The Aashray Care Home was established in 2006 by the Positive Women Network of Rajasthan. Harassment and stigma issues necessitated starting a care home for children affected by HIV and AIDS. Children living with HIV are in an extremely vulnerable situation because they are usually single or double orphans. Children usually get HIV infection from their mother during the pregnancy and birth. Because of lack of knowledge sometimes both the parents are affected and financially not capable to take care of infected child. Aashray take care of children of such families.
Currently there are 60 children between the ages of 5 to 18 years residing at the care homes. This initiative is supported by dedicated staff members and several individual volunteers and organizations. Parents and relatives of the children staying at the care home are free to visit the children at the care home. Family members are also counseled to take care of children during their home visits.
“To create a fair and honest environment for every HIV affected and infected child to be able to live with dignity and courage”
To achieve this vision we decided core areas to improve on like quality of health care is improved by hiring full time dedicated nurses and ambulance. Quality of education is ensured by enrolling all the kids in quality schools. Those who attained the age of 18 years are admitted into technical courses so that they would enhance skill to generate livelihood.
“The saddest day of my life was when my parents got sick. The happiest day of my life was when I moved to Aashray Care Home” – Poonam, 12 years old
When Aashray Care Home was established in 2006 there hardly was any community support or visibility of HIV infected children. Fundamental rights of children – Right to survival, right to development – to education, care, leisure, recreation, cultural activities were often violated. Our years of hard work has influenced the government and private sector to initiate programs for these children. Now these children have better place to live and receive basic health care and quality education.
Increase in donations, volunteers and social acceptability can be a good parameter for our hard work and dedication for the cause. We are known globally now and have volunteers and interns from all across the world like Finland, Austria, Brazil, France etc.
The road ahead is still very long and much more to be achieved
“In Aashray all the kids are living like a family and children also exhibit their preferences freely in the Aashray Care Home” – Swaroop Jangid, Age 19 years, former care home child.