Children on the Edge
Education for ‘untouchable’ Dalit children
Dalits in India face widespread discrimination and many Dalit children are illegally ostracised from state schools. In our learning centres, 900 Dalit children will gain the academic skills and self-confidence they need to access state schools and other services their communities are denied.
It ran from 12:00 PM, 1 December 2020 to 12:00 PM, 8 December 2020
Registered Charity in England and Wales (1101441)
Match funded Campaign target
£40,000
Amount raised
£41,850
Donations
158
Championed by The Coles-Medlock Foundation
Location
India
Campaign overview
Aims
Where's the money going?
Impact & reporting
At my old school, my teacher would ask me to read in front of the class. As I was not able to read properly, he beat me. I was punished every day so I stopped going. Later I started coming to the learning centre and have now been attending for 1.5 years. I like everything here. literally everything!
— Nisha, Learning Centre pupil
Children on the Edge looks after those young lives who are marginalised – it is life changing, raw and makes a critical difference to those who need us the most. I so admire their work
— Bear Grylls
Situation
Despite having equal rights in Indian law, the ‘untouchable’ Dalit minority remain at the bottom of the entrenched Hindu caste system and face persecution and violence from the police and dominant castes. They are regularly denied access to water, health care and fair employment. Most Dalit children are enrolled in state schools but many do not attend as they are bullied and beaten by teachers and pupils. Uneducated and unaware of their rights, Dalits remain marginalised and trapped in poverty.
Solution
Providing learning centres in slum and rural areas in Bihar state, so over 900 out-of-school Dalit children can learn the state curriculum. Many pupils are Musahar ‘rat eaters’, the most downtrodden Dalit subset; 75% are girls. Well trained, Dalit teachers are inspiring role models and there is a strong focus on building self-worth, rights awareness and confidence. Once ‘school ready’ children are supported to realise their right to a state education, where many outperform their non-Dalit peers.
