Aisha was found at age six, on the streets and hungry. Both her parents had passed away and she was left with only an older sister to look out for her and her four other siblings. A neighbour, posing as their grandmother, sent the children out to work and kept all their earnings. Aisha was at great risk of being abused or even trafficked.
Luckily, Aisha was identified by a social worker through HOPE’s Child Watch Programme and it was then that Aisha came under HOPE’s wing. She moved in to one of our protection homes, where she received care, love and an education. Now 21, Aisha has a part time teaching position at HOPE’s Be Kind Boy’s Home, as well as a volunteering role in Edu-Care. She is a wonderful influence on her peers and the children she works with. It was through an Education Sponsorship that she was enabled to complete her higher education. Aisha’s life would have been very different without HOPE’s intervention. Aisha’s story has been a real inspiration to HOPE supporters, staff, and most importantly, to other children in our care.
Kamal is an eight year old boy who lived with his parents and three siblings in their native village of Bihar. He is now in HOPE’s care. Kamal’s father was an alcoholic who physically abused his wife and children. Kamal’s mother fled with her children to Kolkata where they ended up living on the platforms of Sealdah station as they had nowhere to go and no source of income. The Hope Kolkata FoundationNight Watch team rescued the family and they were admitted to the Mother and Child Care Unit for emergencyprotective shelter. As Kamal’s mother was unemployed and unable to take care of the children, he was placed in Be-kind home and his two elder sisters in the Kasba Home. His mother sees them all regularly is now working as an Ayah in HOPE Hospital. The youngest of her children, who is just a toddler, remains with her. This is the first step on a road to a better future for the whole family.
Kamal is a very well-behaved little boy and maintains good relationships with his teachers and peers. He enthusiastically participates in class activities and demonstrates real leadership skills. Kamal is a bright eager student with an affinity for Maths and shows great potential for the future. We have every belief that Kamal will have a successful and happy life ahead of him.
Banu (New Market Nabadisha)
Banu is 9 years old, and has lived on the streets with her family since they migrated to Kolkata in October 2015. The family is very poor, with her father working as a daily wage laborer and her mother is a maid. Banu has three sisters and one brother. Despite their efforts, Banu’s parents have been unable to provide and care properly for their large family, meaning Banu never attended school, suffered from malnutrition due to lack of food and endured neglect. In December 2015 she joined the Nabadisha Centre and has shown considerable improvement since then. Initially, she had a negative attitude towards the teachers and students and was unable to sit still, this is a common amongst new children who join the centre. They need time to adjust and to trust. Banureceived consistent counseling and supports from the Nabadisha staff and has since expressed a strong desire to learn. In 2016, she was enrolled in formal education at her local school.
Mina
Mina lives in Kolkata’s red light district of Kalighat. Across India, an estimated 35.5% of sex workers enter the trade before reaching 18 years of age. Children living within this area are at high-risk of exploitation and all forms of abuse due to their home environment which is saturated by violence, alcohol, drugs, trafficking and deprivations. Mina was exposed daily to negative situations throughout Kalight. Her father was a daily labourer, and her mother suffered from mental health concerns. With such a meager income, Mina’s father was unable to provide and care for her and her two siblings. As Mina’s family also stems from the lowest caste, employment and educational opportunities are even more difficult to attain. HOPE’s partner organization, PBKOJP, identified Mina as she was out of school. She now receives educational sponsorship to enable and empower her to access and remain in school. Under the sponsorship programme, Mina’s admission fees, uniform, and books are all funded. Mina is studying in South Calcutta Girls High School and is sitting her Madhyamik Examination, the equivalent to Ireland’s Junior Cert, this year
Child Marriage is a curse within Indian society. Vulnerable girls are not protected against abuse and mistreatment associated with this horrendous practice, which is largely due to a lack of education, awareness and low socio economic status.
RehanaBibi, now 28 years old, is an active Health Volunteer ofWatgunj. Rehana was a victim of the inhumane practice of child marriage. She was married at off at the age of 16 and from then on continuously endured abuse and mistreatment from her conservative husband and Mother-in-law. But through our regular intervention and counseling, Rehanagained knowledge confidence and the motivation to take action, she is now actively creating awareness and hopes to see change in the future. At present she is the mother of 3 children, all of whom are in education.To empower her, staff of HOPE’s PBKOJP encouraged Rehana to be financially independent,so she managed to open a food store with her husband. Managing to fulfill all her family responsibilities and to run this shop has earned her a certain respect from her husband and mother in law. HOPE have supported her venture as they have no capacity to maintain staff for the shop they run and are indirectly having a positive impact on her husband and his attitudes. Rehana will always thankful to the staff of PBKOJP, who helped her to improve her situation, both within her own family and society around her. She has learned the value of knowledge and importance of guidance to effect change.
