School fees for children of outcasts in India, 3750 Euros 

More than 430,000 Dalits live in Poona, India. The members of the Dalit class in India are at the bottom of the social ladder as a result of poverty, illiteracy and discrimination. They are seen as ‘untouchables’ (the word ‘Dal’ means downtrodden) who have to serve the higher classes and are expected to carry out manual and dirty work, such as work on the rubbish heaps. Most families have 4 or 5 children and the parents are illiterate. Many parents cannot pay the school fees for their children, moreover need the income from their children to support the family. The children can go to school if the fees are paid and there is free medical care. They will still work before or after school hours, but it is a start.

By means of the project ‘Rehabilitation project for child labour’ the Global Human Rights Defence wants to offer 200 children who are engaged in child labour the opportunity to go to school. The children in question are aged 4 to 18.
Specifically, this is elementary and secondary education for 125 children aged 4 to 14, and vocational education for a period of 5 to 12 months for 75 children aged 15 to 18. The project is proposed for 3 years. 
The children will be selected on the basis of their social and economic circumstances by means of Yellow Cards, which are given by the local government to families living below the poverty level. After that they will be enrolled in schools or vocational programmes. They will be monitored to try to prevent a return to child labour. In addition to education they will participate in recreational activities. They will also be given regular medical care; the first 3 months they will receive monthly medical check-ups, and if necessary, medicine. (They have health problems due to malnutrition and bad hygiene). After that they will receive a semi-annual check-up. 

What is unique about this project is that the children’s education will be combined with sport, cultural activities and medical care. It also offers the possibility for children to continue in a vocational programme after finishing normal education. 

The total project will last three years and costs 91,000 Euros. 
The request to Moments of Joy is to donate the school fees for the 125 elementary school pupils. For three years that comes to € 3,750.

Total € 3750,-- 

adopted by friends of Alexander and Karlijn de Mol van Otterloo

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