Open Shelter - Good Shepherd Convent Mottukal

Mottukal-Open Shelter provides a safe and supportive space for children in need of care and protection. The children are referred to by the Child Welfare Committee, Chennai. It is a short-term residential facility where vulnerable children such as those living on the streets, runaways, children from difficult circumstances, or those at risk of exploitation find safety, dignity, and hope.

Our Purpose

The Open Shelter is designed to ensure that no child is left without protection, care, or guidance. We aim to create a homely and nurturing environment where children feel respected and valued, while also working towards their long-term rehabilitation and reintegration into family and society. Children are provided with safe accommodation, basic needs are met qualitatively. Besides this they have access to Non-Formal education, skill-building, and life-skills training. 

Our Approach

We work closely with communities, child protection systems, including the District Child Protection Units (DCPUs) in Chennai, which implement the Integrated Child Protection Scheme (ICPS), and local authorities to safeguard the rights of every child. Mottukal Open shelter also is part of Mission Vatsalya, which is a child-centric Centrally Sponsored Scheme by the Indian government, implemented to promote child rights, ensure the holistic development of children in need of care and protection, and strengthen the child protection system in line with the Sustainable Development Goals. The Open Shelter acts as both a refuge in times of need and a bridge to a brighter future, where children can rebuild their lives with dignity, safety, and opportunity.