Child Protection India Project #63079

Protect 1000s Children at India's Busiest Stations

by Railway Children

Project Report | Jun 9, 2026
See how our Residential Family Camps change lives

By Heather Moore | Supporter Engagement Officer

Some families do not need perfection. They simply need a chance to reconnect.

That's why we run Residential Family Camps to create a safe and nurturing space where children and parents can reconnect emotionally, spend quality time together, and begin healing as families.

These camps are crucial lifelines for families of children who have gone missing in the past or face particularly challenging situations, giving them the chance to bond together as a family unit and work on the issues that caused children to run away in the first place.

Throughout the camps, moments of laughter, tears, conversations, hugs, and shared experiences remind everyone of the importance of emotional connection within families. For many participants, it is the first time in a long while that they truly sat together, listened to each other openly, and felt emotionally supported. Families are given three meals a day, and parents often tell us it is a relief to not worry about where there next meal will come from, allowing them to spend stress-free quality time together as a family instead.

Through fun activities, bonding exercises, one-to-one and family sessions, everyone finds joy in simply being together again. Parents share that they feel closer to their children again, while children express happiness in feeling heard, valued, and loved.

The camp concludes with the encouragement and appreciation of stakeholders and child protection authorities, who recognised the importance of such healing spaces for children and families.

Because when families heal together, children feel safer, stronger, and more hopeful about the future.

Thank you for your support, that makes opportunities like this possible,

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Feb 20, 2026
Lost on the platform. You helped bring Surika home

By Sarah Evans | Supporter Engagement Officer

A crowded station. Four frightened sisters. A moment where everything could have gone wrong.

Until your support brought them back to safety.

Four-year-old Surika* lived with her parents, brother and three sisters in a small jhuggi (a makeshift home of mud and corrugated iron) near a railway settlement in Delhi. Her parents worked long hours as street vendors, selling clothes to get by. Despite living in the city for years, the family’s shelter lacked even the most basic facilities, and financial pressures had recently forced the children to drop out of school.

A Terrifying Separation

One afternoon, after visiting a relative to collect medicine for their son, the family boarded a train back to Delhi. As the train pulled into Delhi Cantt station, Surika and her three sisters stepped off, expecting their parents to follow. But in the rush of gathering their belongings, the doors closed – and the girls’ parents were carried away on the moving train.

Stranded on the platform, the sisters clung to one another, scanning the crowd for a familiar face. Panic rose as commuters hurried past, unaware of their distress. Just as fear began to overwhelm them, a Government Railway Police (GRP) officer noticed the frightened group and stepped in.

Immediate Protection

The officer quickly contacted the Railway Children India (RCI) emergency helpline. Within minutes, RCI staff reached the platform and found the four girls huddled together, scared and confused.

The GRP officer and RCI team escorted the girls to the station office, offering warm refreshments and reassurance. Surika’s eldest sister explained what had happened, and authorities immediately began tracing the parents.

A Reunion Filled with Relief

Later that evening, the girls’ parents arrived at the GRP station, breathless and deeply worried as, with tears filling their eyes, they embraced their daughters.

After verifying their identities and completing the required paperwork, a handover photograph was taken – capturing a moment of profound relief and gratitude.

A Step Towards a Brighter Future

But support didn’t end with the reunion.

Knowing they’d been out of school for months, RCI staff visited the family at home to help all five children re-enrol in school, giving them the chance to learn, grow, and build a safer future.

Your Support Made this Rescue Possible

Surika and her sisters’ story is more than a moment of being lost and found. It’s a testament to resilience, quick action and the power of community.

Because of you, four young girls are back where they belong: safe at home, surrounded by family and returning to school with hope.

*Names have been changed and models used to protect identities.

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Nov 3, 2025
800 miles from safety. You brought Vivaan back

By Sarah Evans | Supporter Engagement Officer

A bus station. A frightened boy. A life changed, because of you.

Ten-year-old Vivaan* lives in a remote village in Jharkhand State, India, with his parents and younger sister. Like many families in the area, Vivaan’s parents work as labourers, plucking leaves and farming when work is available. But regular employment is hard to come by, and the family struggles to meet basic needs.

Vivaan had never been to school. Instead, he spent his days helping his parents gather leaves to sell at market and playing with friends. Their home, though tiled, lacked electricity, running water, and sanitation. Drinking water came from a neighbour’s tap, and the family relied on government rations and kerosene for light.

A risky journey far from home

Facing these difficult conditions, Vivaan’s parents made a heartbreaking decision. They sent him nearly 900 miles away to Uttar Pradesh with a man from their village, hoping he could earn money working as a sugarcane cutter.

Vivaan, along with two other boys aged 12 and 14, had made it 800 miles when the Railway Children India team spotted them at Anand Vihar Bus Station. The boys looked frightened and lost.

Our team stepped in immediately, offering food, water, and emotional support. Vivaan received a medical check-up and was found to be healthy. We traced his family and contacted his father, who travelled to Delhi to reunite with his son.

A new beginning

During their meeting, our team spoke with Vivaan’s father about the dangers of child labour and the importance of education. He listened carefully and acknowledged the mistake. After consulting with the government Child Welfare Committee, Vivaan was safely returned home.

Vivaan’s father now understands the risks his son faced, and is committed to enrolling him in school. He thanked the Railway Children India team for protecting Vivaan and giving their family a second chance.

Your support made this possible. Without you, Vivaan’s story could have ended very differently. Instead, he’s back home, safe and surrounded by family, with the chance to go to school for the first time. His future is no longer defined by hardship, but by possibility.

Thank you for helping Vivaan reclaim his childhood and begin a brighter journey forward.

*Names have been changed and models used to protect identities.

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