23%
Of girls are married as a child
Children treated unequally
Gender inequality is a major issue in Telangana. To illustrate, in the state, 23% of girls were forced into marriage before the age of 18. This is not surprising knowing that India has the highest number of child marriages in the world. Child marriage is a violation of the universal declaration of human rights, and the emotional damage a child suffers from a forced union is profound.
Furthermore, literacy rates in Telangana speak for themselves: the literacy rate for men is 80%, while the literacy rate for women is 65%. This could be due to the fact that girls often drop out of school at an early age than boys.
4,5 tonnes
Of waste produced daily
Children vulnerable to pollution
Hyderabad is one of the most polluted cities in South India. Due to the rapid urbanization and increased economic activity in the city, not only has waste increased, but there is also pollution of water, air and noise. 50% of the total pollution is caused by traffic pollution.
Furthermore, the city produces 4,5 tonnes of solid waste daily. Ground water, the main source of drinking water, is declining due to the increase in population, while also being polluted by industrial treatment plants. Children are especially vulnerable to these aspects of pollution. Waste, air and water pollution have a negative effect on their health and living conditions.
Your support makes a difference for children in Hyderabad
SOS Children’s Villages works with local partners and communities to offer a wide range of support that is adapted to the local context. We always work in the best interest of the children, young people and families.
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Children and young people
Grow up in our care
Are supported on their way to independence
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Children and their caregiver tending to the garden. Learning to care for a garden and planting and harvesting vegetables is one of the many useful skills children and young get to develop (photo: SOS Children’s Villages India).
How your support helps in Hyderabad
Strengthening families and communities
When parents face hardships, they can sometimes struggle to give children the care they need. SOS Children’s Villages works with local partners and communities. Each family needs different support so that they can stay together. This support can include workshops on parenting and children’s rights. We also run training so that parents can get the skills they need to get a job or start their own businesses. Likewise, we ensure that children can get medical help and go to school.
Caring for children who cannot live with their families
Some children cannot stay with their families, even with additional support. When this happens, they can find a new home in SOS Children’s Villages. Here the children can build safe and lasting relationships. All the children in our care have access to education and healthcare. Wherever possible, we work closely with the children’s family of origin. If children can return to live with their families, we help them adapt to this change.
Supporting young people to become independent
To help young people become confident and independent, our local team works closely with each young person to develop a plan for their future. We support young people and also help them prepare for the labour market and increase their employment prospects. For example, young people can attend workshops and trainings run by SOS Children’s Villages. They also improve their skills through taking part in different projects with local mentors and businesses.