Among the poorest of the poor
The Musahar community

Status quo
Lost children

It’s no secret that on the Indian subcontinent, over 15 million infants and young children live with virtually no chance of survival. For many reasons, they often lack even the most basic medical and nutritional care. If no family or institution takes them in, they face the prospect of ending up on the streets with nothing, without support or guidance. Abuse, child labor, crime, prostitution, and exploitation become the common paths on which they are left unprotected. And ultimately lost.

In a village community in Rattanpurwa

My why
A death's door 

I was born in 1979 in Belman, South India, and due to difficult family and societal circumstances, I was immediately handed over to a hospital in Udupi, Karnataka. As an infant, I became ill, and with no family left to cover further treatment costs, the necessary supply of medication and nutrition was simply impossible at that time, in that place, and under those conditions. This meant — in that hopeless situation — certain death before even reaching my first birthday. But things turned out differently.

In a village community near Sakri

The chance 
My restart

At the same time, a childless couple from Germany was successfully pursuing an adoption. Once the hospital was informed that the costs would be fully covered, all the necessary resources were provided and paid for in advance by the future parents. They had committed to bearing all expenses, despite the risk that the child might not survive even with the newly enabled care. Said and done. After successful treatment, restored ability to travel, several more months of waiting, and five subsequent stops, I was picked up in what is today Mumbai (formerly Bombay) and flown to Munich at nine months old — into a new life. Most children, however, are not nearly as fortunate.

Tailoring training in Sakri

Our work  
Early results

After my visits to several institutions and communities in rural Bihar in April 2023, numerous discussions were held and preparations made to launch a new Learning Center. The first LC initiated by India Child Care e.V. in Bhavanipur began classes on December 5, one day after its opening ceremony. The focus is on teaching language skills and basic arithmetic, enabling later admission to government schools and further educational steps. This breaks the cycle of poverty for these children and families, replacing illiteracy with education and opening paths to vocations in demand locally, securing their own income. Both the children’s parents and the members of the village community support the project. This acceptance is crucial for the educational success and social integration of the students, ultimately shaping their chances and future achievements.

With students in Gaunaha

Feedback from Sakri  
The second school year 

Beyond the direct prospects that this Learning Center opens up for students through education and career opportunities, there are also other significant effects happening here. The boys no longer have to leave for big cities without an education, seeking work and their (mis)fortune there, while the girls are no longer married off far too early as a matter of course. Now, all of them want to — and can — complete their schooling to pursue higher education and/or learn a trade. Since the children’s parents and the community councils fully support the project, the children and youth have their complete backing. This is one of the essential foundations for achieving long-term success and sustainable change — also in mindsets.

​Moreover, even before its official start, this Learning Center has had a strong impact on nearby communities and neighboring villages, which until now were sometimes more, sometimes less open to such concepts. It is mainly thanks to the valuable and persistent groundwork by those responsible in Sakri that the conditions in Bhavanipur are now as they need to be to make this project possible. Continuing this Learning Center and opening additional centers in the surrounding area could transform multiple communities throughout the entire region. Driven by motivated and empowered children together with informed parents within their communities.

Your donation brings education, bees, and dignity to places where child labor is often the only way out — creating cycles that break the grip of poverty.

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