BACKGROUND
Hyderabad is considered one of the centres of human trafficking. Especially children in the streets are at risk of becoming victims of human trafficking. Every year, 80’000 children disappear without a trace in India. Attending school is an important protection against the danger of human trafficking. At school the children not only acquire knowledge, they also move within a protected area. It is very difficult for children affected by poverty to succeed at school, because they cannot count on support in school matters at home. Their parents often did not learn to read or write. In addition, these children often lack space, quiet and light at home and find it difficult to concentrate on their studies and do their homework.
BACK-TO-SCHOOL
BENEFICIARIES 2023: 250 CHILDREN
In order to keep as many children as possible from dropping out of school for good, Usthi launched the Back-to-School project in Hyderabad in 2008. Currently, 140 children are given the financial support needed to allow them to continue their schooling. Families are often forced to take their children out of school because it is no longer possible for them to finance school education. It is unlikely that the children will return to school after a long absence. Single mothers and their children are particularly affected by this situation. With school sponsorships, Usthi supports low-income families in sending their children to school on an ongoing basis and pays for school fees, uniforms and books.
TUITION CENTRES
BENEFICIARIES 2023: 378 CHILDREN
The Usthi tuition centres offer children a quiet place to study at various locations in Hyderabad. This creates a good basis for helping children affected by poverty to succeed in their studies. The school grades achieved often determine whether or not a child will continue. If the results are poor, parents often forgo their children attending school because they believe that it is wasted money. At the same time, children with poor grades no longer feel like going to school and enter the labour market early as unqualified workers instead of graduating from school and thus securing better chances of a good job. The education projects in India are supported by Kanton St.Gallen.
