Throughout India, vulnerable children sadly become victims of child labor every day. Each child that goes out onto the streets to work is subject to a number of child rights violations, including: working for hours without breaks and little to no food or water; being absent from school; wandering the streets without familial support; and begging just to earn a meager wage, if anything at all.

Thankfully our Salesian missionaries are there to rescue them!

Dozens of child laborers have been saved from harm thanks to a collaboration between the Don Bosco Pan-India Rescue and Rehabilitation Campaign (PYaR), Don Bosco BREADS Bangalore, and the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR), along with officials from the Labor Department and the Railway Police.

The first intervention by our Salesian missionaries saved eight children who were living and begging at the Gulbarga railway station. The second effort rescued 12 more children.

And in Devadurga, the Don Bosco team liberated 42 child laborers, including 30 boys and 12 girls. To support the children’s transition into school, the boys attended several motivational classes and counseling. However, for the girls it was a longer process.

Don Bosco Devadurga runs a dedicated home for rescued girls. The girls are provided housing, counseling and home visits to educate and convince their families about the importance of sending their children to school. With the help of comprehensive programs and special services, our trained staff work hard to gradually integrate the girls into the classroom.

Thanks to the dedication of our Salesian missionaries – backed by caring friends like you – dozens of former child laborers are now receiving an education and can envision a brighter future.

Legal actions have been taken against the employers with strict penalties handed out to the offenders.

Learn more about our work in India.

Our mission is to ensure the safety of youth and to protect them from child labor abuse. What’s your mission?