AASRA CHARITABLE TRUST : A PROFILE

AASRA [Advocacy for Alternatives, Sexuality, Reproductive Health and AIDS]

started off as an informal initiative to provide counselling to young people
and others in gender distress and to disseminate need based reproductive
health and HIV related counselling through telephone in 1997.
Following a UNICEF supported base line survey of street and working
populations of Patna aged from 13-19 years in 1999, The AASRA project [as
we were then known] identified two main areas for intervention: [a] child
protection [b] young people aged 14 to 19, with focus on vulnerable
populations.
We were, and continue to be a group of volunteers of different ages who
meet together to advocate positive change and to encourage a child friendly
and people friendly environment in our city.
AASRA became a registered Charitable Trust in September 2001.
ACTIVITIES
The AASRA volunteers donate their time and skills to conduct a variety of
programmes involving young people and fellow citizens.
Educational support programme: we support children from dysfunctional
families through initiatives to keep them in school. This means partial or full
support such as books, uniforms, school or hostel fees. For children from
dysfunctional families at Patna, there are periodic tutorial sessions conducted
by volunteers. This year we are supporting 8 children in schools in Sasaram,
2 children in Patna with school fees and uniforms. We have aided 20 children
with text book and educational materials support.
Children and families with HIV programme: children who are HIV AIDS
orphans [or about to be HIV-AIDS orphans] are of special concern to us. We
do not think that institutionalization is a practical way of dealing with the HIV
crisis in a resource poor state like Bihar. Our support is need based: nutrition
for the very poor so that the immune system is boosted, planning for
educational and other needs for the HIV infected or affected children.
Emotional support and counselling, and where possible referral to any
services available from other NGOs [usually in Mumbai or Calcutta]. Families
we reach out to are 14 in number.
Media education programme: In collaboration with Ravi Bharati, AASRA
has conducted media education programmes for school children. This activity
is on-going. 8 schools have been covered so far and the target is 20 schools
before the year-end. It is a two day programme for 30 students of class 8, 9.
Video training programmes for kids: We do this whenever we get
financial support from UNICEF. A batch of 14 to 24 disadvantaged children is

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taught to make video programmes: all the basics of video production. They
produce their own projects. This is part of developing a wider understanding
of the media for children.
Audio training programme for children: For international children’s
broadcasting day, in 2002, AASRA with support from UNICEF conducted a
two-day workshop for street and working children and school children
resulting in an audio tape of their songs, plays and programmes, part of
which were broadcast by All India Radio.
International Aids Candlelight Memorial Day: An annual event in May
which brings together performers, students, school children and the
community at large to remember those who have passed away due to HIV
Aids.
Training teachers and community leaders in Child protection: With
help from the British council and UNICEF we trained principals and teachers
of 45 schools in Patna on Child protection between 1999 and 2001. We also
trained 45 young people.

Video festivals and value education films: through its ‘AASRA

Communication services’ wing, AASRA experts help other organisations
conduct media based programmes. The communication services feature
media practitioners and media educators who are competent to conduct
video festivals, film appreciation courses and workshops. A video and print
documentation service also helps raise money for the charitable trust
activities.
MATERIALS DEVELOPED
 Leaflets on Domestic violence in English and Hindi used as advocacy material
and training material in our workshops for teachers, youth and community
influencers. (dangerous homes/ khatarnak parivar]
 Leaflets on Child Sexual abuse in English and Hindi for advocacy and training
material in workshops on child protection.
 What is child abuse: a poster which was used as part of a child protection
campaign and placed in several establishments including doctors’ waiting
rooms, police stations and public places.
 Dear Teacher a booklet based on the Convention on the rights of the Child for
teachers as part of the child protection campaign.
 Several other publications as information and education material for children
and adults on children’s issues, HIV –AIDS issues.
OUR COLLABORATORS
The following organisations have collaborated with AASRA Charitable Trust as
sponsors, co-organisers, or as participants in various programmes:

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 o UNICEF Bihar field office: Baseline survey; Child protection workshops, Children’s
Video workshops, Media based programmes for street and working children.
o The British Council, Calcutta : Child protection workshops, training our
staff/volunteers in child protection strategy, therapeutic dance, event management
o Lawyers’ Collective, Mumbai: Strategy for HIV /Aids related work, legislation,
support for Candlelight memorial, sexuality related work.
o Naz Foundation international: supported work for marginalised populations and
unorganised youth for HIV Aids MSM- awareness; support for candlelight memorial,
training programmes, work with LGBT communities.
o Bihar State AIDS Control Society: supply of free condoms for distribution; use of
our Nukkad team for Aids awareness
o AARZU Charitable Trust : Associate organisation exist in New Mumbai working for
LGBT Community with focus of HIV/AIDS
o PAHAL Samiti : Associate organisation promoting computer education in rural
Allahabad
o Childline India foundation: AASRA has been a resource agency since the inception
of Childline in Patna.
o Bal Sakha: collaborates in joint activities involving street children.
o Bamon International Consultants: sponsored specific activities involving MSM HIV
positive people, supports IACM activity.
o ARMAN [Lucknow]: support for HIV positive people, referral services
o Kurji holy family hospital: a variety of collaborative efforts, they use our trainers
for school Aids programmes; support for children in distress who need medical and
surgical help, VCTC linkages.
o Student World Assembly : Network of students of social work for promotion of
democracy
o Student Global AIDS Campaign : Promoting HIV/AID with students
o AIDS Health India Care : Promotion of HIV/AIDS Testing Treatment and Care.
o State Bank of India: donated books for our small children’s library in the year 2000,
supported IACM with banners and T-shirts in the same year.
o Patliputra Round Table: supported Children’s prayer 2000: candlelight procession
on the eve of Jharkhand Bihar split as sole sponsor.
o Ravi Bharati Institute for communication Arts: collaborate with Media
workshops, video festivals, radio training programmes and nukkads
o Notredame Communication Centre : is Patna based production house provide us
equipment and man power for nominal cost.

Our Team :

Founder Member: Executive Board Member :

Board of advisor

Dr.Aman Kumar Mr.Frank Krishner [Managing Trustee]

Ms.Neerja Lal
Dr. Sanker Dutt Ms.Margaret Martin {Trustee]
Ms.Avhinav Jaiswal
Frank Krishner Christina Alexander [Trustee]
Mr.Aditya Banopadhya
Ms. Muniba Sami Mr.Manoj Patel [Trustee]
Ms.Vandna Nair

AASRA Charitable Trust , A Profile of ACT 3

Debolina Chakroborty Sr.Jyosita
Sagrika Mukherjee
Birendra Kumar
Ravindra Kumar
Swetank Jain

Patron :

Mr. Edgar Grämiger

Mr. Geoffrey Heviside
Ms. Veena Lakhumalani

Project Director : Mr. Birendra Kumar Soni

Supported by several citizens and students from College of Arts and Crafts, Patna
Women’s College, BN College, Patna University who donate time and talents to
assist in our projects. We have association with all non Govt high school in Patna.

Registered Office :

AASRA Charitable Trust AASRA Bright Future

Centre
Road No : 6 Rajiv Nagar A-1 / 1 Kushak Road No : 2
Opp : Heena Beauty Parlor Saroop Nagar , Delhi -
110042
Patna : 800024 Phone : 011-27811001
Fax : 011-2781101
Helpline : 0612 – 3290987 Mobile : 09999592535 /
9910711112
Email : aasraindia@gmail.com Email :
birsoni@gmail.com

AASRA Charitable Trust , A Profile of ACT 4