-ciniaustralia.raisely.com/donate
Or by direct debit at CINI Australia, Child In Need India Gift Fund: BSB 036 306 AC 344863Donations are tax deductible
This year we are unable to hold the annual High Tea for CINI Australia. Instead we are asking supporters to make a donation or hold their own fundraiser as they celebrate their Mother’s Day. Invite family, friends or work colleagues. As COVID infections surge in India, the situation is dire. CINI has the experience and expertise to mount an effective response to this crisis. Communities need accurate, understandable health information to protect themselves. CINI COVID Assistance centres throughout the state will disseminate vital public health education, nutritional support & distribute COVID Wellness Kits.(masks, sanitiser etc) This years fundraiser is critical for our ongoing programs and to help families through this pandemic. See how to help at: https://mothers-day-celebration-2021-ciniaustralia.raisely.com
This Newsletter tells you about the work CINI is doing to support families through the six months of the COVID panademic. They are helping families with emergency nutrition and keeping children, who are now out of school, safe.
Donations to CINI Australia are now tax deductible
This year’s Christmas Appeal is more important than ever as India continues to be severely affected by COVID-19
Donate in lieu of a Christmas gift or Secret Santa
When COVID struck, CINI quickly identified the greatest needs in their communities. A huge response was mounted. Food parcels were distributed throughout the state. As the lockdown eases CINI is now responding to worsened poverty, malnutrition, interrupted schooling and diminished safety of children.
Our committed field workers are again working in more than 94 villages.
Read the latest news from India and how CINI’s emergency response is bringing relief to families coping with the COVID-19 lockdown and now the damage caused by Cyclone Amphan. Read what CINI Australia is doing to help.
CINI Australia’s COVID Crisis Appeal is remaining open if you would like to give these families a hand to get through the lockdown and recover from Amphan.
Fresh water is in short supply, homes have been severely damaged and belongings lost. CINI is helping with food packages again and funds to help with homes.
Thank you for supporting our Mothers Day event. CINI has been providing emergency food and soap to families who can’t otherwise access enough for their children.This means we can keep our important community development and HIV programs running as much as possible through the lockdown. The teams will be ready to start again as the lock down eases.
Everyone who donates to CINI Australia’s Mother’s Day Covid Crisis Appeal will go in the draw for one of 9 beautiful prizes kindly donated by generous local businesses.
Please contribute to this appeal that will fund CINI’s emergency response to the lockdown in India. Families are being provided with packages of essential basic food supplies to help them survive this difficult time as well as soap, sanitizer and education about ho to keep safe.
Tomorrow, Sunday 10th May, our annual CINI Australia Mother’s Day Celebration 2020 goes online. Join the Facebook Event or donate to the Covid Crisis Fundraiser
We celebrate mothers in India who are working hard in this very difficult time, to look after their children the best they can .
From 2: 30 pm, via our Facebook event you can hear about CINI’s response to the COVID crisis in India and support their courageous work with those in dire need. CINI initiated a rapid response to Covid, providing essential food to families in the slums, the brick kilns and tea gardens throughout West Bengal. They are also supplying soap and Nutrimix, CINI’s highly nutritious food mix, where they are most needed. Volunteers receive hygiene kits with masks and sanitizer to keep them safe as they deliver food and health information to communities. Your support will help them continue this vital work.
When you donate to this Appeal you will automatically go in the raffle draw for one of the fantastic prizes, kindly donated by local Perth businesses.
Mother’s Day is the major fundraiser for CINI Australia’s programs in India. We aim to raise over $25,000 on Sunday to support the Covid response and to ensure the continuation of our other essential programs. The Child Friendly Communities program reaches over 90 villages in Uttar Dinajpur and IICCHAA supports more than 200 children and their families affected by HIV/AIDS.
Thank you for your generosity.
CINI responded quickly to the strict pandemic lockdown imposed in mid March in India. Infection numbers still continue to rise and the lockdown is being eased. Life has been extremely difficult for daily wage earners who rely on finding work each day to feed their families. A a result of no income and closed markets, access to food has been limited. CINI and quickly Nutrimix production and made packages of essential dry food rations. They have delivered these to 10s of thousands of families throughout the state.
Book your seats now and come along to this great High Tea Fundraiser at John XXIII College, Mt Claremont
In 2018 CINI Australia’s impact in India has continued enhancing the live of families socially and economically through health, nutrition and education programs.
With your support, CINI Australia can continue to fund these empowering programs that are enabling entire communities to create positive, sustainable inter-generational change.
Just in the last 6 months the CINI Australia-funded IICCHAA program has reached over 200 families effected by HIV/AIDs. This program included home visits, nutrition, health and hygiene support, community awareness, linkages with financial security support offered by local government schemes, education scholarships, housing assistance – the list goes on.
