Darjeeling Children’s Trust is a UK-registered charity working to create a brighter future for children and young people in Darjeeling, India. We believe that all children deserve access to a good education and a chance to achieve their potential. We place a strong emphasis on working in partnership with the local community in Darjeeling, through our India-based Trustees and networks.
Our vision is to create a brighter future for children and young people in Darjeeling, India. We do that by:
Darjeeling sits in the foothills of the Himalayas, and is prone to extreme weather due to its altitude and climate. Its position on steep slopes results in poor infrastructure, and its distance from regional government leads to under-investment in facilities. Children and young people in the town need help to improve their living standards and access a good standard of education which will allow them to escape a life of poverty and support their families and community in future.
Since we were established in 2008, we have transformed the lives of hundreds of children and young people. Over that time we have raised and spent over £750,000 in Darjeeling, through which we have sponsored 70 children to attend good quality schools, paid for over 50 young people to receive vocational training, provided extra-curricular literacy and music lessons, paid for improvements and essential supplies at municipal schools, and invested over £200,000 in a successful project to rehome 100 children out of unsafe and unhealthy accommodation.