India is a signatory to the United Nations 2030 Agenda for achieving inclusive, people-centric and holistic Sustainable Development through 17 identifiable goals, also called SDGs.  These goals are further aggregated into 9 themes, the third theme being Child-Friendly Village. This covers the SDG Goal 4- Quality Education, Goal 5- Gender Equality, Goal 2- Zero Hunger,...

Education is a fundamental human right that empowers individuals, strengthens communities, and drives socio-economic development. Unfortunately, millions of children and adults worldwide lack access to quality education, trapping them in a cycle of poverty and limiting their potential. However, the Children of India team is dedicated to education and are working tirelessly to break these...

A THREAD OF EMPOWERMENT! 14  year old Meera was born in a small village of Karnataka, India to a devadasi. From a very young age, meera witnessed the elaborate rituals and performances associated with temple worship. Her mother, Sarala, was a talented dancer and singer, dedicated to the service of the deity in their village...

Good news from our Children GOOD project! Shilpi was a bubbly young girl who enjoyed drawing, dancing, and reading. She aspires to be a teacher and educate the children in her community. Her dreams were quickly shattered when reality hit her. She was forced to work as a sex worker after puberty by casually stating...

Child rights refer to the fundamental human rights that are applicable to all children, regardless of their race, gender, ethnicity, or background. These rights are recognized and protected under international law, including the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC), which sets out the basic rights of children. Child exploitation is unfortunately...

One of the oldest traditions that India has seen is the Devadasi system. It involves a ritual in which young girls, usually before puberty, are married off or dedicated to deities. It has been infamous for the sexual exploitation and discrimination against the girls and women.  Some may think that it’s an issue of the...

Surya & Karthik, two boys of ages 9 & 3, respectively, live in a semi-urban slum of Coimbatore district, Tamil Nadu. Most of the families living in this locality fall below the poverty line and meet their daily needs through their daily wage labour. They live in thatched houses while sharing one toilet every 200...

“I was once a girl living within four walls, but now I am being recognized at state-level forums as a change agent,” said Roopa*, after pausing for a moment to reflect on her life journey as a 19-year-old change agent. Previously known as a child bride, she now holds the titles of a “Movement Leader,”...

15-year-old Renu was born and raised in a village in the Koderma district of Jharkhand, India. She lives with her mother, a sister and a brother while her father works as a taxi driver in the capital city of New Delhi and sends them remittances every month. Renu’s mother takes up mica processing work to...

15-year-old Nandini would stand at the bus stop in her blue checkered tunic and red tie eagerly waiting to hop on the bus, see her friends and recite poems with them on the way. Every day she looked forward to sitting at the window seat on the bus from where she would see the birds-...