Hundreds more families have been affected by CINI Australia’s Child Friendly Communities program. This powerful method of development is delivered to all parts of the community: local government, services and families. It includes improving nutrition, health and hygiene for pregnant and breastfeeding mothers and malnourished children; self help groups, supported by health workers track vulnerable households and adolescents learn about their rights to education and safety. Building empowerment and representation in local government gives women a say in what matters most to them and a voice in determining the future of their communities.
The 2018 Christmas Appeal is the first of many vital steps towards reaching our 2019 program budget by March.
We would be very grateful if you could please share this and consider re-directing gift-givers to our cause in lieu of gifts this Christmas.
Follow this link to contribute to the Christmas Appeal
Print your own CINI Australia Gift Certificate to give in lieu of a present
or a Secret Santa Poster or Christmas Party Poster
to help with your fundraising
CINI Australia’s program, in its second year, spans 12 villages in the Chainagar, (popn 22,000)Uttar Dinajpur, in West Bengal.
Our experience in Bangalbari, CINI Australia’s first program, has driven a number of changes in the program for Chainagar. We saw the importance of early involvement by the local council. In 2016 the CINI team worked closely with the Prodan (Mayor) of Chainagar and the council are committed to CINI’s model of development.
The health and education of women and children have been written into the local council plans as a priority. This is a huge achievement as the council is invested in ensuring change occurs and are contributing funds and resources to make this happen.
It was decided to put effort into developing a few centres at a time as ‘models’ so that the community could see the effect of changes. So we have started with 3 village schools where sanitation and education facilities are improving (see school story below).
At 3 ‘Anganwadi’ (child health) centres women learn about maternal and child health, adolescent boys and girls are taught about their own health, child marriage and their rights to education and participation.
Through participation in child ‘parliaments’ the children learn about their needs and to have a voice in their communities. These skills will prepare them for future leadership.
They are excited by this new knowledge and value their role in changing the future for their children. As they learn about antenatal and early childhood they encourage other women to attend. They assist the Anganwadi worker to weigh, measure and feed the children.
Bold statements & images promoting the rights of children have been brightly plastered across a local bus, spreading the word of the CINI’s Child Friendly Community (CFC) program, proudly supported by CINI Australia.
The Child Friendly Bus initiative will increase public awareness by explicitly displaying messages about the rights of the child and the risks of child-labour & child–marriage.
Local bus company, MAA Fatema Transport, runs the route from Raiganj to Bharatpur, through the program district. It It is especially effective in spreading its message as there is little other media or public education.
Such innovative public education is uncommon in rural India. An essential aspect of our “CFC” program is to involve local community leaders. It engages them and enables ownership of their role in making change, educating the community & honouring their responsibility for the wellbeing of children.
Poverty effects all aspects of a family life. Good nutrition & health care are essential, but without education children remain enormously disadvantaged. In the last 12 months, our Chainagar team has been working with the primary schools in Manikpara, Tilan, Asmanhat, Chainagar and Simuldanga villages. In February, CINI A’s Director Jennie visited Manikpara school, developed as a “model school”, to motivate change in neighbouring villages of Chainagar.
CINI’s facilitation has helped teachers, parents, students & local council form the school management committee. They decide what changes are needed, how to fund them and who will be responsible. The school grounds have been made safer and an orchard planted. This is a significant achievement as, until now, parents & children had no say in their school development.
Through a “Child Parliament” the children learn about their rights & to voice their opinions. Under the leadership of their “Prime Minister” they participate in their school council and develop skills for future community leadership.
Creating a safe and happy school means that dropout children are more likely to attend. The child leaders visit their homes encouraging them to come to school. Many village schools have basic rooms, blank walls & wooden benches. The council has provided funds for teachers to create stimulating child friendly class rooms and improve their teaching standards.
The young “Minister of Health” speaks up if meal quality is not maintained. The school has a copy of the Government midday meal program and they are advocating for the quality of food that their children are entitled to.
Hygiene has improved with the introduction of girls toilets. Under guidance of their ministers children learn about hand washing & managing rubbish.
These developments result in better attendance, enthusiastic children, improved learning and long lasting benefits for community. This year we plan to reach the remaining schools of Chainagar.
It is 8 years since the launch of CINI Australia and it is time to expand our board
Would you like to contribute to positive change for women and children in India?
Your help in Australia will empower families in India to break the cycle of poverty.
Do you have 6 – 8 hours per month to join our enthusiastic, hands-on board?
CINI Australia is a registered not for profit and charity supporting sustainable development in India
since 2011. Our programs focus on health, nutrition, education and child protection.
We are seeking two volunteer board members with the enthusiasm, resources and skills to expand our support base and to achieve our goal of financial sustainability. Experience in fundraising and/or publicity would be an advantage.
For more information or to apply please
email Peter at admin@ciniaustralia.org by 24thAugust 2018
Come celebrate with a delicious afternoon tea and a glass of sparkling wine. There will be a raffle, silent auction, door prize and a Mother’s Day gift stall. Have a glimpse of India.
