Roja kottam meet
They meet regularly once a month, sometimes even twice, to discuss the issues concerning them. Roja Koottam is a group of children who are either infected or affected by HIV/AIDS. (Affected children are those who have lost one parent or both to the disease).The group aims to bring together children who are reeling under the disastrous effects of the disease. The very objective of Roja Koottam is to provide support to the children traumatised by the loss of their parents, says N.Sankaranarayanan, director of Native Medicare Charitable Trust, a non-Governmental organisation that formed the group.The members of Roja Koottam are made aware of HIV/AIDS by the resource persons who address them and the volunteers of the trust.The surviving parent usually hesitates to tell the children the actual cause of the other parent’s death.But, the group discusses everything openly: the disease, the ways it is spread and methods to prevent transmission of the virus.The children are given “life skill education,” in which they are taught to take care of themselves.“These programmes are basically meant to infuse a positive feeling into them, especially when it comes to acceptance from society,” Mr.Sankaranarayanan says. Since they are already in the grip of the disease either directly or indirectly, the training programme focuses on giving them the mental strength to handle any kind of adversity.
Leadership skills, sexual health for adolescent girls, yoga and meditation are some of the other aspects the training programme includes.Roja Koottam gives its members a platform to develop their personality and their interests in cultural activities or even public speaking.The members often speak about the problems they face during the meetings. They discuss issues that are of general interest to children. Dance, music, drama and painting are included.At the community level, the trust mobilises financial support for the children of this group.
Community members can sponsor the children or contribute to the corpus maintained for the group. Normal children too can support the activities of Roja Koottam, if they so wish.The youth who have lost their parents to the disease and yet have completed their education successfully and have earned jobs give constant support to Roja Koottam.They speak to the members about their success stories and actively take part in the training sessions.
