CASP Putting Children First

The 20th century has been marked by tremendous studies in food, food production medicine, communications, science and technology. Yet more then hall of India's children still do not have basic access to nutrition, health, education and security all of which are theirs by right. For the past twenty five years, CASP - Community Aid & Sponsorship Programme - has been trying in some small way to restore to them the rights of childhood.

CASP - Mandate For Children

CASP is committed to achieving lasting improvements in the quality of life of deprived children by
- Enabling children, their families and communities to meet their basic needs.
- Enhancing their ability to participate in and benefit from their social environment.
- Promoting the rights and interests of the child.

As a Non-Governmental Organization, CASP's developmental efforts are at present centred on children in ten Indian states.

Seeds of Change

25 years ago, a simple act of compassion inspired a people's movement that has by now transformed the lives of thousands of children, their parents and the communities in which they live.

"Doctor please give my child a reasonable start in life..."
In 1975, a leprosy patient in Mumbai requested his doctor to take charge of his son, so he could grow up just like any normal child, free from the stigma of his father's condition. "Keep your child with you", the doctor replied. "It does no good to separate children from heir parents. But I'll make sure he gets good education and the necessary facilities to give him a fair start".

The doctor was true to his word. But there were other patients. Other children who also needed help. It was then that idea of an agency that would sponsor such children took root. And an organization grew - which from that time on has brought hope to underprivileged children in many parts of the country.

The doctor was Dr.S.D.Gokhale, CASP's Founder President.

CASP began with sponsoring healthy children of leprosy patients. It soon moved on to assisting children with other physical disabilities. Gradually, the realization grew that poverty itself was the greatest handicap. Sponsorship was extended to all children born to poor parents. In time its umbrella has spread to cover children whose circumstances make them especially vulnerable. Street children, children of sex worked and prisoners, juvenile victims of crime, working children and children who had or whose parents have, contracted AIDS, have joined the CASP family.

With experience also came the understanding that providing support to children in isolation was not enough. A child's physical, mental and emotional development is profoundly influenced but the environment in which he grows. CASP's approach to the child became more holistic. Activities first expanded to include mothers ,then other family members, and beyond them, the community and inseparable part.

So fat efforts had been largely concentrated in urban slums. By the early 1980s it was time to venture into the rural areas, where the majority of India's children live. While sponsorship of school-going children continued to be the primary focus. CASP now began to undertake programmes in rural development for island communities in Kerala and poor fanners in Mawal.

Along with the way, CASP joined hands with other like-minded partners, in collaborations, and joint ventures with other national and international NGOs.

Today, CASP has grown in capability, organization and infrastructure to include its projects aspects of health and nutrition, education, rehabilitation, training of community workers, income generation, rural banking and reconstruction, water management improved agriculture. Community mobilization and age care.

Strategy for Self-Determination :

CASP's strategy for children is two pronged. It sponsors children, which involves the strengthening of their environment. It reaches out to the rural poor though community development programmes.

From the start, CASP has been mindful not to impose alien concepts of development on the people it helps - choosing instead to step in only when a genuine need is expressed.

Nurturing socially Responsible Citizens:

Keeping families together remains at the core of CASP's sponsorship programme. The aims of this programme are to provide :
- Material aid in kind and in services to cover the child's educational and health needs.
- Emotional support necessary for the normal development of the child.

Sponsored children growing up within the family structure are provided with everything they need from textbooks to footwear - to enable them to complete their education. They are also helped to acquire trade skills through part time vocational training courses.

Health is an important aspect of the programme. Apart from periodic check ups and basic medical care, under-nourished children get a supplementary meal. Serious problems are referred to specialists, and are closely monitored. The physically disabled and the sight- or hearing- impaired are provided with special aids.

Nor does the support end at the child's physical and material needs. Professional social workers from CASP are always on hand to advise and counsel both children and their families as they carefully supervise their progress. The accent is on overall development. Formal schooling is relieved with opportunities for creative self expression. Children are encouraged to send letters, drawings and messages to their sponsors, to let them know how they are doing.

Community Action

The broad objective of CASP's community Aid Unit is to improve the quality of life for socially and economically disadvantaged communities in order to cerate an environment that is conductive to the healthy development of the children of that community.

The Unit's main thrust has been to involve local residents in community programmes that will promote both the overall economic development of the area as well as leadership, qualities in the individuals involved. The imparting of decision making and managerial skill takes equal precedence with provision of funds, and services to bring the project to completion. The goal of community aid is total social development.

CASP works with both urban and rural communities on a variety of projects that includes drinking water schemes, school construction, horticulture, self-employment, liberating bonded labour and organizing women's groups.

Partners For Progress

CASP has joined hands with a number of development agencies on many of its project, sharing skills and resources in order to give children a better deal.


Plan International

Founded in England in 1937, to provide emotional and material support to orphans of the Spanish Civil War - PLAN, as it is known, is a non-profit, nor sectarian agency that today helps 4,25,000 children with their families and communities in 26 developing countries.

The CASP-PLAN alliance was forged in 1979, the International year of the child.

CASP-PLAN projects around the country focus on child development through sponsorship, and important aspect of which is building relationships between foster families and parents through communication. Their wider programme includes in its agenda Child Survival and Early Development, Children's Rights and Education, Life skills and Leadership Training for Adolescents, Reproductive Health, Household Security and Sustainable Community Development.

Children's Future Norway

CFN, recognized by the Norwegian Government, is an autonomous social welfare organization, comprising mainly individual sponsors. CASP collaborates with Children's Future Norway and NORAD on community development programmes in the areas of health, education, resource mobilization and skills training.
Health and Population Office Department for International Development, UK

A new alliance which involves working with a range of agencies from NGOs and local Government Institutions to private sector organizations - to private sector organizations - to implement sexual health interventions. The programme's goal is to ensure better sexual health among the underprivileged.

A Growing Family

Over the years, CASP's family has grown to include a large number of committed professionals and volunteers form a range of disciplines who have applied their skills and experience to all CASP's programmes and ensured their success. CASP family members now look forward to the challenges that lie ahead.

Financial Support

CASP Projects are funded by
The Government of India
The Government of Maharashtra, Gujrat, Delhi, Kerala and Andhra Pradesh
Corporate Organizations
National, International and UN Agencies
Individual donors in India and abroad