You will hear the latest update from CINI Australia’s projects in India and how your support is helping young mothers give their children a better chance in life and giving communities the skills to build a path out of poverty.
Tickets $55-full, $40-concession or $400-table of 8. (wine extra)
Bookings and more informationat: http://www.trybooking.com/UOFP
Many of CINI education centers in the slums are supported through “Educate A Child Sponsorships”.
We visited these inspiring centers in Kolkata and Siliguri. Often the environment around the center is confronting and very poor with very little resources for families. The centers are a single room with mats or desks and a colourful posters provided by CINI. The local community provides the venue, often a school, club or sports center. Classes follow the Government curriculum as well as providing the chance to play and create.
An essential aspect is protection. This could not have been clearer than when I visited a center near Kolkata’s Park Street area, not far from the elegant shops and big restaurants.
The centre was a buzz of activity as children arrived back from school. The room was small, hot and humid. The ceiling fans didn’t work. No one complained. One child offered me a fan. The children, 6 to 13 years were busy doing their maths and Bengali, reading, copying from the black boards under the guidance of a kind and focused teacher. The children obviously felt safe and nurtured.
I asked if I could visit where the home. We walked down an alley to the railway line – home. There were hundreds of dwellings made from tarps and bamboo along the track, women were preparing food between the tracks, toddlers were playing under their eye. The women in their twenties told me they’d always live there; they hadn’t been to school and their houses were falling apart. There was no running water, they cary it in from the government supply truck in plastic bottles. There are no toilets.
The center provides so much that is essential: safety, help with school, some where to draw, dance and play including safety and the chance at education.
In Siliguri CINI has 4 slum education centers and CINI works in 50 of the Siliguri’s 186 slums.
Many families who migrate from poorer state such as Bihar& Jharkhand end up in slums on very low incomes. Here were 2 teachers with 50 happy children, 5 to 16 years, class 1 to 8, speaking Hindi, Urdu, Bengali and Nepali. Amazing!
If you would like to support these centres, an ” educate A Child” sponsorship is $10 per month
Go to Sponsorships
During our February visit to CINI we went to see CINI’s Sponsor A Mother and Her Baby program. Some of our Australian donors are sponsoring mothers in the villages of Diamond Harbour district, South of Kolkata, where the Hooghly River enters the Bay of Bengal.
After reaching as far as the vehicle could take us we continued on foot through the village surrounded by padi fields. We passed ponds, tube wells, mud huts, and an occasional brick house. Most people have “joint families” were the daughters-in-law join their husband’s family. Cooking is done together by the women of the family on clay stoves built into the ground.
For the last four years, I have met up with Millie, supervisor of the local health workers. She guides these village women in caring for mothers and children
These “self-help-group” woman are trained by CINI and help about 90 women and children each. Twice a month they visit pregnant mums providing support and education. They make sure they get to the antenatal clinic, understand why hospital births is safer and importantly, help the young mother in those first few years of her babies life. This has a huge effect on preventing malnutrition and childhood illness.
Soumitas, the health worker took us visit Naseema (name changed), in Giopalpur village. She was 7 months pregnant with her first baby. She is 24 years and in spite of weighing 35 kilograms, was well. She was having regular antenatal care and taking her iron. She lives in a joint family and her husband is a daily labourer, which is unreliable and low income work. Her confidence with the health worker was evident.
Naseema’s mother was probably also malnourished and anaemic from childhood. As a result, Naseema is under weight and her baby ‘at risk’. Through “Sponsor A Mother” she receives close attention and support for the “first 1000 days”. We can expect her baby to be born safely in hospital, weigh at least 2.5kg, be better able to resist childhood illness and develop normally. This is the point of change for the next generation.
If you would like to give a hand to young mother from early pregnancy until her baby is two years old go to Sponsorships
.. to raise $5000 by Christmas for Kolkata’s children.
with gifts that give twice and last forever
CINI Australia wishes you all a very Happy Christmas
& thank you for your support to reach many families in need.
With Christmas celebrations, holidays and gifts for those we love,
we think of others who don’t have so much, so …
In 2015-16 CINI identified over 11,000 girls out of school and helped more than 7,000 get back into education.
Being out of school puts children at risk. Not only are they missing out on essential schooling, which is one of the most effective ways to get out of poverty, it means that they are on the streets, in child labour and very vulnerable to exploitation and abuse.
Living in poverty is hard work for children: no books in their one-room homes and working to help their families survive. A child’s “Right To Play” is lost in this struggle.
Children in Kolkata’s slums come to CINI’s education centers for 4 hours a day. CINI’s dedicated teachers make sure that they are managing their school work. It is a place where they can ‘just be children’ and can play, dance and create in safety.
Many of the adolescents who attended the centers, return to help the next children, because they understand more than anyone, the enormous benefit of this support.
Please include these children in your Christmas plans
Merry Christmas & A Happy New Year to you all
Make a secure on line contribution at
http://www.givenow.com.au/CINIA2017xmasappeal
