TARA Homes for Children: 5 Year Review: 2008 - 2013 The Need

It is estimated there are 18 million children living on the street in India, working, begging or simply trying to survive, amidst all kinds of violence and abuses. Delhi itself counts more than 15 million inhabitants, among which it is estimated that up to 500,000 children live abandoned on the streets.

The Inspiration for Tara

The founders of Tara each had previous involvement working with abandoned children in India; in both local Non Government Organisations (NGOs) and large shelters. From this experience they were inspired to create homes with a family-like atmosphere which focused on education and the childrens well-being; similar to the opportunities children have in more economically advantaged conditions. The rst home, Tara Boys, opened in August 2008 and caters for boys aged six to 18 years old. The Tara model includes the following principles: All the children living at Tara are abandoned children, in need of care and protection A maximum of 20 children can be admitted per Tara home A family-like atmosphere should be created Education is a key priority Each child is regarded as an individual and treated with respect and dignity After clearance by the Child Welfare Committee (the Indian government authority assigned to deal with children in need of care and protection) an o!cial placement order is issued for the child/children to reside at Tara.

The Tara Vision

The Tara vision contained several important ideals: A family-like environment Embracing non-violence Mainstreaming quality schooling Reinforcing positive social and cultural values Fostering personal identity A safe place for childhood

A family-like environment A maximum capacity of 20 children per Tara home ensures each and every child is provided with su!cient attention. Each child is treated as an individual, taking into account their di"erent needs and talents. Tara ensures there is a mix of ages to encourage balanced relationships between the older and younger children. Embracing Non-violence Vulnerable or abandoned children are often recovering from previous violence. Tara strives to remove violence between children by looking at the cause as well as treating the symptoms. Training is provided to sta" on non-violent discipline methods as well as teaching the children how to deal with violence in a non-violent manner. This is also a key reason why Tara has decided to keep its homes small, as it has been documented that larger homes for children greatly increase the risk of a violent and unsafe environment. Mainstreaming quality schooling Education breaks the cycle of inter-generational poverty. Quality education is the ultimate goal for every child in Tara. This leads to a sustainable outcome, as each child has the opportunity to become an independent and contributing member of the community. The ambition for every child admitted to Tara is to be mainstreamed into a suitable school and supported through regular tutor sessions in small groups. Most children enter the homes with signicant academic gaps and require a bridge period where they undertake intensive tuition in small groups to catch up with their age group before the commencement of the next academic year.

Reinforcing positive social and cultural values Integrity, Courage, Solidarity, Dignity, Generosity, Education, Having a Critical Mind, Peace, Tolerance, Humility and Hygiene are values reinforced through regular activities (such as theatre workshops, discussions, contact with a range of Indian and expatriate support sta") as well in a daily mantra before dinner (e.g. Every day I try to become a better person). Fostering personal identity Strengthening the unique identity of every child is a core element within the Tara concept. It involves transforming children who have been previously treated as objects. Tara believes this can be achieved by consistently encouraging the children to express themselves, teaching them their rights, spending time listening to them, taking action when they legitimately ask for it, and by encouraging the practice of active democracy; for example through having a child representative elected by the children who attends the sta" meetings, represents their concerns and feeds back to the children after. A safe place for childhood Tara aims to provide a place that is safe in every aspect; so that children can live their lives in a home that is non-toxic and protected. This is critically important as many of the children have experienced serious traumas; often bearing responsibilities beyond their young years. Tara recognises the importance of having a childhood as part of their educational development. Adequate time is given for playing games, going to the park and social and creative outings.

Accomplishments: 2008-2009
Taras early years focused on creating a solid foundation suitable for a sustainable home for abandoned children. The rst two years required a combination of determination and patience. Ideas and concepts were tried and tested; hands-on experience was gained from learning by doing; outcomes both intended and unexpected were instrumental in shaping a robust framework for the future. Key milestones included: The creation of a nancial and legal Tara structure Identifying the rst group of Tara children Securing initial funding Developing a community based on Tara values, including committed Trustees and volunteers Broadening the childrens view of their world Securing licensing by the Authorities

The creation of a nancial and legal Tara structure To ensure Tara operated professionally two NGOs were established: ! ONYVA: is a registered Indian NGO holding all primary legal and nancial responsibility. It is accountable for all administration and communications with Indian authorities. CHAYA FRANCE: is a registered French charity responsible for generating funds, providing technical assistance and ensuring the smooth strategic running of the programme.

