TEJUS HOME is a caring environment where abused, pregnant teenagers and teenage mothers and their babies are given a safe and nurturing place to live. It was our relationship with Gayatri, a 13 year old girl, violated, pregnant, and abandoned that brought us to realize no such support system existed in Kerala for her, neither in the public nor private sector. Gayatri was really alone, rejected and discarded by her family and society; we realised she must not be the only one. This pilot project is a partnership between two NGOs, Dil Se and Birth For Change and is recognized by the Child Welfare Committee. Most of these girls are pregnant as a result of violence or abuse; they would often have to face all the ensuing stigma and rejection by family and society alone. Here is some of what we offer:
• Information and resources to help the girls make choices about their pregnancy, their baby and their future.
• Counselling for the young mothers and for their family
• Encouragement to continue education during pregnancy and after birth.
• Birth preparation and education classes
• Individualized health care: prenatal, birth and postnatal care with a midwife
• New mummy support: feeding, diaper-changing, bathing, health and hygiene, sleeping habits, bonding, parenting, baby safety etc.
• Sexual education
• Life-skills training: self-confidence and self-esteem, assertiveness, finances, home management, gardening etc.
• Vocational training and career counseling
As of September 2014, we have launched our first local awareness and prevention campaign on Child Sexual Abuse. To support us financially:
DIL SE
ICICI Bank Ltd. A/C number: 001005009735
IFSC code: ICIC0000010
Contributions to DIL SE are exempted u/s 80G of the Income Tax Act 1961
