Education project for children of rag pickers in an urban slum in the National Capital Region (NCR) of Delhi

On Delhi’s outskirts, there is a rag picking colony in Bhowapur slum inhabited by over 3000 people who are involved in collecting waste from surrounding households. The community mainly comprises migrants for whom basic amenities are non-existent. Education is the last priority as families’ prime focus rests on basic survival issues. Children are also involved in rag picking along with their parents - life for them is appalling. To help these children to break out of the cycle of poverty, it is essential that they receive a basic education and give themselves the best chance for their future.

Phia Foundation is working with children in the rag-picking community to enable them access basic schooling. We are working directly with them to provide basic bridge schooling and get them back into formal schools. Bridge schools are small scale education initiatives that provide children with enough education to get back into main stream schools. We provide books and teaching aids, train community leaders to run the schools and work with parents to stress on the importance of education. Apart from basic education to make children school-ready they are also provided nutrition support and clean drinking water at the bridge school.

Since April 2016 Phia’s education project in the ragpickers colony at Bhowapur has seen significant progress. It is supporting over 200 children out of whom 86 have been enrolled in a nearby government school till the end of June 2017. Their progress is monitored and supported through remedial classes so that they can cope up with the school studies. They are also supported with warm blankets to help them get through the winter months when the temperature dips dangerously. The children are confident and very positive. Many of them have aspirations of becoming teachers, doctors, engineers and police officers.