Protect 100s Children in India's Slum Communities

When 16-year-old Maya met Asha, one of our community engagement workers, her future looked uncertain. Living in a bustling Indian community with her widowed mother and two brothers, Maya's dreams of education were slipping away. 

After Maya’s father passed away three years earlier, the family’s situation had become increasingly precarious. One brother had moved to another city, while the other, who is deaf and mute, remained at home. With no reliable income, they lived in a humble, makeshift dwelling, and the pressure on Maya to contribute financially mounted. Her mother insisted she work as a domestic helper to help make ends meet. 

But Maya had a different dream. 

She confided in Asha about her desire to go to school. Seeing her potential, Asha began working with Maya’s mother, gently but persistently explaining the power of education and the doors it could open for her daughter. 

At first, there was resistance. But with Asha’s unwavering support, Maya’s mother slowly began to see another path. She agreed to let Maya resume her education, and Asha arranged for her admission to a local school. She also enrolled Maya in vocational training for clothing design. 

With support from Railway Children India, Maya’s transformation began. She not only excelled academically but also mastered new skills in clothing design.

Now in 10th grade, Maya is reaching for even bigger goals: higher education and computer training. 

Thanks to Asha’s determination and Maya’s own resilience, the trajectory of her life has changed. No longer bound by the weight of poverty or expectation, she’s stitching together a new future — one filled with opportunity, independence, and hope. 

None of this would be possible without your continued generosity. It is through your support that our community engagement workers are able to be there for children and young people like Maya, to help not just the children but entire families and communities rise above their circumstances. Thank you.

*Name has been changed and models are used to protect children’s privacy.