Kolkata, India

OHFI’s work in Kolkata began in 2010 through the development of Open Home Foundation Mercy Ministry Kolkata.

HomeOur PartnersKolkata, India

The living conditions for the families in these slums is extreme, and is at best subsistence. Most parents have insufficient money, knowledge and skills to provide the basic needs for their children.

Generally, these people are the poorest of the poor in India. As a result, the children are often abused and forced to work to earn money (e.g., by collecting bottles or papers for recycling), or forced to fetch water, watch over younger siblings and attend to sick members of their family. The children can become victims of child labour, do not receive education, and often are forced into early marriage, or worse, are subject to sale by child traffickers.

OHFI’s work in Kolkata is run by Lun Misao (himself a graduate of PMA College in Manipur), his wife Ngaiching, and his team of six social workers and teachers. The work is focused on four slum communities of Kolkata: Sapui Para, Basanti, Dum Dum and Durgar Nargar Cantonment.

OHFI Kolkata supports:

  • Tuition Centres where the children of impoverished families can come and receive education in a safe place.
  • Community empowerment and sustainability programmes, including skills training in adult literacy and tailoring.
  • Home visits and social work support.
  • Training of community workers and leaders in community development and the care and protection of children.
  • Educational opportunities for children.
  • Adult education in life and work skills.
  • Monthly medical clinics, pregnancy, and under 5’s health care.
  • A basic tiffin meal for the children five days per week, at each of the tuition centres.
  • Protection of children from exploitation, child labour, trafficking and child marriages.
  • Covid-19 relief (food and hygiene packs).

Current Projects:

Sewing Skills Training

This training programme helps the parents of children attending the tuition centre to learn a new skill: sewing. This will reduce reliance on labouring or cleaning – work which is often erratic and dangerous – and will facilitate family self-sustainability.

Additional sewing machines, fabric and other materials, and payment for a tutor are all current needs.

Tajin's Story

Tajin is 9 months old, and lives with his family in the slums of Kolata. His father is a rickshaw puller. Due to Covid-19, there is reduced call for father’s services .

Women’s Microenterprise Development

This project will provide training to small peer groups and support them through the process of developing microenterprises. Small businesses such as these are vital for creating ongoing sustainable communities. They enable women to develop skills which they can in turn teach their children and wider community; and they allow communities the opportunity for financial independence, better health, and educational possibilities.

Ratna's Story

All the parents were crying, and we heard that they would have to send some of us away to another place where there are jobs for children.

Give to OHFI work in Kolkata, India

Your donation to OHFI’s work in Kolkata is deeply appreciated. Our work spans: Kolkata Sewing Training, in which your donation can help fund sewing machines, fabric, and a tutor, to provide vital vocational training; and Kolkata Women’s Microenterprise, in which your donation can provide training and support for new microenterprise ventures.