Emergency Food and Medicine for Kolkata's Poorest

Sakina is only 17 but she has already faced her family’s ruin after her father’s death from kidney failure a year ago. Her mother, Rukshana, became the sole breadwinner for herself and her two daughters by working as a maidservant. This is brutally exploitative work bringing in just 2 – 3000 Rupees a month (£20).  But Rukshana is now also very unwell, suffering terrible stomach pains which prevent her working. In order to feed the family 17 year old Sakina took over her mother’s work. But Sakina wants more from life. She is one of our youngsters who has chosen to remain at school and lift herself out of poverty through education.

Remarkably, she passed her Class X board exam this year, despite the terrible times she is going through.

I was in Kolkata in May and attended a meeting of all the young people from Sakina’s area who attend our Evening Classes.  Our aim was to provide support and encouragement for girls like Sakina by inviting youngsters who have already started university to come and talk about their experiences. One by one the girls and boys stood up and told their stories. Sakina wept as she told the group how she was struggling and afraid she would have to give up on her dream of an education.

On our way home we asked Sakina to take us to visit her Mum. Thin and pale Rukshana lay on a raised platform that is both bed, storage space and table in these one-room slum dwellings. My lovely colleagues Parveen and Sufia leapt into action. They mobilised funds for medical help and rations for the family. Thanks to the generosity of donors like you we are able to provide the temporary help required to get a family like this back on its feet. With your support, Sakina is continuing her education and does not need to travel miles to go and work as a maidservant for miserable wages.  

Much of our emergency relief work is tied to keeping young people in education or training. This is the best way a family can earn a sustainable income and lift itself out of poverty.  Parveen ensured that Sakina was also enrolled in computer classes so that she is building her skills for a better future.

It costs just £30 a month to provide the basic support for a family like Sakina’s.