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​LATEST STORIES

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Bridging the digital divide for Dalit children

1/9/2019

 
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Since we started working with Dalit communities in Bihar State, one of the main requests from the children has been to set up some computer training, alongside the Learning Centres and Women’s Groups. Consequently, our partners have set up a Computer Centre, open to all children at the Centres. In two shifts, 20 students come and learn basic computer skills each day.

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How to live in the middle of a river: Meet Bintoli Community

23/7/2019

 
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At the start of July we visited a number of Dalit communities in Patna, India to learn from many of the inspiring people who live there. One of these communities was Bintoli, home to one of the 27 Learning Centres we support here for Dalit children.
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All the Dalit groups we work with in Patna face discrimination, exclusion and violence, but Bintoli also has to cope with regular flooding. The village is situated in the middle of the river, and becomes an island for about two months a year during rainy season. Over this time the 500 people who live here are completely isolated. They were forced to move to Bintoli from another area when the government built a railway, then half the community lost their land in floods. All the people here now have to rent off the land mafia.
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Road to Bintoli in the first week of July.
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By mid July it is cut off by flooding.
Read below as we introduce a group of resourceful, dedicated people, who against all odds are making a difference for others around them.

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'The Edge' for Dalit Communities in India

1/5/2019

 
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​Despite the fact that discrimination based on caste was outlawed by India’s constitution in 1950, the practice of ‘untouchability’ still dictates the order of modern life for millions here.

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Dalit Community face exclusion and violence in India’s election

12/4/2019

 
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Veena speaking to rural Dalit community on Human Rights Day.
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Yesterday, voting kicked off for the world’s largest election, with Indians in 20 states casting their votes in the first of seven phases, leading up to counting on the 23rd May. With 900 million eligible voters, this is the largest election ever seen, but an illegal yet culturally pervasive caste system is stunting the course to genuine democracy.
 


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International Women’s Day 2019 - celebrating women’s rights in India

8/3/2019

 
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Last year on International Women’s Day, we highlighted the plight of Dalit women in India, who not only face crippling discrimination and abuse because of their gender, but also because of their caste.

The theme was ‘Press for Progress’ and since then we have been supporting our partners to do just this, ready to celebrate their achievements this year, with the theme ‘Balance for better’. 

To help create safe places for vulnerable children around the 
world, we empower women (and men) to realise their rights. We work with the community as a whole, rather than providing stand alone children's services. Communities have a right to build protective environments for their own children, and over the years we have seen that this ownership is the key to lasting change.

In Patna, India, you can see this in action through the 50 Women’s Groups run by our partner organisation, Navjeevan. The groups offer meetings and workshops which talk about health issues, governments schemes and free services available for poor women. We help these women to access vital medical services, like maternity care, by accompanying them to the hospital, or assisting with filling in the correct paperwork. 

As a result of these groups, countless women have started to see incredible change in their lives, many going on to support other women. Take a look at just some of the amazing stories below.

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A great start for Children’s Parliaments in Patna

20/1/2019

 
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Despite the caste system being outlawed, Dalit children in India are shunned by society and suffer from exclusion, discrimination and exploitation. Through 30 Learning Centres, Children on the Edge are supporting these children to break the cycle of caste discrimination.

An important part of this education is helping children understand their rights. This is not only reflected in the curriculum, but recently through the establishment of ten ‘Children’s Parliaments’, where children learn about their rights and responsibilities, develop leadership, and learn the political system and election process of their country.

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A dash to Bangladesh and India - Five highlights

21/12/2018

 
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After a double trip to our projects in Bangladesh and India this month, our International Director - Rachel Bentley shares five highlights that reflect some great progress for the children we work with.

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Expanding opportunities for Dalit girls in India

10/10/2018

 
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Since 2012,  the 11th October has been marked by the UN as the International Day of the Girl. It aims to highlight and address the challenges girls face, while promoting girls' empowerment and the fulfilment of their human rights.

This year’s theme is entitled ‘With Her: A Skilled GirlForce’ as in the next decade, 90% of girls entering the workforce in developing countries will work in the informal sector, where low or no pay, abuse and exploitation are common.
The theme this year seeks to promote the expansion of learning opportunities for girls and calls on the global community to rethink how to prepare girls for a successful transition into the world of work.​

The current situation for Dalit women and girls living in Bihar State is desperate. Surviving as part of the lowest strata of a brutal caste system, with the added oppression that arises from being female, traps many women in poverty and abuse.

UN Women state that despite government efforts for reform, across the country they continue to face severe maltreatment, including acid attacks, child marriage, dowry-related violence, honour killings, rape, sexual harassment and trafficking.

Compounding this situation are pervading levels of caste discrimination which despite being outlawed, determine much of the structure of daily society. Dalits are considered the ‘lowest’ of the caste strata and face severe restrictions, exploitation and violence.

The work we support here focuses on supporting women and girls to realise their rights to education, health, income, protection and shelter. We encourage them to develop their confidence and self-esteem and to restore a sense of their inherent self-worth.
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We provide access to education for 1,200 Dalit children within 30 colourful and safe environments. Located on rooftops and canal-sides, under trees and inside homes, the Centres are accessible to all. Children learn maths, reading, writing and vital life skills and gain understanding of their inherent worth. They develop knowledge of their rights and will ultimately be resourced to access mainstream education opportunities.
Girls and boys attend focused gender equality workshops, so they can address deep-set prejudice together, along with tackling its consequences in their communities. One 12 year old girl called Aakriti attended the Centres but teachers noticed she was shy and regularly absent. Programme leader Veena says “She looked frightened and anxious. At the same time very little interest in playing and mingling with others”.

