Hope for a Blind Community

Among the estimated 22 million people residing in urban Mumbai, there is a blind community of around 300 families. The adults in this community are blind and many of them beg on the local trains to earn a living. Many deaths result each year from blind individuals falling off the train platforms. The children from this community often drop out of school so that they can care for their parents. The children who do go to school usually drop their blind parents off at the train station in the morning and pick them up again in the evening.

Serve the Children's partners in India desire to start an educational center for the children of this community and also provide vocational training for the youths. The goal is to help children pass their government examinations and provide youths with the skills they need to get a decent job or start a small business from home. In addition, our partners are hoping to start a small business for the blind women of this community so that they do not have to beg on the trains and have a safe way to earn a sustainable income for their families.