New Delhi, Sep 23 Twenty-eight children who have lost parental care and are being supported through extended families were felicitated for their performance in the board examinations for Classes 10 and 12 at an event organised by SOS Children’s Villages India in collaboration with the Delhi government’s women and child development department on Wednesday.
The students were awarded certificates of merit at the ceremony attended by WCD Secretary Rashmi Singh, Deputy Secretary Syed Mohsin Ali, district child protection officers and other officials, besides SOS Children’s Villages India CEO Sumanta Kar, according to a statement.
The felicitation was organised under the organisation’s Kinship Care Programme, which supports children who have lost parental care by enabling them to remain with their extended biological families or relatives, the statement said.
Singh felicitated the students along with Kar and addressed them, saying every child should have the opportunity to learn, grow and realise their potential regardless of their circumstances.
She said the success of the students demonstrated the role of support, encouragement and opportunities, while initiatives that strengthen families help children remain in familiar and supportive environments.
Kar said the achievements of the 28 students reflected their hard work and determination as well as the importance of stable support systems for children who have experienced the loss of parental care.
The organisation said its Kinship Care Programme works with families to help children remain connected to their communities and continue their education while growing up in familiar environments.
The event also highlighted the role of family-based care in providing children without parental care with sustained educational support and opportunities for their long-term development.
Established in 1964, SOS Children’s Villages India provides care and family-strengthening services for children without parental care or those at risk of losing it.
Its interventions include family-like care, family strengthening, kinship care, short-stay homes, foster care, youth skilling, emergency childcare and special-needs childcare, the statement added.
The organisation said more than 5,000 such children currently live in over 440 family homes across 32 SOS children’s villages in 22 states and Union territories.
It said it has empowered over 50,000 children annually and positively impacted more than 1.15 lakh lives through its programmes.
(PTI News)
