Protect 100s Children in India's Slum Communities

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,

Links:

• See a Residential Family Camp in action
• Find out more about our work in India

A Childhood Without School

When Railway Children India (RCI) first met Nisha*, they learned something heartbreaking: she had never been to school. Most days, she simply roamed the area – unnoticed and unsupported.

The reason was painfully simple. Her family was struggling just to survive.

Her mother had recently undergone major surgery and was still recovering. But despite her fragile health, she bore all the responsibility for keeping the household running. Nisha’s father refused to help with the family’s needs, or with Nisha’s education. He was often hostile toward the RCI team, shutting down any conversation about schooling.

With no support at home and no resources to rely on, Nisha’s education had never even begun.

 A Mother Doing Her Best Against the Odds

Nisha’s mother wanted more for her daughter, but she was overwhelmed. She explained to the RCI team that she had tried to get Nisha admitted to a centre – but without documents, money or her husband’s cooperation, every attempt had failed. And her ill health meant she often needed Nisha at home to help with daily tasks.

Still, Nisha was eager to learn. She began attending the RCI activity centre whenever she could, receiving a school bag and the encouragement she had been missing for years.

Persistent Support in the Face of Resistance

The RCI team made regular home visits, gently encouraging the family and advocating for Nisha’s right to education.

The challenges were real:

• Her father remained uncooperative and dismissive
• Her mother struggled with illness and financial strain
• The family lacked the documents required for school admission

Yet the team didn’t give up.

They reached out to a local school principal, explained Nisha’s situation, and asked for a chance.

And the principal agreed.

A Breakthrough: Nisha is Finally Enrolled

With the school’s support, Nisha was admitted – even without the usual paperwork. For the first time in her life, she put on a uniform, carried her new school bag and walked into a classroom filled with possibility.

The RCI team continued supporting the family, encouraging Nisha's mother to attend parent meetings and helping her understand how transformative education could be for her daughter. Over time, her confidence grew. She began showing up, asking questions, and taking pride in Nisha’s progress.

You Helped Rewrite Nisha’s Future

Today, Nisha attends school regularly. She is happy, engaged and excited about learning – a world away from the days she spent wandering without direction.

Her mother is also more supportive than ever, determined to give her daughter the opportunities she never had. And although the family still faces challenges, they now face them with hope, not resignation.

Because of you, a little girl who once stood outside the school gates is now sitting inside a classroom – learning, growing and dreaming. Thank you.

* Name changed and models used to protect identity.

Links:

• Find out more about our work in India