Welcome to One Child

Providing for the education, health and development of children in developing countries.

Since 2003, One Child has been successfully running two Child Education Centres, or 'Ananda Pathshals' in Ajogarpara village in West Bengal, India. A third CEC was opened in 2007. The village has 920 families, a population of 4801 and is frequently ravaged by floods. 80% of the population live below the poverty line. One Child has partnered with a local NGO, Asha, which manages our day-to-day work.

These CECs, which teach around 80 children from particularly disadvantaged families, provide tailored practical education to children and act as a bridge to formal schooling. To date, a substantial proportion of CEC children have graduated to the local school and, equally importantly, stayed there. Many of these children are the first ones in their families, ever, to be able to read and write!

In addition to supporting the education of Ajagarpara's children, One Child helps their parents and the wider community through advice and workshops on health, alternative employment opportunities and flood prevention.

Changing lives: Rumali's story

Rumali, 8 years old, was helping her mother Mariam Bibi in beedi-making (small Indian cigarettes wrapped in leaves) in their native village of Ajagarpara. Her father Ismail Seik runs a small tea stall in the village. Both her parents were illiterate and did not consider it important to send their daughter to school. Her help in beedi-making was vital for their survival. Rumali started attending the Ananda Pathshala and being a keen learner over the year she learnt the Bengali alphabets and figures (up to 100) and could even read and write small words and do small additions. She was later admitted to class II of primary school in May 2004. She continued coming to Ananda Pathshala for additional coaching support as her parents could not provide her with private tutor. In May 2005 she successfully graduated to class III in her school. Her parents are happy today and want her to continue her education despite economic difficulties.

Over the last five years, One Child has transformed the lives of many needy and deserving children like Rumali. This website can capture only a small element of what can be achieved in transforming lives, with very little money, but a lot of dedication.

Your support is invaluable in us being able to carry out the work, continuing to expand our reach across disadvantaged communities, and helping children, One Child at a Time.....