Works
in relation to the welfare of Children
One
of the main objectives of Dave Kissoondoyal is to work for the welfare of
the community especially those that are vulnerable and who need help. In
this respect, much effort was concentrated for the welfare of Children. His
stay at Save the Children was remarkable since he was fully engaged in the
activities of the Association and held important posts such as Secretary,
Treasurer and President. As a volunteer, he has been continuously struggling
for the betterment of the Mauritian Child. He has operated at all levels, be
in the advocacy level, influencing the policies, at the grass root level
with the communities, in Emergency relief, Training, national and regional
levels.
He
was involved in various sensitization campaigns such as “Consolidation de
la famille pour la protection et bien-etre des enfants” and on “ Early
Childhood Development”. He was in the organisation of the salon de
l’enfance. The aim of the salon was to take stock of the services offered
by the Government and NGOs towards the welfare of children and secondly to sensitize
the population on Children issues. He was also involved with counseling to children in distress.
As
Secretary of the Save the Children Mauritius, he organised and participated
actively in street exhibitions on Children’s Rights throughout the whole
island. He has been actively propagating the Rights of the Child and
promoting the UN Convention of the Rights of the Child. He participated in
the preparation of a pamphlet “Conseil aux Parents”. He conducted a
survey to collect children’s views on specific issues. He also launched the
child oriented and leisure activities for Children at the Save the Children
Centre at Vacoas. He organised various film shows for children in different
regions
To
safeguard a better future of the children, Dave Kissoondoyal is convinced
that the community must be empowered. He launched various Community
Development projects with the support of the local community. Examples are
Creve Coeur, Chamarel and Baie de Tombeau. In Creve Coeur, a library was set
up and medical screening done.
When
Dave Kissoondoyal was the Treasurer of the Save the Children Mauritius, he
was engaged in the setting up of the Eglantyne Jebb Training centre for
disabled children and school dropouts. He organised the forum on
“Adolescent et les parents” and the workshop leading to the Casela
Declaration in connection to the World Summit on Social Development. He was
also engaged in the joint collaboration between Save the Children Mauritius
and the Jeune Chambre Economique de Beau Bassin – Rose Hill on the
organisation of the Play and Leisure Day. He also initiated the setting up
of a Leisure ground for disabled children at Vacoas.
Dave
played an important role in drafting the alternate report on the Convention
of the Rights of the Child submitted to the UN Committee of the Rights of
the Child. Having followed the training of trainers course from the
International Save the Children Alliance, he conducted a training course for
NGOs and Government Officials on the 2nd and 3rd April
1996. Dave Kissoondoyal attended the World Congress on the Social Commercial
Exploitation of Children in Stockholm, Sweden.
Dave
had set up the Rodrigues Emergency Relief Operation to bring help to the
people especially children of Rodrigues. Similarly he was behind the setting
up of the Madagascar Relief Operation , Rwanda Relief Operation and Hollanda
Relief Operation. He had set up a training Centre for school dropouts and
disabled children at Rodrigues, including a library, medical check-ups for
children and nutrition course for mothers.
