Education for 600 Vulnerable Children in Kolkata

Education is the single most powerful way out of poverty. 600 of the most vulnerable children from the squatter camps of central Kolkata are enrolled in Tiljala SHED’s education programme. It costs just £11 or US$15 per month to give a child the chance to lift him or herself out of destitution, abuse and hopelessness. Thanks to your generosity we are able to help Tarannum and hundreds like her...

Report from the field...

Tarannum

Tarannum is a very bright girl, 14 years, from Topsia Canalside squatters is now studying in class V. Her father is an alcoholic and drives a rickshaw. He seldom contributes to his family. The change maker is her mother who is a maid servant working in two different houses and earns an income of Rs.6000 per month. One of her sisters has been deserted by her husband, she also stays with her two daughters in this house.
Tarannum is a very ambitious girl and wants to become a teacher and support her family. She lost few years in school as she was in her village. She is now studying hard to reach her goal. She regularly attends our coaching centre and is very much motivated to continue her studies as once upon a time she wanted to quit from her studies. Her mother has also taken a loan and has purchased the rickshaw for her husband but her husband drives only intermittently

About the project
600 children of rag pickers, rickshaw drivers, maidservants, vegetable sellers are enrolled on Tiljala SHED's Education and Child Protection programme. They are required to attend their local government school but in the afternoon they attend remedial classes in T SHED's 5 centres, one in the heart of each community where we work. Here they play, sing, complete their homework, attend remedial sessions and child protection workshops. They love the classes and attendance is very high. Their parents are also closely involved - after all it is only with the parents' consent that the children remain in education and avoid dropping out. Tiljala SHED works very hard to persuade the parents that a proper education is worth the sacrifice of anything a boy might earn rag picking or working in a factory. And infinitely better than marrying off a daughter as soon as she reaches puberty.