Carlin Carr, Bangalore Community Manager
Juvenile crime all over the world often goes hand-in-hand with lack of opportunities. Blight-stricken areas from New York to Nairobi with low employment rates and education levels leave directionless youth with few options. Lacking support systems to show them alternative paths, teens often take to criminal activities. While crime amongst youth has not been such an issue in India’s urban areas, recent studies show a marked escalation in illicit activities.
In fact, the “State of the Urban Youth India 2012: Employment, Livelihoods, Skills” report that came out last year says that juvenile crime in urban areas of India rose by 40 percent between 2001 and 2010. The youth involved in criminal activity were largely from low-income working families, and the study found that “lack of education is an important factor with over 55 percent juvenile criminals being illiterate or with limited primary education,” says a DNA article reporting on the study.
A Bangalore-based organization, Dream a Dream, has found a solution to setting youngsters from vulnerable backgrounds on a more positive path. Dream a Dream focuses on building life skills to equip youth with the decision-making, problem-solving and interpersonal and emotional skills necessary to transition better to adulthood. “Young people from vulnerable communities often live in unprotected environments, where they are exploited or lack opportunities for growth. Support institutions such as residential centers, offer a more loving and protective environment and meet the basic needs. But what happens when children from vulnerable backgrounds leave the safe zones of their homes and support institutions and need to cope with real life challenges successfully,” says Dream a Dream.
Helping children and teenagers cope with life challenges is a skill that is not taught in school and is often lacking in their close personal networks. Without these essential skills, youth can often be led down the wrong path. Dream a Dream’s holistic approach focuses on six key programs:
Dream Life Skills Through Sports, which uses football as a medium to develop skills and complement class-room education.
Dream Life Skills Through Arts for interactive sessions where young people use art and craft to communicate effectively.
Dream Outdoor Experiential Camps, where adventure games and outdoor camps build self-esteem and team work in participants.
The Dream Connect Program for career development. It offers the tools and foundational life skills that help transform ability to capability.
Dream Fundays, where young adults learn on fun, educational visits to new places.
Dream Mentoring, where a caring adult mentor encourages young adults to find answers to the challenges of growing up.
Many of the youth that have passed through Dream a Dream’s program since 1999 have gained a greater sense of confidence and self-awareness. Eighteen-year-old Radha, for example, was on the path to quitting school due to family pressures. A Dream a Dream mentor helped Radha see the long-term value of her education, and worked to help Radha become a better decision-maker and to take initiative in her life. Empowering youth to initiative positive steps in their lives not only makes for better individuals but better communities as well.
Photo credit: Vinoth Chandar