CFD

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Who We Are

Background

who_we_01Centre for Development (CfD) was established in 1996, to address the issue of child labour in the poor areas of Ahmedabad city. It takes a great deal of effort by CfD to get these children back to school. This process deepened the understanding that there are no easy solutions to child labour; it is intricately linked to urban poverty, displacement, and violence.

For years, the poor in Gujarat have been reeling under the impact of recurring communal violence, unemployment, impoverishment, and the continuous e
viction and displacement of slum dwellers in urban areas.

who_we_02It has been a long journey for CfD as an organization. CfD has grown to include rights issues of vulnerable groups with the education programs they have implemented. Thus, the scope of our work has expanded to working with women, youth, and other critical stakeholders on issues like human rights, violence against women, peace and communal harmony through formation of two community based organizations.

Areas of Operation

CfD’s interventions are mainly in the 10 slum areas of Ahmedabad city, about 100 villages of Ahmedabad and the Junagadh Districts.

Goals

CfD’s goal is to work with vulnerable and marginalised groups of the community in urban and rural Gujarat and empower them holistically.

The strategies adopted are:women_02

»  Initiate Education Centres for children to teach, coach and protect them.

»  Enable women and youth to secure sustainable livelihood options.

»  Organize women to counter gender based violence socially and legally.

»  Creating meaningful mutual engagements of youth from different religions for the common good, lasting peace and harmony.

»  Community-led advocacy for basic human amenities and entitlements to aid development. This is focused on food security, shelter, and right to education.

These holistic efforts are aimed at providing a safe and conducive environment for the groups to challenge and work around their vulnerabilities, thereby empowering them and creating their own identity in the society.

 

CfD Focuses on 6 Different Areas:

Kadam Education Initiative: CfD focuses on bringing education to children who would otherwise not have access and are at risk of becoming child labourers. KEI has initiated Education Centres (EC’s) where children are taught the main curriculum in an exciting and engaging way.

Women and Youth: CfD works hard to ensure that all of their programs include disadvantaged women and work towards ensuring that they’re rights are not violated. Many adolescent girls in poor urban areas are seen as a high priority at CfD due to the fact that they are at risk of being trafficked.

Kruti Livelihood and Vocational Skill Building: CfD conducts numerous different training programs that helps youth from disadvantaged urban and rural areas join certain job trades.

Peace and Harmony: CfD strongly believes that there should be harmony between everyone, even with diversity. CfD makes efforts to help build the gap between Hindi and Muslim communities through peace modules.

Community Led Advocacy: Citizenship rights are held of great importance and CfD helps fight for the livelihood of displaced communities. CfD wants to build local capacities and institutions that will inevitably help empower these communities.

Civil Society Engagement: All of the Ahmedabad community should be involved in the fight for everyone’s rights. Thus, CfD focuses on educating civil society on the local issues and then getting them involved through volunteering and/or donating.