Community Health & Development

‘What do you want to do when you grow up?’ three-year old Ritik is asked. ‘Colice,’ he replies shyly. Beth, his teacher at the balwadi (pre school class) explains, 'he never manages to pronounce the 'p'.'

We are running the balwadi in a slum community called Doddigunta, central Bangalore. Ritik has been coming along since June 2007. His mother Anu says, ‘Whatever they teach here he repeats at home, and he recites all the rhymes. He used bad language at home when he was not going to school, but now he doesn’t.’

Coming here gives the children a good foundation and prepares them for school. Beth says, ‘My hopes are that they should be role models to others in their families, to their relatives and to their friends when they are studying and working.’

Empowering slum communities

India’s cities are growing rapidly as people come searching for work and education. As the cities grow, so do their slums. We’re working with two slum communities in Mumbai, four in Chennai and two in Bangalore.

Projects include women’s self help groups, computing classes, pre-school classes, homework clubs, adult literacy, advocacy work and football coaching. These initiatives empower communities and individuals to reach their full potential and take control of their lives.

Many projects are now staffed by community members themselves, with salaries coming from the women’s self help groups. Members of these groups pay in 100 rupees every month to a group account and after six months they can get a loan for essentials like school fees and medicines.

We run pre-school classes for the under fives where the children have fun and also get a good foundation before going to school. Our computer training and tailoring courses give students the confidence and skills to get a good job. We encourage school drop-outs to finish their education through the national open school, and run tutorial classes to help young people pass their exams.

Those who live in slum communities can be scared of visiting the doctor. Health visitors go door to door, gaining trust, offering advice and helping people to visit doctors and get medicine. We also help community groups with their advocacy work, ensuring they get whatever they are entitled to and that their rights are respected.

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>>How you can help