In South Asia, religious and cultural traditions frequently deprive widows of their possessions and the ability to make an independent living. Poor widows cannot pay to educate their children, many of whom are driven to factory labour and prostitution to support their families.
In an effort to break the cycle of deprivation, the Loomba Foundation’s ‘Educate A Widow’s Child’ programme funds schooling for the children of poor widows in all of India’s 30 States. Through this programme, the Foundation has educated more than 3,500 children, so transforming the lives of their mothers and the prospects of their families.
With an estimated 30 million widows in India, however, the need for action remains desperate and acute.