400,000
Vehicles are polluting the the air of Mumbai
Pollution is a risk to children
Mumbai Metropolitan Region is one of the most polluted cities in the world. The main causes are construction activity, vehicular emissions, and open burning of rubbish. Mumbai is infamous for its many traffic jams, and the city counts around 400,000 vehicles, most of them run on petrol or diesel and emit damaging amounts of pollutants. The city is lacking waste treatment facilities, so waste is often dumped at the border of the city. The biggest rubbish heap in India, around 16 million tons of trash, can be found in the Deonar suburb. Children are especially vulnerable to pollution: waste and air pollution have a negative effect on their health and living conditions.
55%
Of people in Mumbai live in slums
Poor housing
Mumbai is one of the fastest-growing cities in India, and the infrastructure has been unable to keep up with this development. Often people who move to Mumbai in search of a better life and job opportunities, end up in one of the urban slums. Around 55% of Mumbai’s total population lives in slums.The largest slum, called Dharavi, is the second biggest slum in Asia, and over 1 million people live there. This slum has developed an informal economy, with thousands working as potters, leather tanners, weavers, soap makers, and in the recycling industry. Children are most vulnerable to the widespread poverty pervading the slums of Mumbai, as they lack access to healthcare and education.
Your support makes a difference for children in Alibaug
SOS Children’s Villages works with local partners and communities to offer a wide range of support that is adapted to the local context. We always work in the best interest of the children, young people and families.
110
Children and young people
Grow up in our care
Are supported on their way to independence
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Children in our care learning together. Siblings grow up together, and often form bonds that last a lifetime (photo: SOS Children’s Villages India).
How your support helps in Alibaug
Strengthening families and communities
When parents face hardships, they can sometimes struggle to give children the care they need. SOS Children’s Villages works with local partners and communities to empower parents. Each family needs different support so that they can stay together. This support can include workshops on parenting and children’s rights. We also run training so that parents can get the skills they need to get a job or start their own businesses. Likewise, we ensure that children can get medical help and go to school.
Caring for children who cannot live with their families
Some children cannot stay with their families, even with additional support. When this happens, they can find a new home in SOS Children’s Villages. Here the children can build safe and lasting relationships. All the children in our care have access to education and healthcare. Wherever possible, we work closely with the children’s family of origin. If children can return to live with their families, we help them adapt to this change.
Supporting young people to become independent
To help young people become confident and independent, our local team works closely with each young person to develop a plan for their future. We support young people and also help them prepare for the labour market and increase their employment prospects. For example, young people can attend workshops and trainings run by SOS Children’s Villages. They also improve their skills through taking part in different projects with local mentors and businesses.