Building a Future for Brick Kiln Children in India

Bhagashri comes from a family of migrating labourers. Eight months of the year she and her 6 family members migrate to the brick kilns for her mother and father to work as bonded labourers; earning the minimal amount per day and living hand to mouth. Bhagashri's parents have been surviving in this way for many years. Illiterate and previously unsupported, they have been unable to advocate for themselves or their family.

Usually, it would be expected that Bhagashri, at 12 years old and much younger, should be helping her parents at the brick kiln; doing back-breaking work in dusty, filthy and scorching conditions. However, thanks to the education project set up at the kiln, Bhagashri has other opportunities and is imagining a life beyond degrading daily labour. 

Thanks to the education project on site, for the time of year Bhagashri is at the kiln factory, she is in school, getting an education. Learning fast and competently, she is now literate and doors will begin to open for her. Bhagashri knows the alphabet, parts of the body, flowers, animals, fruits... the list goes on! This literacy is opening the world up for Bhagashri and teaching a whole new way to communicate. More than literacy and additional computer skills, Bhagashri has also learnt about personal hygiene and has gained a sense of dignity in arriving to school washed and clean. In turn, she is teaching this to her younger siblings. Bhagashri wants to be a teacher, so that she herself can help others learn what she has acquired.  

Thank you for your support of this project and for making a difference to the lives of children at brick kiln factories. 

• Bhagashri at the brick kiln (PDF)