Institute for Indian Mother & Child (IIMCUK)

Soon after IIMC began, they realised most people coming to their clinics couldn’t read the prescription and didn’t know how to get and stay healthy. Their lack of literacy, education and financial income meant medical problems were ongoing and hard to treat.

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It was clear that people needed at least primary education and this is how it started with ten sponsored children in 1993.

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After the first year, the results were very encouraging. All the children were healthy, clean and thriving.

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So health care and education ultimately changed the whole family’s situation and health. We now believe it is education, first and foremost, that will bring health improvement to the people of West Bengal.

IIMC prides itself on running a successful program with over 4000 children sponsored so far. We do this by:

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•    Careful selection of children that need to be sponsored – usually one child from a family who is living in poverty. Most of these parents work as a day labourer, rickshaw puller, street hawker, house servant etc but desperately want their child to go to school.

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•    Complete assessment to ensure the parents are motivated and committed to send the child to school.

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•    A sponsor family will either choose a child waiting to be sponsored, or we will match a sponsor family with a child.

•    We ask the sponsor child to write to their sponsor family at least two times a year to update them on their progress.

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•    We invite the sponsor family to write to their sponsor child to encourage them and motivate them throughout the year. This often results in the child staying committed and doing well at school.

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•    We encourage the sponsor family to continue their support of the child until the child completes higher secondary (Class-XII, 18 years old). After receiving a solid basic education they can work to earn money for their families. Some are very bright and will continue up to University (21 years old).

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•    If a child can't continue with their studies, we will inform his/her sponsor. Sponsors, if they wish to sponsor another child,  will be given  a new child who is waiting to be sponsored.

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•    If a sponsor family can no longer sponsor the child, we will find a new sponsor family so the child does not have to stop going to school.

• You can choose to sponsor a child yourself, or join with a group of family or friends to sponsor a child.

• The child can be chosen by you or we can match you with  a child who is waiting for sponsorship.

• Your sponsorship can be paid monthly or annually.

• Contact our UK IIMC Coordinator (email IIMCUKCoordinator@gmail.com) for further information.

We believe that education is one of the best ways to help promote child human rights & social dignity thus reducing

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•    Hunger
•    Disease
•    Abuse and exploitation
•    Poverty
•    Child labour
•    Social & economic injustice
•    Caste problems

Yes! If you choose to add an extra amount to your monthly sponsorship you will be helping IIMC provide

- additional educational facilities such as playgrounds,  lighting (solar lamps) and wells

- medical services such as outreach clinics, immunisations and malaria prevention programs and

- community development activities.

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All sponsored children benefit from initiatives or activities supported by these extra donations throughout their time in the program.

We believe that educating children is one of the most important ways of helping families break the cycle of poverty. Poor people have a preconception that school is not for them, that only children from rich families deserve to go to school. But we believe that all children have a right to go to school, and change their health and future.

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That is why we started IIMC’s sponsorship programme and why it continues to grow.

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By supporting us you can play a vital role in the life of a child that extends far beyond financial support.

By writing to your sponsored child, you will see the difference your words of hope and encouragement can make in their life.

If a child knows they are valued and supported, it helps them develop their confidence and dreams for a better future.

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We have found that children who are sponsored are happier and healthier, and by the time they finish school have the skills and ability to free their family from poverty and exploitation.

Your sponsorship pays for your child’s school fees, study material, uniforms, shoes, socks, school bags, books, midday food, private tuition fees, everything they need for their education.

Although schooling is our primary focus, your support achieves far more than just educating your sponsor child.

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You are also enabling us to provide:

•    Social and moral courage and guidance

•    Free medical treatment for the child and his/her whole family

•    Financial support for the child’s mother if she needs it through our Micro Savings and Micro Credit Scheme.

•    Family counselling

Once you decide to sponsor a child, you will receive:

•    Your child’s file including a photograph, family history and living conditions.

•    A School Progress report every year after annual examination.

•    The child will write on her/his birthday and the New Year.

•    IIMC Education Coordinators will keep you informed regularly with the reports of the school the child is attending.

•    You are welcome to write to the child as often as you want.

•    Your personal visit to Kolkata, the project and the child’s home are welcomed.

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1. Why we sponsor children to attend school

2. How our program started

3. How the Sponsorship Program Is run

4. ​What your sponsorship pays for

5. How to join our Child Sponsorship Program

6. How to be connected with your sponsored child

7. Can I donate more than the basic sponsorship rate?

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