India

From late October 2007 PWB will be working in four locations in India. We will work with existing organisations that provide support for street children in urban India.

• Delhi
• Varanasi
• Kolkata
• Vijaywada

Why India?

India has more people living in poverty than any other. It is also a country which is undergoing rapid, but highly localised and imbalanced development; subsequently there are many communities feeling the negative affects that such dramatic changes bring. In the majority of cases there is no state support for those negatively affected; they are left to cope alone with massive cultural, social and economic challenges. Often this dynamic leads to migration and the subsequent divorce from the more traditional support systems. Many such communities continue to face daily discrimination, either as religious minorities or through (the now illegal) caste system, making their plight even more difficult. Under these difficult conditions families break down leaving many children having to fend for themselves. Growing up in such situations these children often struggle to break free of social and economic barriers. PWB will work to give them the courage to realise their own potential and, in their own way, break these social and economic barriers.

A recent Channel4 Dispaches documentary 'The Indian miracle?' by Krishnan Guru-Murphy touches on many of these subjects. There is also an interesting interview with Krishnan. And you can watch the show using the Channel4 4oD service.