Through my professional past in the clothing industry, I was able to get to know India in a very great and close way. Through friendships that developed on site, I was able to dive a little deeper into the culture of this beautiful country.

However, what captivated me from the first minute in India, besides the omnipresent poverty, was the life of the children on the street. Children not even 5 years old, carrying their siblings in their arms because they are still babies. Children who collect garbage, beg for food, join gangs with other children and in the worst case are used by adults to beg or are forced into prostitution. How can we help these children who seem to have no rights anymore?

With the Childaid Network Foundation, I have found a non-profit organization that, among other things, cares about exactly these children's rights.

School instead of begging - How tens of thousands of street children find their way back to school:

Every year, tens of thousands of people flee poverty, violence and the consequences of climate change from the foothills of the Himalayas to the megacity of Guwahati in Assam. There they are often stranded in slums. They live as beggars or day laborers. Children and young people in particular suffer unspeakable poverty and many do not attend school.

Sustainable change is possible

Childaid Network's vision is that all children can exercise their right to education. Together with the local partner organization Snehalaya ("House of Love") Childaid Network takes care of these children. In seven children's homes, 268 children are given a loving home. In 45 neighborhood centers in the city's socially deprived areas, the children from the slums are cared for by social workers. They finance bridge courses to prepare the children for school and educate parents and local politicians on children's rights. They have already accompanied more than 8,000 children and young people to school or vocational training.

Since 2007, together with many partners in Guwahati, they have been able to halve the number of street children in Guwahati to less than 10,000.

What does the future hold for these children?

The first 88 of the children cared for by Childaid Network in the homes over the last 12 years have completed school and are now of age. The task now is to ensure that these successes are sustained through a comprehensive aftercare program. The young people are enabled to start a qualified vocational training in one of the centers or they are helped to get a good position on the job market according to their wishes and abilities and of course to study. For up to three years they are placed in a residential project with other young people. They will also continue to be closely supervised by social workers.

In October 2021, a team of German and Indian supporters shot a video with the theme "What does home mean to you" in Assam. 11 minutes, some of which sadly offer insights, but also give hope.

Why did I choose Childaid? The Childaid team works mainly on a voluntary basis, they accompany the projects personally, are on site at their own expense to support the projects and to get an idea of the situation.

According to the Childaid slogan "Education is the key to life" we from MyJama support the project "Children's Rights". You are also welcome to donate an amount during the payment process under tip, this donation goes 100% to the project. Or you can visit the Childaid Network website and donate directly.

Thank you for helping us to make the children heard