Education is the basic need for a better future. However, over 33 million children in India, between the ages of 5 & 18 years, work as child labourers at tea stalls, factories, construction sites and even as domestic help. Not only are they deprived of the opportunity to go to school and chase their dreams but are also vulnerable to abuse and exploitation. CRY works to ensure that such children go to school instead of work so that they have a better future. But we cannot do this without YOU.
Though enrollment at the primary level is high, a large number of children drop out of school after primary level. Schools lack basic facilities and parents are not aware of the role education plays to help them break out of the cycle of poverty. Most children come from low income families where earning money is considered a priority.
Last year alone, CRY freed 149 villages of child labour. CRY works with children's families and with school authorities to ensure that children get access to education. CRY not only works towards improving infrastructure in schools but also works to change mindsets and attitudes about education. In specific cases, CRY project teams also run centers which provide children with the much needed additional academic help and motivation-so that they do not drop out of school.
Since CRY works to activate services and change mindsets - the changes that are brought about are permanent. Communities not only demand improvement in facilities in schools but they also regularly monitor to ensure that the school maintains these standards. Families and children alike understand the importance of education and therefore attitudes change permanently as well.
