Get 10 000 children out of labour and into school

Karuna believes that equality in education is not merely one solution to the problem of poverty; it is a precondition for it. That's why we have been expanding the reach of this project to focus on changing the conditions for young women and girls in this area - both in and out of school.

The Pokhari School was once no different from many other schools in rural India. Run-down and colourless, there were no toilets for girls or boys, no running water, no electricity, no plants, no fans nor classroom decorations. Radhika,13, remembers that "The food was so unclean, most students would not eat at lunch to avoid getting ill".

The poor standard at the school was not the only challenge facing young women like Radhika - simply walking to and from school each day, students were at risk.

"We would walk home alone each day, past the men finishing their labour work," Radhika recalls. " Thy would leer and shout at us and we would need to memorise hiding places along the route in case we were attacked. Sometimes, attacks happened to girls."

Not having a toilet meant the girls and teachers would need to walk half a kilometre to use the nearest one - an open latrine, in full view of surrounding villagers. "It was such a pressure for us all," says Radhika. "It made us not want to come to school at all."

Thanks to your support, we have been able to transform these kinds of conditions that no young women should have to endure.  They painted the school, installed toilets, electricity, fans and a garden.

Our partner initiated the Girl's Together group - a chance for girls at the school to form groups, based on their location, where they can walk to and from school safely together. They also practise karate and discuss women's health issues. Pragati, 13, is one of the group leaders and now feels safe coming to school. " I used to be afraid," she says. "Now I feel secure. I don't have any fear when my sisters are with me."

Some girls, like Rani, 13, live far away from others and hand no-one to accompany her. So we bought her, and others like her, bicycles so that they could make the journey safely. "I used to get home after dark and it wasn't safe," Rain remembers. "I didn't have time to do homework and I would get behind at class. Now I have time to spare and I can make sure it gets done!"

As part of keeping children in school, the project tackles the issue of poverty by helping create sustainable livelihoods for the families in the project areas.  This is achieved through setting up self-help groups for women and offering vocational training to young people. Rohit is one of the young people who benefited from such training.

Rohit is 21 years old. He left school at the age of 16 to work and help support his family after his father had to stop working due to old age and illness. He found an assistant’s job in an electrical shop which was 15 km away from his village, earning a meagre Rs2000 a month, which could barely cover the needs of his family. This is why when he heard about the vocational training opportunities offered by our partner NISD, he decided to join the electrician’s course.

Following completion of his training, Rohit started working in one of his friend’s shop and began slowly saving and investing in buying his own equipment. He is now an equal partner in the shop, doing electrical repairs as well as home call visits and earning Rs8000 a month on average. He not only has learnt a useful skill and improved his income, he is also now able to support his family.