Pavement Club

Street children live extremely vulnerable lives, open to abuse, and deprived of elementary education. The Pavement Club was established to bring change to the lives of some of Kolkata’s street children. Initially non-formal education was delivered quite literally on the pavement with just a handful of children. Now, however, the Club operates from our Ripon Street Headquarters, with children being picked up from their respective communities and taken home after the daily programme ends.

The Club provides non-formal education and two nutritious meals in a safe, child friendly environment with access to immunization programmes, medical care and counseling when required. Special classes enhance the children’s talents in drawing, singing and dancing. They happily adjust to their new learning environment and strive to make the most of each opportunity. Each year it is our great joy to integrate a number of children into mainstream schools.The children respond positively to the love and care they receive at the project and enjoy the fun-filled games time most of all. The older children also have the opportunity to participate in the International Award for Young People and many of our young people have gained the Gold Award.

Home visits provide a vital link to both the family and the community and these vital interactions pave the way for awareness campaigns targeting relevant issues to promote a safer environment for the children whilst at home. Mother’s meetings are held monthly to provide a forum for teaching health and hygiene, and encouraging active cooperation of the mothers in their children’s development. Adult literacy classes are also made available within the community.

Since inception, the Pavement Club has reached over 5000 children from the fringes of Kolkata’s society. Many of them have migrated from neighbouring states and would otherwise have been engaged in begging, rag picking or other forms of child labour. Pavement Club is their safe place where the fun of childhood is encouraged and the threat of drug abuse and illicit trafficking are reduced.