Step up to help educate street-connected children in Kolkata From 12 April until 12 May
Since 1999, HOPE has helped nearly 100,000 disadvantaged street-connected children in Kolkata access education. But there is still more to be done to ensure that children living on the streets and in the slums of the city can enjoy their right to education.
Join us as we mark our 25th anniversary by taking on our Footsteps for HOPE walking challenge, which will launch on International Day for Street Children.
Sign up to walk 10,000 steps a day from 12 April until 12 May. Each step taken during Footsteps For HOPE, and every £1 raised, will count towards a step on the vital journey of education for a child in HOPE’s care.
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Invite friends, family, and colleagues to join the challenge with you
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Follow the link to set up a Just Giving page (when prompted select 'Just Fundraising')Follow the link to set up a Just Giving page (when prompted select 'Just Fundraising')
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Download your footsteps trackerDownload your footsteps tracker
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Encourage everyone to donate to your fundraiser
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Share or tag HOPE UK’s social media posts #FootstepsForHOPE #F4H
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Upload photos to social media throughout the month to keep the momentum going!
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Email juliette@thehopefoundation.org.uk who will support your fundraising
What funds raised for HOPE can provide in Kolkata:
- £8.60 will buy a pair of shoes and school uniform
- £30 will buy educational stationery and toys
- £80 will provide a month’s salary for a teacher
- £100 will purchase educational books for a child
International Day for Street Children is held annually on 12 April, as an opportunity to give a voice to the 150 million children around the world who live on the streets. On this day, human rights organisations and NGOS – like HOPE – spread awareness not only about the plight of street children, but the bravery and resilience they display in the face of adversity. We also call on decision makers to take action to ensure that the rights of street children are recognised.
It is estimated that there are 250,000 street-connected children in Kolkata, who are from the most disadvantaged communities in India.
Many street-connected children come from families who struggle to access daily necessities such as food, clean water and somewhere safe to sleep. Other street-connected children are alone in the city and vulnerable to abuse and exploitation. They start work as young as age five in order to buy food.
In accordance with the UN Convention on the Rights of a Child and the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals, HOPE believes that inclusive, quality education is a fundamental human right that should be enjoyed by all children, irrespective of their background.
By helping street-connected children – many of whom are first generation learners – to access education, we are helping to build their knowledge, skills and confidence, and providing a pathway out of poverty.
Mousumi's Story of HOPE
“I want to stand on my own two feet so that I have a better place to stay, and my mum and aunt won’t have to work anymore” - Mousumi
100% of your funds will be used for our education programmes and resources for street-connected children aged 2-18 in Kolkata.