At Miracle Foundation India, as we strive towards enabling children to stay with their families and reach their full potential, we honor the incredible social workforce that makes it all possible! This month, we are pleased to celebrate the efforts, achievements and dedication of Shama Parveen from Pakur, Jharkhand.
Shama’s efforts towards promoting children’s rights and welfare began over a decade ago when she started working as a Protection Officer in institutional care, overseeing the care of nearly 400 children in Child Care Institutions (CCIs) in Pakur. Her role was to ensure their safety and to foster an environment where they could thrive despite their circumstances. In 2019, Shama began her association with Miracle Foundation India through their training programs. Recognizing her passion and expertise on children’s issues, she was recognized as a Master trainer. Subsequently, Shama – as a Master Trainer – was part of ten trainings, imparting crucial skills on the need for family strengthening to over 500 CCI staff, Childline workers and para-legal volunteers.
Shama’s efforts did not stop there; she also promoted alternative care options, particularly kinship care, as a more nurturing environment for children than institutional settings. Over time, she helped transition approximately 70 children from CCIs into loving kinship care arrangements. One of her other significant contributions was towards facilitating access to the Sponsorship Scheme which provides ₹4,000 to children from vulnerable communities. Through her efforts, around 25 children and their families received financial support, enabling them to stay together and thrive within their familial networks.
Shama has spearheaded about 40 campaigns towards awareness generation within communities on child rights and the importance of kinship care. Her efforts have been influencing policy discussions and creating convergence mechanisms among district-level authorities, consequently helping improve child protection services across the region.
An outstanding example of Shama’s impactful work is her collaboration with the Child Welfare Committee of Bhagalpur, Bihar, towards reuniting three children with their families in Pakur. Through her meticulous efforts in ensuring quality Individual Care Plans and timely Social Investigation Reports, Shama facilitated a smooth transition and a brighter future for these children. Her ongoing efforts to train and empower local stakeholders would certainly ensure her vision is taken forward by many others. Her commitment and efforts towards child protection have earned her numerous accolades, including recognition on International Women’s Day 2023 in Pakur.
A big shout-out today to Shama Parveen.