Now we have an office on the ground with local staff who have valuable experience working with local communities. They understand the most pressing local needs and remain close to project sites. Childreach International India works closely with our UK office and the local communities, to ensure that Childreach International meets their most vital needs.

India, the second most populous country in the world after China, is confronted with many social problems; in particular, many of the population, especially those in rural areas, remain illiterate. Therefore the majority of our projects focus on child education as a priority.

Our partners and projects

Shaishav

With Childreach International India's support, Shaishav run an innovative Children Development and Empowerment Programme called Balsena. Balsena is a children’s collective which gives a platform to children to voice their concerns. They hold monthly meetings, programmes, activities and celebrations and work together to solve problems they face at home, school or in their communities. The partnership will strengthen the work of Balsena by providing opportunities to train and create more leaders within the child population of the Bhavnagar district of Gujarat, so as to ensure the sustainability of the development process in the region. Childreach International India also intends to spread the positive impact and influence that Balsena has had to other regions as well by strengthening other children’s organisations working through similar initiatives.

Lalji, aged 12

Lalji has been a Balsena member for 4 years.

“I joined because there are lots of new things that I can learn and it gave me the opportunity to join the Savings Bank. I am saving up for a bicycle; I know it will take some time! I’ve learnt how to plan events and have celebrated many festivals, such as the Kite Flying festival and Diwali. I’ve made lots of new friends and I would recommend that other children to join Balsena too - I recruited my friend to join. If I had not been a member I would not have learnt new games and participated in so many programmes”.

Find out more about Shaishav.

Centre for Development

Childreach International India works in partnership with the Centre for Development (CfD) to finance their ‘Kadam Education Centres’ project to improve local conditions for children and strive for a positive change through awareness raising campaigns to sensitise civil society. The project has supported the Education Centres in providing informal schooling to children up to grade 7 in order to provide access to quality education and preparing them for enrolment in mainstream state run schools for the children of these displaced communities.
Sonu, aged 9

Sonu is studying in one of the Kadam Centres that Childreach International India funds. She has eight siblings, two of whom are child labourers. Her mother and father leave at 6am for work and do not return until 9pm.

“I like studying at the centre, because if there wasn’t a Kadam Centre I would just be doing housework as there aren’t any schools here. When I grow up I want my children to be able to go to school and become teachers or doctors”.

Association for Social and Human Awareness (ASHA)

Childreach International India in partnership with the Association for Social and Human Awareness (ASHA) are increasing access to education for tribal children through the Pre-School Education Project by increasing the number of schools in remote rural villages. The project provides elementary education and healthy environments to underprivileged tribal children in the Saraikela district by promoting education. If parents see the benefits from the very start, they will be more likely to keep their children in school. The project greatly supports the inclusion and participation of the local community through facilitating various committees composed of local community members to contribute to the success of the programme.

Development Action Society (DAS)

Childreach International India are working with the Development Action Society (DAS) on a project which will provide a community awareness programme within two communities outside of Kolkata in West Bengal, form Children Action Groups to raise awareness among children about their rights and to facilitate an education enrolment and attendance drive for children in these communities and provide life skills education for adolescent children.

New Opportunities for Women (NOW)

Childreach International India is supporting New Opportunities for Women (NOW), based in New Delhi, on a project to establish two House’s of Learning in order to provide remedial education for children, teach women functional literacy through a non-formal education programme, provide vocational skills in tailoring and crafts for women and children, provide health and nutritional care to the children and women and to organise a Children’s Parliament to raise awareness and facilitate events on child rights issues.

Mahila Action Samity

Childreach International India is working with Mahila Action Samity in the urban slums of Visakahaptanam to provide education to child labourers, rag pickers children, school drop-out children, domestic workers children. The project will also raise awareness on child trafficking, abuse and exploitation as well as providing vocational training on alternative livelihoods to girls and to raise awareness on their rights to educate and food.

Chinmaya Organisation for Rural Development (CORD)

Childreach International India is supporting a project with Chinmaya Organisation for Rural Development (CORD). The aim of the project is to facilitate a village cadre-based focus on women empowerment and to advocate on girls issues in relation to education, health, discrimination, atrocities, child marriage and against the practice female feticides.

Find out more about CORD.

Edith Wilkins Street Children Foundation

Childreach International India is working with Edith Wilkins Street Children Foundation based in Darjeeling. The aim is to provide support and care for street children and children living under horrendous conditions. The project will help to run a drop-in centre for these children where the children can be part of the holistic approach to rehabilitation through provision of education, health care and empowerment in the safety of the drop-in centre.

Find out more about Edith Wilkins Street Children Foundation.