INDIA: Street Shelter
 India is the second most populous country in the world, home to over one sixth of the world's population. They also have one of the largest populations of street children in the world, estimated at anything from 11 - 18 million. | |
The intense poverty of rural India, combined with the frequent incidence of abuse in the home drive many children out onto the streets. 21,000 of these children wind up in Vijayawada, a city with roughly the population of Birmingham, and the third busiest railway junction in the world. City LifeComing to the city in search of a better life, children quickly discover that the city is not for them the glamorous place of big houses, cinemas, theatres and restaurants they had imagined. Instead, for these children the cold, hard railway platforms become their only beds, leftovers from rubbish bins their source of food and before long they are suffering from chronic ill health. For girls, the outlook is even worse as they are likely to be beaten, drugged and sold to a brothel. Street ShelterOur partners in Vijayawada provide shelter and rehabilitation for 300 street children. Wherever possible, the children are reunited with their families. For those who can't safely return to their families, they are welcomed to our partners' home. At the home they are given counselling, health care, food and clothing, picnics and recreational outings. To help them ease back into regular schooling, they are given an hour of informal education daily. They are also introduced to budgeting and saving and each child has a savings account opened for them. For the older children they offer vocational training and help with finding employment. Future HelplineIn the long-term our partners plan to set up a free 24 hour telephone helpline for children in distress. They will also form a network of organisations so that together they can make more of an impact than working individually. Join our fight for justice... Donate now >> |
