II. Women's Empowerment

Mothers' of the children are formed as mother's committees to enlighten and educate them and train them towards meaningful livelihood earners for their families. Two self help groups have been formed consisting of mothers of the children rehabilitate at our projects. Efforts are on to initiate women's self-help groups in twenty slums served by chord. Next year when the girl's project is launched this activity will gain momentum and we hope to achieve our target.

III. Advocacy of Child Rights

CHORD has a nucleus of experts on child rights issues imparting and sensitizing social action groups, schools, educational institutions, clubs, corporate employees and the like. We have highlighted the issue of child labour by making documentary films in lime quarries in Piduguralla, Guntur District, fishermen children in West Godavari District, tribal children in Krishna District, and on working children in stone crushers surrounding Hyderabad District.

Aashirwad Freedom Run 

'Aashirwad Freedom Run: Gift a child its childhood' was organised by CHORD on 15th August 2002 with the aim of awareness generation on child labour and to say 'NO' to child labour in every form. 

The Honorable Minister for Commercial Taxes, Sri. K. Vijayarama Rao flagged off the run at 4:45 PM at JNTU Campus. While speaking to the participants, he urged the people to actively participate in the fight against the child labour. Mr. Venkatrami Reddy, Vice Chancellor, JNTU also participated in the run. There were 2000 participants from various walks of life. The run reached its destination, carrying the messages against any form of child labour by the children from various schools, employees from corporate houses like, Dr. Reddys' Laboratories, ITC-IBD, Microsoft India, Motorola. Participant NGOs were, Ashrita, Sadhana and Janaraksha and the parents of the children from 'Aashirwad'. The participant schools were, Nalanda Vidyalaya, St. Mary's High School, Oakridge International, JNTU Campus.

After reaching the destination, all the participants gathered at 'Aashirwad' at 5:15 PM. The programme was presided by NCLP Project Director Sri. Srinivasulu. The guests of the programme were Sri. Kiran Kumar, General Manager, Dr. Reddy's Laboratories, Sri. Janajith Ray, Principal, Oakridge International, Sri. Vandan Kumar, Commissioner, Kukatpally Municipality. The chief guest while lauding the activities of Aashirwad pleaded the Kukatpally residents to fight against child labour. Students from Aashirwad School have presented cultural activities. CHORD president, Suman C Malladi has thanked the gathering and narrated the future course of sensitization and rehabilitation programme. He further added that this kind of programmes would be carried out on a regular and continuous basis. The programme ended at 6:30 PM after the chief guest presenting the certificates to the mainstreamed children.

Door to door campaign against child labor involving the children of Aashirwad has been carried out in the tar get are throughout the year to sensitize people against child labor
Several mini street rallies have been carried out in the target area where child labor prevalence is high to highlight and bring the problem into focus.

Other Related Activities

CHORD has launched greeting cards, Posters and T-shirts with a message against Child Labour to sensitize the public and particularly the Urban Youth to mobilize public understanding and to bring about a concerted and collective action against the social menace 'Child Labour

Chord has been nominated as member of the state level working committee of CSO's network launched by ILO-IPEC Andhra Pradesh state based project. As member Chord has taken part in several seminars, workshops and meetings conducted against child labour by ILO in the state of Andhra Pradesh 

Donors in India 

• Concern India Foundation,

• ITC, Dr. Reddy Laboratories, Motorola India, Microsoft India, Super Gas (Corporates)

• Social Action Group (Social Volunteers)

• National Child Labour Project (Government of India)