Too Young To Work

Too Young To Work (TYTW) currently supports three schools in India. These are in Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Punjab.

UTTAR PRADESH

This state is most famous for the Taj Mahal, in Agra, Uttar Pradesh. The lives of the children being assisted by TYTW are very different from the luxury of one of the world’s most famous buildings.

Uttar Pradesh has a population of 166 million and the literacy rate is 57%. Nearly 80% of the population live in rural areas and the life expectancy of both men and women is at 59 years (Source: Indian Census 2001).

The school in Village Nagla Daru in Uttar Pradesh was the first permanent school to be funded. There was an existing school on the site, a simple thatched hut, with more than 180 students. In many cases the children were simply taught out in the open air or in other primitive shelters as the classrooms were full.

The school built by the funds provided by Australians through the TYTW project consists of both primary and middle- level facilities. These are housed in a building of 14 fully furnished rooms surrounded by a brick boundary fence. Despite being amongst the world’s poorest people, the local community donated one acre of the land on which the school was built.

The state government has recognised this school and provide some scholarship funding for the children.

Click here to see a map of Uttar Pradesh.

BIHAR

Bihar has a population of 83 million people with nearly 90% living in rural areas. Bihar is one of the poorest states in India and relies heavily on agriculture for its income. Among its people, 42% are under the age of 14 with the average life expectancy for men at 63 and women at 62 years (Source: Indian Census 2001).

The school is located at Belgachhi, District Purnea and is a boarding school for 100 primary school children who have no parental care. The teachers are not only responsible for the education of the children but are also their guardians. The school has attracted the inetrest of local administrative authorities and numerous officials have visited the school.

Click here to see a map of Bihar.

PUNJAB

Punjab has a population of 24 million people with nearly 80% living in rural areas (Source: Indian Census 2001).

In 2007, plans to build a permanent school to replace temporary housing at Kulian, District Amritsar continue to progress well. The design has been agreed to and a tender process has begun to find a builder.

Click here to see a map of Punjab.

Click here to see images of TYTW schools.