Child protection
India has one of the youngest populations in the world, with 431 million under the age of 18. Factors such as lack of access to education, extreme poverty and exposure to harmful online content hamper children’s development, safety, and aspirations. Our Child Opportunity Fund is an ambitious 10-year initiative to provide the best possible opportunities for children to grow and thrive.
The opportunity
India’s laws, policies and programmes provide a comprehensive framework for the protection of children. However, efforts are often splintered. There is an opportunity to convene government, child services, non-government organisations, and funders to work together to strengthen child protection systems.
Our approach
The Child Opportunity Fund is an ambitious 10-year initiative to help millions of children in India live their lives to the fullest potential. All children deserve a happy and safe childhood and the opportunity to lead a dignified life safe from violence, exploitation, neglect, and discrimination.
We help vulnerable families access better livelihood opportunities, minimising the chances of them sending their children to work, or forcing them into early marriage. Our programmes also address regressive social and cultural norms and gender biases in communities. By focusing on education and regular attendance, we help lower the risk of children being forced to drop out of school.
Our programme
Our work is spread across Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, West Bengal, and Delhi. We aim to:
- implement holistic preventive approaches that build child, family, and community resilience
- prevent and deter online abuse and exploitation of children and risks from other emerging threats
- work with the government at different levels to strengthen systems for child protection
- strengthen the child protection ecosystem through stronger data, evidence, and multi-stakeholder collaboration.
“I am committed to working with the British Asian Trust and its partners to achieve our joint vision of protecting children from harm and ensuring they have access to the same opportunities in the future as all of us.”