Identifying the rst group of Tara children The Tara programme began as a small part of a larger Delhi NGO (Deepalaya). The larger NGO acted as an incubator during the rst year. The rst group of Tara children came from a large shelter run by Deepalaya. Through sheer persistence and e"ort Tara traced and located at least one family member for every child. Due to this contact Tara was able to obtain parental/guardian written consent for their placement at Tara. Securing initial funding Initially, it was an uphill battle to nd ways to sponsor a newborn project in the middle of an international recession. Funding for Onyva was provided by the personal savings of a small number of founding members. Step by step the Tara model was embraced and potential donors were convinced of the approach. Funding slowly trickled in and within two years the rst prestigious sponsors (the French Embassy in India and private corporation Hermes) were secured. Thus began the start of a strategic and longer term funding base. Developing a community based on Tara values An important and crucial element was the hiring of sta" willing and able to role-model Taras values. Processes and procedures were documented that, while rigorous, reected Taras family-like environment. Life in a childrens home like Tara needs to be rmly structured around routine (homework time, sport time, music time, computer access, cleaning chores, washing of clothes, etc...). Tara introduced regular opportunities for the sta" to meet; mechanisms for the children to complain,

suggest or provide feedback to sta" (e.g. through the complaints box in the foyer and the elected Child Representative who attends all sta" meetings); mediation tools to solve conicts though dialogue; on-going thorough documentation of the childrens history and progress. Broadening the childrens view of their world A distinctive feature of Tara is that the sta" and volunteers team is made up of both Indians and expatriates from numerous countries and backgrounds. This allows the children to be raised in a truly multi-cultural environment. Tara places a strong emphasis on diversity, keeping three languages present in their every day life (Hindi, English and French). Tara volunteers and trainees come from all over the world bringing with them a range of skills and experiences. Licensing by the Authorities Taras Indian NGO was vigilant in complying with the law (e.g. the Juvenile Justice Act, other texts related to child protection, tax compliance with the vital FCRA - a registration required to get donations in foreign currencies). The NGO needed to ensure its nancial and accounting procedures were in order to secure accreditation by the Authorities. Similarly, the French NGO endured scrutiny by the French government; in due course it was accepted to grant tax deductibility to French donors. Positive change From the very beginning it was evident the Tara vision was reaping the desired results: The children became less anxious as they learnt that their new home was a safe environment and they became noticeably less violent towards each other. Their health and hygiene improved as Tara standards were enforced (e.g. washing hands before meal times; providing vegetarian and non-vegetarian meals on a weekly basis under the guidance of a qualied dietician; making sure every child brushed their teeth morning and night). The children responded positively to the routine of learning and playtime; they smiled and laughed and slept well. After only six to twelve months most children began to start speaking English. The childrens self-condence increased when they understood the sta" at Tara listened, considered and acknowledged their input. Several of the expatriate volunteers commented on the good manners of the children; with some commenting they were better behaved than many of their children back home!

Accomplishments: 2010 - 2013

The next phase of Tara continued to build on the successful elements of the model. The following themes emerged in Taras next phase of development: Educational goals The continued development of sta" professionalism The establishment of Tara Tots (the model is replicated) Measuring the change in the childrens lives Becoming a well-known reputable NGO Connecting with supporters Educational goals As highlighted above, education is a critical element in breaking the cycle of poverty. Tara focused on the specic learning needs of each child: identifying the academic path for each individual was a key goal during the early years. The Tara team worked hard building relationships with a range of quality schools from both the private and government sectors. Complementary to mainstreaming the children was the design and implementation of Taras own education programme; Bridging the Gap. The programme is tailored to meet specic learning needs given the majority of children who come to Tara have little or no education. The dedicated programme enables newly admitted Tara children to catch up the academic level of the children of their age group; as a result they are mainstreamed into school as soon as possible. Many of the boys have become leaders at school, e.g. being nominated as class monitors and representatives. Most visitors, Indian and foreign alike, are surprised by the level of self-condence of the Tara children. This self-condence shows in the boys academic results, their sports achievements, their ability to speak publicly, and the popularity they have amongst their classmates. All the children have been promoted to their next class level at the end of each academic year. In 2013 the two eldest boys passed Class 12 exams with ying colours. This was after only two years of intensive study at Tara followed by two further years in mainstream school. As a result the boys were granted admission to one of the best universities in Delhi, and are now at college. Sta! professionalism continues to develop The children at Tara are supervised 24/7 but no adult lives in Tara. This policy aims to avoid sta" burning out and reduce indiscriminate behaviour towards the children. Sta" must be professional and fully understand Taras philosophy, values and child protection policy. Tara has only hired professionals who are committed and take their responsibilities seriously. There must be a su!cient-sized team to cover 24 hours a day/ 7 days a week; there now are 5 full-time and 1 part-time adult for Tara Boys, 10 fulltime adults for Tara Tots and 4 extra full-time adults working on both projects.

