Overview of our projects…
AG Care is engaged in various social endeavors including a child sponsorship program (The Cry of India), a daily feeding program, homes for the orphaned, and a biosand clean water initiative, among others, to serve the needs of the poorest of the poor in Kolkata and other parts of West Bengal and Eastern India.
India is a country known for her rich history and wealth of cultural diversity, beauty and spirit. Sadly, India is also home to some of the poorest people in the world. AG Care is committed to recognising and responding to the suffering of these people in the city of Kolkata and other needy regions of North and East India.
Where the mind is without fear and the head is held high Where knowledge is free… Into that heaven of freedom, my Father, let my country awake. – Rabindranath Tagore
“India is the youngest nation in the world with more than 50% of India below the age of 18” Despite major efforts in India, the number of children who are not in school remains high. Gender disparities in education persist, far more girls than boys failing to complete primary school. The education system of India faces a shortage of resources, schools, classrooms and teachers.
Our child care service (The Cry of India) facilitates sponsorship for over 5,000 needy children in 57 schools across East India. These children receive quality education in our schools, a nutritious mid-day meal, and have access to basic health care, giving them an opportunity to rise to their full potential and to pursue a bright future.
In an effort to meet these challenges, AG Care provides education to over 10,000 girls and boys in three different language mediums: English, Hindi, and Bengali. Our education network includes 4 English schools, 10 vernacular schools, 1 vocational school, and 1 junior teacher training college. Our schools are spread across the length and breadth of West Bengal and are located at Kolkata, Haldia, Purulia, Ashokenagar, Bongaon, Guma, Maslandapur, Dum Dum, Keorapukur, Kestopur, Taherpur, and Thakurnagar.
Feeding
Despite economic growth and self-sufficiency in food grains production, high levels of poverty, food insecurity and malnutrition continue to persist in India. Home to a quarter of all undernourished people worldwide, one in every three malnourished children in the world lives in India. About 50% of all childhood deaths are attributed to malnutrition. People living on the streets of Kolkata endure some of the most severe economic and material hardships in the world. 6 days a week, AG Care provides a nourishing meal to 10,000 children and adults of needy families through 7 access points at Park Street, Bosetala, Bantala, Kantatala, Bamanghatta, Karaidanga, and Bhojerhat, as well as 10 schools in and around Kolkata. Our dedicated catering service cooks more than 1000 kilos of rice every day!
NOURISH
Rs. 1500 can feed 100 people for a day
SUSTAIN
A filter of Rs. 11,500 per filter can provide clean water for a family of five or more for 25 years.
Bio Sand Filter
At least half the population of India lacks access to basic sanitation facilities and well maintained water supply. This creates a very high risk of microbial contamination (bacteria, viruses, amoeba), causing diarrhoea. In India, diarrhoea alone causes more than 1,300 deaths daily. Children weakened by frequent diarrhoea episodes are more vulnerable to malnutrition infections like pneumonia. Diarrhoea and worm infection are two major health conditions that affect school age children impacting their learning abilities. AG Care is committed to combating disease in India by providing safe drinking water to the poor. Through our safe drinking water initiative, 6000 biosand filters have been installed and are in use in rural and urban areas of West Bengal and Jharkhand. The community Biosand Water Filter provides safe drinking water of 1000 litres per day. These water filters are robust and provides safe drinking water for a life time improving thousands of lives.