AN INTERNATIONAL children’s charity based in Coventry has launched its 2016 Christmas appeal to benefit disadvantaged youngsters living in India.
Global Care is aiming to raise a minimum of £11,500 to support the work the charity does in Patripul – a slum in Mumbai – where the charity supports some of the area’s most deprived children back into education.
To be a ‘Dalit’ in India today, means to be impoverished and a member of the lowest caste in Indian society.
Global Care operates two centres in Patripul, supporting 150 Dalit children with lessons in Maths, Hindi, English and Marathi.
In a hostile school environment, many Dalit children drop out as discrimination against them becomes so severe.
The centre also provides homework support, healthy snacks, advocacy at school and family welfare – including some literacy support for parents.
With plans to raise at least £12,000, the charity isn’t ruling out the option of adding an additional £11,000 to that sum so £23,000 can be raised in total to provide enough money to run both centres for two years.
John White, ceo of Global Care, said the charity’s focus is to support the poorest of the poor and those who face additional barriers to climbing out of poverty.
He added: “In India, no one faces more disadvantage than a Dalit child in a slum like Patripul.
“By providing a basic education, we can help these children break the poverty cycle by equipping them with skills for life.
“There is considerable opposition to our work in Patripul from higher-caste groups who do not believe Dalit children deserve to be educated, including some vandalism of our main centre in the summer.
“However we are determined to help these children thrive – because all children deserve a future, no matter what ethnic, religious or caste background they come from.”
Visit www.globalcare.org.uk/Christmas2016 for further information about the Christmas appeal and how to make a donation.