Tara Tots: the model is replicated The second Tara home, Tara Tots, was started in 2012. Tara Tots provides a home for girls and boys below 10 years. Tara Tots has taken the best learning from Tara Boys and adapted it for a younger age group. Measuring the change in the childrens lives As Tara matured, changed and developed the Tara team felt it was time to assess its practice and understand what true change it was bringing to the lives of the children. Partnering with GoPhilanthropic, a methodology was developed to capture the rich and insightful details of change experienced by Tara children. These stories of change provide valuable information for internal learning in addition to providing meaningful information for donors and funding proposals. Tara becomes a well-known reputable NGO As a result of Tara actively pursuing its vision consistent with its philosophy it is well regarded in the NGO community and beyond. Tara is regularly presented in the in Indian and French media (print and TV). Tara has been supported by the French Embassy since its creation and is regularly shown to various o!cials visiting India such as Members of Parliament and Ministers. In 2013 the French First Lady visited Tara Tots and met with all the children. As a result of these connections, a special long-term working visa for our Director was granted by the Indian Home Ministry. Connecting with our supporters Keeping the network of donors, supporters and volunteers informed of all the daily activities is very important to Tara. Sharing the inspiring changes the sta" have the luxury of noticing on a daily basis makes a huge di"erence in supporters really feeling part of the Tara story. Facebook, blogging and regular updates make donors realize the genuine impact and value of their support. All of the children have individual sponsors and regular communication between them is a maintained. Several volunteers return each year to spend time helping with Tara Boys and Tots; the children appreciate and respond to the continuity. It continues to make the connection even more meaningful.

Lessons Learned: Tara funding and investment

Tara believes that continuous improvement is fundamental to the success and growth of the Tara model; the team keeps a keen eye on what works well and where the greatest challenges lie: Financial transparency Monthly reccurring donation schemes Corporate sponsor focus

Financial transparency: donors want to know precisely where their money goes Being considered a small project in funding terms allows Tara to easily provide clarity to every individual or corporation on exactly where the funds are spent. Learning this early on has helped to create a well-dened and transparent funding model.

Monthly recurring donation schemes Tara has a very successful monthly donation scheme whereby individuals contribute a set amount on a monthly basis. Tara Homes are supported by 152 individuals residing in France, the USA and India. The individual sponsors subscribe to a Tara Scheme, which identies one particular recurring cost (i.e. school bus fares, rice, home tutoring) that the sponsors commit to support each month. Collectively, the schemes generate an income of 54,252 Euros per year, i.e. one third of the total Tara budget.

Corporate sponsors focus; they prefer to fund new projects and xed assets Taras budget is predominantly recurring costs for ongoing projects. However corporate sponsors prefer to fund new projects, xed assets and one-o" costs. Understanding this requirement was a learning curve given Taras budget is mostly recurring costs for ongoing projects. Tara has changed its economic model to match new projects with corporate funding; funding the day-to-day through reccurring donations from individuals (i.e. the monthly recurring donation schemes).

The Challenges
The Tara team is happy to share its challenges as this is important for any journey that involves looking after and caring for children. Some of the current complexities are: Stress on sta" Family relationships Mental and physical health Child retention Cost of quality care Financial stability

Stress on sta! Running the Tara homes requires sta" to be available around the clock. This creates a stressful environment in which to work as sta" can face constant intrusion into their private time. Tara continues to work towards creating a roster with better outcomes for both sta" and children. Family relationships; the risk of children being taken back by families for the wrong reasons Sometimes families want to have their children back home, yet rarely for reasons that will benet their children. When Tara feels the child is in danger in his/her home environment, Tara recommends the child not be restored to family. The Child Welfare Committee becomes sovereign allowing us to provide continued care. Mental and physical health Increasingly, Tara is managing cases of children with special needs. Tara is not able to host a heavily disabled child but can take care of children with minor physical or psychological di"erences. Managing children with mental or physical issues requires specialist expertise from the sta"; sometimes they are not equipped with the training and experience related to these complex needs. Child Retention Most, if not all, of the children who come to Tara have been through traumatic periods in their lives. Despite what Tara o"ers not all are able to recover and adapt to mainstream conditions. Consequently, the Tara programme will never achieve 100% success for each child. Many problems occur during the adolescence/early teenage years (e.g. issues relating to social stigma, changing hormones) - often resulting in outbursts that threaten their future at Tara.

Cost of high quality care The Tara model in its aim for high quality care comes at a high nancial cost. That is, requiring the children to be supervised 24/7 by professionals is expensive. As is sending them to good schools, funding their tuition and providing nutritious food and quality health care and psychological support. Our greatest challenge is in justifying the cost of the programme particularly those children who, for a variety of reasons, exit the programme prematurely. Financial stability Funding Tara requires an on-going commitment to continually create su!cient awareness about the programs for sponsors and others to provide nancial investment. Tara is a project with no end date, so new funding needs to be constantly sought.

