Community Development
India is a country of with more than one billion people, many living in extreme poverty. Daily living presents unimaginable challenges for families who struggle daily to meet even the most basic needs of their children.
Wide Horizons For Children has partnered with Family Service Centre for more than 40 years serving the needs of some of the most vulnerable children and families through adoption, sponsorship and community development. Since 2007, families in the Colaba slum community, one of Mumbai’s most destitute neighborhoods, have received education, life-skills and healthcare services that create a better future for them and their children.
The community development program improves lives by offering:
- Preschool education and daily nutritious meals for 13 children and support and training for parents.
- Adolescent values based education for 43 teens through counseling and cultural and educational outings to improve social skills.
- Family health education including pre- and post-natal support for 44 women, assessment of the health needs of 100 families, and in-home and in-clinic counseling and training for 148 tuberculosis (TB) patients.
- Women’s self-help and savings groups consisting of 85 women who support each other, learn about the importance of saving and the availability of loans and train to start small businesses to help them become financially self-sufficient.
By strengthening vulnerable families through the Community Development program, Wide Horizons For Children and Family Service Centre are able to help approximately 1,500 families each year.
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The Community Development program gave me self-confidence and taught me how to save. I was able to contribute towards our family expenses. This made me feel good and strong. |
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—Vinaya Chordekar, 38, mother and member of a self-help group |
Key Facts About the Program
Location: India
Year started: 2007
Number of families served since inception: 15,000
Partners: Family Service Centre
How You Can Help
Today many families living in the Colaba community are still in critical need of help. With more support, Wide Horizons For Children can help provide the services they need for a brighter, more successful future.
- Donate to Wide Horizons For Children
- Buy a gift from our Giving Catalog that strengthens families
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