Chandra Sekar (15 years old) from Srinivasapuram village studying 10th grade in local Government School. He is a leader for CFAM functioning in the village.
He says “The anganwadi (Govt. ECD centre) in our village was functioning from 8.30 am to 12 pm while they were supposed to work from 8.30 am to 3.30 pm. I have been part of CFAM pilot before and have advocated against child labour by sticking handmade posters all over the village. This made youth and elders think seriously about not sending children to work. So they know I am serious about what I advocate for. For this issue, I decided I will take a call so I stuck poster around the village saying they‘re functioning for a very short period. First they didn’t respond to our request and tore the posters. I went around and stuck the posters again and more friends joined me in sticking the posters. When our posters gained attention, the anganwadis started functioning regularly and as per their mandated timing and supplying quality nutritious food. I believe children like us are Change Makers in our villages”.
Chandrasekar has enabled a youth Murali Babu to continue studies after school education. He was an instrumental for the rescue of a child who involved in begging on the road through child help line.
He motivating other children to sharpen their articulation skills, how to contact child help line 1098, how to protect children from child marriage, child labour and other child rights violations. He is supporting his parents in mobilizing financial for supporting his two elder brothers’ studies through IRCDS. Two children are rescued from child labour and re-enrolled in school with the effort of his group. He has been recognized as a “crusader for protecting child rights” in the village.