An Internship That Inspires

Blame the competitive professional environment, but very few students get to intern at a place that truly hones their skills. Fewer get to work for a cause and learn in the process. And an even smaller faction of people gets both. By a wild stroke of chance though, such opportunities do materialize.
The 5 weeks of internship at CRY were worth a lifetime of memories and experience. When you work with children, it is nearly impossible to not be plagued by the zeal that surrounds you. Their laughter and optimism is infectious.


No less can be expected from a magnanimous organization like CRY which puts the rights and empowerment of children front, center and forward.

As an intern, I got multiple opportunities to be a part of CRY events and interact with the volunteers, donors and the children they work with. They all had varying perceptions on every subject matter. But, it was one unifying cause that brings these people hailing from different backgrounds, professions, genders and age together.

En-route one such event, the small group of children enthusiastically began sharing their aspirations.
“I’ll be a pilot when I grow up” said the 11 year old boy. “Or a driver” his friend giggled.
“Why can’t he be both?” chimed another. While the other kids burst into fits of laughter, it sure gets one pondering over the depth of the issue. What is it that makes some children belittle their ambitions while some others are conscious enough to consider multiple back-up professions and plan out their lives systematically?

The naivety and simplicity of this question is what makes the work done by CRY all more relevant. It is through their intervention that these kids can now dream and dare to receive better education and pursue the professions of their choice. For a child who is conditioned to believe is only fit for menial jobs, a career in aviation was a distant dream.

Yet now, these kids are braving all adversities and availing the benefits of schemes designed for them. For all we know, the future generations would be brighter and more driven by pragmatic conquests than ever before.

The lack of awareness surrounding child rights as well as disparities in opportunities owing to financial conditions of their families draws a wedge between the kids and their dreams. However, working alongside different NGOs for these causes, CRY ensures to bridge this gap.

There were many instances that made me realize this internship was like none other. Be it the enthusiasm of the volunteers who underwent training to creatively engage with the children, or the willingness of the donors to be part of the cause at a fund raising event- it was heart warming to see the multitude eager to step up for the betterment of the society at large.

There were no dull moments; given that working under and learning from different departments within the organization opens up the mid to fresh avenues. Every task challenges, every event channelizes and every day ensnares the interns to perform well and be the best versions of themselves.

A drastic shift in terms of rights and empowerment of children and women is looming across the horizon. And I can proudly proclaim to have been a part of Child Rights and You that is the catalyst for this change.

Shruti Bhatnagar, CRY Intern, Mumbai, (Student, Amity University, Pursuing Bachelor of Journalism and Mass Communication)

Tutoring the Teacher - CRY

“The mediocre teacher tells. The good teacher explains. The superior teacher demonstrates. The great teacher inspires.”
― William Arthur Ward

Teaching is the noblest profession of all. It is thus, unfortunate, that monetary covetousness has begun to tinge it.

However, there still are few people who teach out of passion, and out of sheer dedication. They do it out of the goodness of their hearts and empathy towards the kids. They are a rarity though- and CRY volunteers step up to take up this mantle of the good Samaritans.
These volunteers, who are devoted to the cause, ensure that nothing interferes with the children’s education.


And so, on a balmy Sunday morning when most people were just beginning to stir in their slumber, a group of volunteers was stepping up to make a difference.
In the volunteer training session organized by CRY on the subject of creative engagement with children, over 25 volunteers zealously learned, shared and expressed their sentiments on working with children.

For volunteers, old and new alike, the training turned out to be an extensive learning experience.
For me, as an intern, the session came as an eye opener. It offered a refreshing take on the world view of a child; and through the training the volunteers were coached on how to be a part of it. We engaged, participated and were enthralled to learn what could be captivating to a child.

The volunteers were asked to share their experiences and address any doubts regarding teaching methodologies. And share; they did. They fondly recounted the enthusiasm they were greeted with, and the smiling faces they taught.

It could be a challenge to keep a class of roughly 40 energetic kids engaged in factual and textual information. Hence, the activities that energize them are the ones that need to be incorporated into their routine.

Commencing with acts as simple as pacing around the room and a series of ice breakers, the training delved deeper into more interactive activities like storytelling and art. They were amusing, led to introspection and provided an insight into child cognition and comprehension.


“I feel 10! Young and alive” proclaimed one volunteer, clearly enthused by the hands-on approach the training adapted. Engaging the children with their peers as well as with the volunteers was the key to hold their attention, it was deduced.

In a time where we speak with conviction of defending our liberty and freedom, it is ironic to note that the rights of children are often neglected. The volunteers were not just at length told of the alternative ways this can be dealt with, but also coached on finer aspects of the problems these kids might face.

