Charity: Goa Outreach

Goa Outreach is a project based in Goa, India, with the aim of helping local disadvantaged children regardless of their religion, class, caste or gender. Many of these children are slum and street children who have arrived in Goa alone or with their families from neighbouring states in the hope of an easier and better life. Children often end up working on the streets to support the family income, this is often in the form of Rag Picking where children, usually in small groups, walk around the streets picking up scrap in the form of plastic, cardboard and metal. This is later sold at recycling centres. Other children can be found working the beaches begging, selling trinkets or other small items which they buy for 5rs and try and sell to tourists for a hefty mark-up. EDUCATION / ARTS AND CRAFTS At Goa Outreach we support children by getting the children into school and providing support to encourage them to stay in school. India now has the Right To Education Act which states that all children must attend school from 6 to 14 years of age, there is no requirement for birth certificates, which was often a reason why previously, disadvantaged children didn't attend school. Goa Outreach also continues to support children beyond 14 years of age and also supports children in pre-school/ kindergarten.