Looking Forward: The Next Steps

There is much to look forward to in the coming Tara years: building on past success, creating new success and exploring ideas and options not yet thought of. The following are some of the immediate next steps: Tara Girls Expanding sta" training More detailed individual care plans for each child Exit plans Measuring the impact Our ultimate goal

TARA Girls The Tara team is currently working on its third Tara Home: Tara Girls 2014/15. This will be a home for 20 girls aged 6 to 18 years. Timing for the shelter will depend on being able to access adequate funding. Sta! training Taras foundation relies on a properly trained and professional sta". We hope to solidify permanent training sessions for our sta" relating to a range of subjects including sexual education, rst aid, child protection and others. More detailed care plans Going forward, Tara is committed to making sure we have the time and opportunity to consider every child individually and to work as a team in building their unique futures. This will require creating robust case studies on each child. Exit plan It is essential for Tara to begin preparing for the next group of Tara boys who will be nishing Class 12; entering university or vocational training, and eventually exiting the Tara programme. In the future, Tara will have approximately nine boys entering into this important stage at the same time.

Measuring our impact: Tara is committed to continued measurement of its work and achievements, through the stories of change and other means. Our ultimate goal Our ultimate goal is to build 10 homes so that 200 children can be rescued, nurtured and provided with the opportunity of a happy future. We will demonstrate it is more productive for society to take care of these children in small groups of 20 in a family-like environment; thereby providing an important and necessary middle ground between institutional care and foster care.

Stories of Change
Story 1: I belong to a Tribal community in Chhattisgarh.# If I remember my early childhood, it was not good. Due to my silent attitude, in the village I was called Pagal (crazy) or Bewakoof (foolish). I did not talk much and became involved in abusing substances, like tobacco, gutka (chewing tobacco)#and homemade alcohol with my friends. I was brought to Delhi by my mother and put into a the Deepalaya childrens home. After few months I was transferred to Tara Boys. I did not know anything when I came here. During four years of my stay at Tara, I have got the opportunity to develop my English, communication skills and computer skills. But after June 2012, I started feeling a signicant change in my life. I got admission at Rajkiya Pratibha Vikas Vidyalaya school, where I have got lot of opportunities to participate in di"erent sports activities. At the beginning, I was feeling very uncomfortable with new friends and with girls at my school. I felt very shy while talking to them, but now I am condent and have so many friends at school including girls. I have joined the National Cadet Corps, take part in all sports activities and have had opportunities to visit the Cabinet Ministers of India. I want to do something extraordinary in sports, therefore I take part in every sports activity. # Not only at school, but at Tara I have developed a lot - after becoming Child Representative I feel more condent, as it

has developed my leadership, discipline and management skills. Tara is a place where children are from di"erent cultures and religions, but in spite of all these diversities, we understand everyones situation and live together. I feel happy that people trust me and I try to maintain this trust. I have also learnt values and the importance of respecting and understanding others feelings. # Helping depressed people gives me happiness and mental peace. # Before becoming Child Representative, I felt hesitant while sharing my feelings with others. But now I do not feel hesitant and raise my voice if I see anything wrong anywhere. I try to make children and other people happy with my behaviour. I realise that this is all because of Tara - Tara is my life. By: 16 year old boy, living in Tara since 2009 # Story 2: I feel that during last three month I learnt few new things in Tara.# As a result of regular supervision and motivation, I feel that I have become more responsible towards looking after myself and taking care of my own belongings. Tara Boys has some rules for everyone that sometimes I do not like, but later I realise that we learn from it how to make ourselves disciplined and it help us in our physical and mental growth. One more thing which I have learnt in Tara is value - we are taught in Tara about non-violence, truth, discipline, respecting, helping each other, avoiding bad words etc. We are taught in Tara that we should respect elders and behave with them properly. I remember once I got very angry with Raj* # bhaiya [older boy living in Tara], I said bad words to him and became very violent with him. But after sometime on becoming calm, I realised that I had made a mistake and should not have behaved with Raj bhaiya like that. # The next day I apologised to Raj#bhaiya and decided that I would never say bad words to anyone again. The most important thing I have learnt is telling the truth. I do not tell lie, sometimes I also make mistakes like other small boys, but I accept my mistake, and try not to repeat it. I believe that we learn from our mistakes. I have lived in an abusive and alcoholic environment at my home and on the street. I would like to share that recently in June I went to my home to spend one week's summer vacation with my family and enjoyed a lot this time with my sister and other family members. But one day after consuming alcohol my father fought with my brother in law late at night and it made me very upset. I requested my father to stop this habit of alcohol and he said that he would leave it one day, but he does not. I feel that now I am very small and cannot help him in getting rid of this bad habit, but one day I will be grown up and will help him.# I feel that Tara is a place where children are strongly motivated for education. I am doing my studies very sincerely and honestly. I am improving in all the activities whether it is yoga, dance or study. My teachers are happy with my performance. I want to be a gentleman.# * Name changed to protect identity # By: 8 year old child, living in Tara since 2011