Aakriti went to one of the workshops at the Centres about ‘good and bad touch’. During the session many children spoke about sexual abuse they experienced from vendors, men on the bus, and their relatives. After this session Aakriti confided to her sister, telling her that she had recently been attacked and raped by a group of boys. Her sister came straight to the teachers and told them. They called Aakriti to talk about it and she is now having trauma counselling.

Women’s Groups attached to each Centre receive training about their rights along with the practical skills, support and mentorship they need to realise them. They push for protection, counter corruption and hold violent individuals to account in the courts. Sadly when Aakriti’s parents were approached about taking action they refused saying. “If people come to know that she is a rape victim no one will marry her. She will be burden to the family.”

This programme continues to work with families to address this kind of ingrained inequality. Veena says  “It is very difficult to break the social stigma attached to rape and sexual abuse of women. Will she ever get justice?”
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600 Dalit children enjoy Summer Camp in Patna

25/7/2018

 
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Through a multitude of games and activities, hundreds of children have expressed their hidden talents, developed their team work and learned about this year's theme; the importance of saving water.

Coming from 20 of the Learning Centres we support here, children sang about the ‘saving water’ theme each morning whilst waving flags and signs that they had made about the issue. They had practiced these songs at each Centre in the weeks leading up to the event to build excitement and give an opportunity to perform to their friends.

Through quizzes and ‘tug of war’ games, they learnt about issues that arise from water shortage, with the tug of war showing how many people have to fight for access.
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Lessons in fine art
 were particularly popular with the children through the week. Using low cost materials, they created and painted beautifully intricate pieces (see top image) including paper aquariums, wall hangings and flower paintings. Those that participated showed real enthusiasm and eagerness to learn new methods and went on to share the teaching with other children in their Centres.
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Children also found out about how water is vital for growing vegetables and learned how to prepare and beautifully present a range of salads. To add a little excitement, each creation was entered into a competition (see the winners above). Sister Veena who leads the work here said “Salad is not often part of their daily diets, so for many it was first time experience and we saw how their self confidence was enhanced”.

​Games were a big part of the week and all the Centres competed against each other to win prizes, encouraging confidence, cooperation and team spirit. Veena said “Children enjoyed it thoroughly and learned a lot. They expressed such happiness and gratitude about the week, and it often helps to increase attendance at the Learning Centres”.

These Centres are child friendly environments for Dalit children who face severe caste discrimination as part of their daily lives. Work here tackles the barriers to education by providing a primary curriculum and supporting children to understand and realise their rights. Summer camps like this one, as well as celebrations, competitions, rallies and performances are all a vital part of the work, instilling confidence and encouraging self expression.

Find out more about the work we support in India, and consider getting more involved by clicking one of the action buttons below. ​
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Kilometre-long chain of children call for greater protection in India

27/4/2018

 
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Children from the Learning Centres we support in Bihar State, India joined with hundreds of their local friends this week, to demonstrate in Patna about the need for greater protection.

Recent cases in the media, highlighting incidents of child rape and murder, prompted the children to come out in force and call for a safer environment. They also chose to highlight issues like dowry, the halting of higher education for girls and the need for greater gender equality.

The children lined the roadsides, carrying placards and singing motivational songs. In a striking expression of their solidarity, 500 children from eight different schools, held hands in a kilometre long human chain, appealing to adults to pay more attention to safeguarding children and their rights.

Sr Veena who leads the work in the urban slums of Patna said, “We need to sensitise and educate adults to create a child-safe environment. The purpose of the human chain was to call upon all our neighbours in the wider community to be alert to issues of child protection and children’s rights”.

Veena and her team have ongoing gender equality programmes as part of their work with Dalit children in the slums of Patna. They have seen significant change in the attitudes towards girls, and made many steps towards their protection and encouragement. ​

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Registered charity no. 1101441

  • Become a donor
    • The Big Give
    • Make a regular or one off donation
    • Trusts & Foundations
    • Rohingya Refugee Crisis Response
  • WHO WE ARE
    • A Child Rights Approach
    • Meet the team
    • Contact Us
    • Media
  • WHAT WE DO
    • Bangladesh: Education for Rohingya refugee children
    • India: Education for 'untouchable' Dalit children
    • Uganda: Transforming slum communities
    • Uganda: Early Years Education for Congolese refugee children
    • Kachin State Myanmar: Support for displaced children
    • Bangladesh: Community Schools for slum dwelling children
    • Lebanon: Education for Syrian refugee children
    • India-Nepal border: Education for children in brothel communities
  • SUPPORT US
    • Receive our news updates
    • Fundraise for us
    • Take on a challenge >
      • Chichester Half Marathon Event
      • London Marathon
      • Brighton Marathon
      • Ride London >
        • Ride London Application Form
    • Organise an Event
    • Fundraise at Work
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    • Chichester Half Marathon Event
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  • Latest stories