Samraksha started working in 1993 as part of a larger developmental organization and from 2006 has been functioning as an independent charitable trust

Samraksha is currently working with pre-adolescent children (9 to 13 years) studying in Government schools, which are serving different socio-economically marginalized communities in Koppal district in North Karnataka.

Koppal has some of the poorest developmental indices among different districts in Karnataka. Most people in the peri-urban areas in Koppal town are either doing petty business or relying on informal and casual labour, because the industries and services sector are not able to absorb the population. Since people work largely in informal labour markets they are away from homes for most of the day. Some of the children also face other difficulties in their families, including death of one parent, marital discord between the parents, alcoholism as well as domestic violence. The socio-economic deprivation, the inability of parents to guide and supervise the children as well as negative family circumstances have a significant impact on children’s growth and development.

Samraksha is working with these children, to mitigate the negative impact of these circumstances. Samraksha is aiming to promote skills and traits in these children as well as support systems for them which will help them overcome these negative factors. Samraksha is aiming to build self confidence and life skills in these children and strengthen their support systems.

Samraksha uses a multi modal methodology working through individual and group sessions and working with families and communities. Through this approach, Samraksha aims to promote resilience, or the capacity to bounce back from difficulties among the children.

Samraksha’s work started in the area of HIV prevention, care and support way back in 1993 when there was very little understanding about HIV and vulnerable groups faced high levels of stigma and discrimination. Samraksha has been part of the journey of these communities, moving from the margins and claiming a place in the mainstream, and now being actively involved in prevention, care and support activities. Now many of the vulnerable communities are themselves involved in prevention programmes and medicines to control the HIV infection is freely available in the government health systems, making HIV a chronic condition rather than a terminal disease.

Samraksha continues to work with these communities, identifying special areas of need, but the focus of the organization also expanded to include the children in HIV affected families and their psychosocial and emotional needs. Samraksha worked extensively with these children in Koppal, in order to promote their mental health and build capacities to cope with the impact of HIV on their lives.