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ASSIST works for the development of poor and marginalised communities in Andhra Pradesh. It is an initiative of a group of individuals who worked in the field of rural development for three decades and wanted to express a commitment to the poor, but with a difference. Their vision is to see the most underprivileged members of society being able to fight with strength, courage, and confidence to respond to their own political, economic, and social needs.

Their programmes include:

• Child Development: ASSIST places serious attention on strengthening children’s support systems in a comprehensive manner, and working with the neediest communities to combat problems particularly, but not exclusively, related to child labour, at every stage of child development. They aim to ensure that children from the target communities falling in the age group of 6-14 years go to school. A variety of interventions are executed such as organising Child Care Centres where the Government has not established pre-schools, enrolling children in Government Anganwadi centres, mainstreaming children in Government schools and hostels from ASSIST-run Transitional Education Centres (residential and non-residential), and rehabilitating children from work/homes and admitting them in schools.
• Sensitisation: ASSIST concentrates on a variety of sensitisation activities to create a feeling of courage and confidence among the target population by highlighting that their development is in their own hands. The need for sensitisation was felt after noticing that their target beneficiaries have become dependent on welfare measures extended by Government authorities from time to time. In FY15, 185 camps were conducted on topics like Consequences on Child Labour & Importance of Education, Child Rights, Right to Education Act, Women Empowerment, etc.
• Housing & Sanitation: ASSIST promotes ownership for housing by encouraging target communities to seek out maximum Government support for funding, to lead planning, and contribute by way of local funds and labour. ASSIST promotes the construction and use of sanitation facilities at the household, school, and community levels. In FY15, 63 incomplete houses, and 100 new houses have been completed, along with household toilets.
• People’s Organisations: ASSIST intends to promote development processes with people’s active participation in project villages.