The volunteers were also taught how to work with large groups of children and keep them engaged and interested throughout the session with games and breezy activities. Children have a vivid imagination and channelizing their energies into honing them goes a long way into developing their mental dexterity.

They possess boundless potential within them. The need to explore it is dire; as are the means we adapt to discover them.

It was uplifting to observe the zeal interactive activities incite in adults and children alike.
It could be something as simple as mirroring their friends or making up a story, a sentence a time and it would teach the kids how to relate and connect with people in a better manner.

The day-long training inspired and enlightened. It boiled down to the fact that in order to inculcate the values and concepts in the minds of the children it is more important to be able to imbibe them into one’s own persona first.

Shruti Bhatnagar, CRY Intern, Mumbai (Amity University)

Menstruation – A Taboo No More. Period.

A schoolgirl once stained her uniform whilst on her period. The boys in her class looked on and laughed. She laughed too, at how very naive they were…

Menstrual blood is typically the only source of blood that isn’t induced traumatically. Why then is it such a sensitive issue in a society like ours where child abuse is talked about freely but god forbid someone brings up menstruation during conversation! We live in a country deeply rooted in ignorance and superstition. Young girls across India lack the support they need when they reach this crucial stage in their lives. In most homes, mothers are unable to address menstruation related queries and in schools, the teachers shy away from doing so. This led CRY, an organization that provides child relief and support, to take up the initiative to spread awareness at the grass root level last year.

It all started with a workshop conducted in Mumbai last year, for the volunteers who were to conduct awareness sessions across Mumbai and Pune to break the menstruation taboo. They were taught how to tackle sensitive issues like these with young adolescents who are found to have the most impressionable minds. Sessions were then conducted by the volunteers for about 350 girls between the ages 10 – 14 at several locations including Thane, Kalyan, Navi Mumbai and Pune. Initially, the girls were hesitant and taken aback with the volunteers’ outright frankness but during the course of the sessions, they shed their inhibitions and started communicating their opinions and doubts quite freely.

In addition to menstruation, the sessions combed through a variety of subjects including puberty and bodily growth, how to use sanitary napkins, sexual intercourse, STI’s and nutrition. Another important issue discussed in detail with the girls was – safe and unsafe touch. One in every two children in India is a victim of child sexual abuse and thus children have to be taught how to handle such grave situations. The questions that arose were concrete and it provided a platform for the girls to express themselves. “Why don’t boys get pregnant?” “What are condoms?” “Are we really not supposed to touch a pickle jar when we’re menstruating?”-some asked. Needless to say, several myths were busted and the girls ran up to the volunteers, thanking them profusely for addressing their queries, which are otherwise left unnoticed and unanswered in their schools and homes.

All the effort put in during the course of 3 months, translated into success for the children and more so for the volunteers who were thrilled to have made a difference in the lives of so many children. One of the girls, a 5th grader, expressed her gratitude and said, “Before this we had no idea about this subject. This was a helpful session. They explained to us the changes that take place in our body and how we should take care of our personal hygiene. This was a beneficial session and we are thankful to the team.” – Asmita, student , 6th standard, Kalyan municipal school

“The experience was great, we could easily share our concerns with the volunteers from CRY as we look up to them as our elder sisters and feel comfortable talking about such things more than we do with our parents.” – student of 7th std, Thane municipal school

Menstruation session was conducted which targeted girls from 5th to 7th grade. The session began with brief up on puberty and the physical changes that they will undergo. They were also updated about the difference in physical changes that a boy and a girl experience. This brought the discussion to one major difference of girls experiencing thier periods in this stage. The girls were told that periods are not reason to panic and is a sign of healthy body and it’s preparedness for motherhood in future. We then explained the menstruation cycle, the frequency and duration of periods. They were also shown video of uterus illustrating the cycle. We explained the kids about symptoms on which they should consult a doctor like excessive bleeding for more than 5 days, unduly delay in their next cycle. The discussion then moved to sanitary pads, personal hygiene and disposal of used pads. We encouraged the girls to carry their usual activities even in periods while ensuring that they maintain personal hygiene and eat nutritious food. During the entire training session pictures and videos were used. A video on puberty, reproductive system and an animated video on menstruation talk was used.

“Towards end of the session safe and unsafe touch was covered. The girls were encouraged to speak up if they face any situation of misbehaviour or unsafe touch either by stranger or known person. It was emphasized that they should not be afraid, ashamed or blame themselves for such incidents,” Janani, CRY Volunteer, Mumbai

Compiled by Kimberley Pinto, Intern (Mumbai)