By Riya | Rescue Project Director
Hello again Everybody,
I am Riya the Director of the Gaya Rescue Junction Project and we coordinate the end child beggars in Bodhgaya campaign .
I want to thank you for all of your donations which has enabled this important work to continue. To measure the impact of this project we undertook a big survey in Bodhgaya with pilgrims locals and the authorities.
In the past there used to be literally dozens of children lined up outside the temple, there were at least two organised gangs involved. Children were brought from as far away as Nepal and were often dressed as monks to hassle for the maximum cash. In the past one such group was reported in Bodhgaya and the children came here to Rescue Junction before carefully bring repatriated.
From the response of the survey there was much greater awareness of the reality of child begging due to our outreach work posters and banners at 65% were aware. This is still too low but is up from the 15% from the survey we did at the beginning of the project. Taking all the comments into account including the Police it would seem that child begging is down 85% in Bodhgaya. We are not claiming to have eradicated it completely but we have made with your help, a big difference.
This what Satiya, a rescued chid beggar says
"I love my school and I am slowly catching up with my missed schooling. I can play cricket with my friends. When I was begging I was made to put on dirty cloth and walk the streets 12 hours a day. I had to hand over the money afterwards to my handler and was given a very small amount of rice in return. It was horrible life. Thank you for helping me!"
May I respectfully draw your attention to our campaign against child slavery here in Bihar on Global Giving here
https://www.globalgiving.org/microprojects/freedom-from-child-slavery-in-bihar
Every little helps!!
The Little by Little Matching Campaign is *almost* here! This campaign is designed for YOU to show that small donations add up to BIG change! From April 3rd to April 7th, GlobalGiving will match donations up to $50 at 50% while the $50,000 in matching funds remain
Thank you
Riya
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