Rae Bareli Area Program

The Rae Bareli community is located in one of the poorest districts of Uttar Pradesh, in northern India. Many families, women and children in particular, are at risk because they belong to Scheduled Castes (formerly called untouchables). Women and children are less valued in the community as a result.

In this largely agricultural community, farming families earn very little. They do not have the knowledge or resources to improve production and are forced to sell products cheaply to middlemen, since they do not have direct access to markets. Insufficient food, poor sanitation, and a lack of safe water leave many children malnourished and susceptible to common illnesses like diarrhea and respiratory infections. Illiteracy is high, causing parents to undervalue education for their children.

Education
To ensure children can access and benefit from quality education, World Vision will assist the community to:

• Educate community members about the importance of education for children, especially girls.
• Provide support for functional literacy skills for women.
• Ensure that children who dropped out of school receive opportunities to continue their education.
• Establish child friendly spaces and early childhood education centres, and strengthen them with improved equipment and infrastructure.

Health
With the partnership of Canadian sponsors and the community, World Vision will work to:

• Partner with community-based organizations and the Ministry of Health to conduct health education classes and appraisal for children.
• Ensure that severely malnourished children receive rehabilitation and improved food.
• Provide parents with nutrition training and support to improve family diet.
• Promote preventive care measures, like immunization and breastfeeding.
• Emphasize the importance of nutrition and care for girls, who are less valued and often overlooked according to the cultural precedent.