From Child Labour to College: Support Her Future

Pintu, aged 6, lives in a small mud hut with his parents, two brothers and one sister. His family are from a Nomadic Tribe, a highly excluded community in India who are often denied their most basic human rights. Pintu’s Dad earns money selling small plastic goods and his Mother works in a cloth shop. Both parents are away from home throughout the day and are unable to care properly for Pintu. Being uneducated and illiterate themselves, Pintu’s parents saw little point in enrolling him in school and providing him with an education.

An essential aspect of the projects work is to carry out enrolment drives throughout the region. Local communities are taught the importance of keeping their children in school. They are taught the dangers of child labour and early marriage. The team use mass postering, local meetings and family visits to convince parents of the benefits of education.

As part of the campaign the project had sent a letter to Pintu’s parents encouraging them to enrol him in the local primary school. They followed up with a personal visit to the family. Pintu’s parents agreed to receiving help from the project team to enrol Pintu. Because the family could not afford it, the team also agreed to provide Pintu with educational material such as bags, uniform and stationary.

After overcoming some initial hesitation Pintu attends school regularly and is doing very well. He has become popular amidst his class mates and was elected class monitor. The project team make regular school visits to discuss Pintu’s progress with his teachers. They also provide support to his parents. Though they themselves did not receive an education they have seen the benefit in their son and are happy to keep him in school.

Thanks to the project and its supporters Pintu and other Dalit and Nomadic children like him will receive a full education. This would not have been possible without your support.