The Disha program offers a hopeful future for 25 young girls aged 8 to 20 from the slums of Varanasi and nearby villages. From a young age, these girls have faced monumental challenges such as violence, illiteracy, malnutrition, drug addiction, and sometimes even prostitution. Often reduced to mere shadows by the trials they have endured, these children have found Disha—a word that means "the path"—a new way towards a future they could never have imagined.

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Through their integration into our program and their life in a nearby school in Varanasi that has opened a boarding house to accommodate them, they not only benefit from a secure roof but also from a quality education. Protected by their mataji, their surrogate mother who has been with them for years, they now form a true home filled with love and dreams for the future. Here, they rediscover the joy of an authentic childhood that was stolen from them and are given the right to dream of a future life.

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Daily schooling is complemented by tutoring sessions. The program also places great importance on the personal development of the girls by offering extracurricular activities such as karate, sewing, and computer classes. Not to mention daily English lessons they follow on screen every evening... with good results, it seems.

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The launch and development of the Disha project have been made possible since 2008 thanks to the ELLE Corporate Foundation, which supported this program for more than 5 years, as well as the Air France Foundation and Electricians Without Borders. But also, and above all, thanks to the generosity and loyalty of numerous donors and sponsors.

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These valuable corporate partnerships that were crucial during the launch of the Disha program have now ended. We thank them for their trust and for extending a helping hand. We have been receiving the support of the Fairfight Foundation for years with profound gratitude; they introduced our girls to karate and have supported them to achieve success after success. Fairfight also contributes to the education of two of our little champions who are among the top students in their class. Today, the Pomena Enfance Foundation has joined the Disha program and offers its protection.

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The support of private donors and sponsors remains essential for the operation of this program. Your presence is crucial for the future, and your contribution is indispensable. Together, we can continue to provide these children with a stable and secure environment while preparing them for a future where they will know how to make choices. A new path... beyond their wildest dreams.

 

 

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Join us in this mission of

transformation and hope.