APSA’s Approach and Work​

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Integrated community development – working at the level of political assembly constituencies

APSA works in segments of eight assembly constituencies in the cities of Bengaluru and Hyderabad. Within each constituency, APSA works with the community in specific wards and locations that have a higher concentration of urban poor families, in particular migrant families who are the most vulnerable and marginalized among the urban poor.

Working through Child Friendly Wards

APSA’s believes in one of the important goals of the UNCRC – that of the child’s right to participation in family, cultural and social life. This has led the organization to educate children to participate in Child Friendly Wards (CFW) in its working areas. A CFW is one that has the active participation of children in local governance to identify and address local community issues, in particular issues related to children. With support from APSA, children’s collectives in the working areas in Bengaluru and Hyderabad are encouraged to participate in local Ward meetings. APSA visualizes that, in time, children will have a more significant role in local governance, that duty bearers will begin to treat children as persons, be accountable to children for addressing child-related issues and implementation of child-centered budgets. To build children’s knowledge and skills in good governance, APSA facilitates meetings of children’s collectives and provides training on reporting, presentation, leadership and communication skills, to make these collectives enhance their capacities for governance and effecting change.

Forming collectives

APSA has found this the most effective and powerful way in which people gather together on a single platform and collectively address their issues. APSA channels this collective strength to enable the poor to address social issues, access welfare and entitlements and guiding them to think about the future society, their children’s future and the environment. Some of the collectives that APSA has helped to form include Hasiru Sanghas (Children’s Collectives) and Meena Thandas (Collectives of Girl Children), Makkala Gram Sabhas, Child Rights Clubs in schools, Self-Help Groups of women and their Federations, Domestic and Construction Workers’ Welfare Collectives, Youth Collectives, Alumni of skill-trained youth and lately, Men’s Support Groups

Working through women

APSA believes that women are the strength of communities as they play a multiplicity of roles to ensure the well-being of their children, families and the community. APSA therefore works to strengthen the agency of women through micro-credit support, training for livelihoods, creche facilities and non-formal education for their children and awareness to deal with gender-based violence. Women in slums are thus able to better participate in making decisions that concern their own well-being and that of their families and the community they live in.

APSA Awards

APSA has been the recipient of many national and state awards for its outstanding work on child labour, child protection and social development. A few of the honours that APSA has received are:

  1. Outstanding Achievement by an Individual (Mr. P. Lakshapathi): Rotary Club, 1999
  2. Spirit of Victory Award to APSA Nammane for Best Child-Friendly Shelter: The Family & KMYF, 2004
  3. Makkala Mitra Award for Working for Eradication of Child Labour: Department of Labour, Government of Karnataka, 2003-2004
  4. Makkala Mitra Award for Working for Eradication of Child Labour: Department of Labour, Government of Karnataka, 2004-2005
  5. Outstanding Contribution to Eradication of Child Labour: Department of Labour, Government of Karnataka, June 2005
  6. Outstanding Contribution of Holistic Child Welfare and Child Development: Department of Women & Child Development, Government of Karnataka, November 2011
  7. Contribution to the Field of Child Rights (Eradication of Child Labour and Advocacy on Child Rights): Department of Labour, Government of Karnataka, June 2012
  8. Recognizing Significant Contribution to Promoting International Voluntary Service Through Meaningful Opportunities for International Students: Inter Cultural Dialogue & Exchange, India
  9. Recognition of Commitment and Service (Finalist, Citizen Group Category): Namma Bengaluru Awards, 2013
  10. Best NGO in the Field of Social Service: Government of Telangana, 2015
  11. Outstanding Achievement Award for Excellence in Social/ Public Services: Global Achiever’s Foundation, September 2016
  12. Bhale Bharath Award of Excellence (Mr. P. Lakshapathi): Bhale Bharath Mission, March 2017