FAQsNature of Support
Our 'enabler' position has determined our strategic choices at every juncture - from the fundraising methods we employ, to the nature of our relationship with the NGOs we partner.
Our interventions are designed to include
- direct action ameliorating immediate, critical needs
- community mobilization linking child rights and local pre-dominant issues
- stringent planning, monitoring and evaluation both, financial and programmatic
Our partnership takes the form of:
Grant-making
- We prioritize grant-making basis district-level analysis of child rights indicators
- We identify grassroots NGOs and communities addressing the key issues
Capacity Building
Enable build perspective and capacity in areas of
- child rights
- accountability
- organization building
- policy analysis
- advocacy
Community Mobilization
We believe that it is the most effective long-term solution to the multiple causes of poverty, deprivation, exploitation and abuse that constrain the rights of children, especially Indian children. In recent years, along with CRY our partner in India, we have spearheaded a concerted, nation-wide grassroots campaign in partnership with our supported NGOs that aim to establish:
- Authentic data on the situation of children - infant and child mortality, nutrition, enrolment, availability of functioning schools of at least adequate quality, child labor and gender and caste differences.
- Workable models to achieve universal access to primary and elementary education, healthcare, livelihoods and governance combining direct action, community mobilization and policy influence.
- Nation-wide support from all segments of society for the policy changes including the constitution amendment making education a fundamental right and laws relating to juvenile justice.
- Grassroots community mobilization aimed at ensuring universal access to equitable education through the Common School System and implementation of policies ranging from land rights through to the right to information.
Networking and Alliance Building
The aim of strategic alliances or networks is to facilitate the transfer of learning, build solidarity between partner organizations and influence policy to positively impact the situation of children, especially Indian. In short,
- interface with local government and other power structures
- alliances with state, regional, issue interest groups
Through supporting networks, we provide a platform for partners to meet, share and learn from each other's experiences. This enables the strengthening of field level initiatives. It also acts as a forum for perspective building on macro issues.
Influencing Child-friendly Policies
While we consider the state to be primarily responsible for ensuring the rights of children, we realize that we too have a role to play in impacting and influencing government policies towards child rights. We approach this through national level advocacy and policy influence through direct interface with ministries, legislators, alliances, networks and coalitions and the media.
Resource Organizations
In the development sector there are numerous organizations that play a critical role of being a resource hub. These organizations have expertise in various areas of development, expertise that could enhance the quality of smaller, newer initiatives. These Resource Organizations work towards building the capacities of CRY America's other development partners as well as non-CRY America supported initiatives. These organizations build capacities through innovative teaching methods, materials and training programs for teachers, community works among others. They also play a vital role in policy influencing efforts at the macro level.
Read example: Vikramshila
Nodal Agencies
While we reach out to hundreds of organizations working at the grassroots level, there are many thousands more across the country that require support. CRY America can never reach out to all of them. Thus, evolved the need for nodal agencies. A nodal agency is in many ways a mini-CRY America, - an organization that offers both financial and non-financial inputs to smaller initiatives in the same geographical region. The creation and support of nodal agencies allows us to increase our reach at the grassroots level, without a corresponding increase in infrastructure and personnel.
