It is widely believed that several thousand children and teenage girls are trafficked each year from Nepal into India to be sold into bonded labour or brothels. A tip off in 2002 led to us investigating an aspect of child trafficking that had until then been totally overlooked, that of the sale of children to Indian circuses.

In designing our Circus Children Project, we selected as our overall aim the end to the use of children in Indian circuses by 2007 and the retrieval and rehabilitation of as many children and girls as we could in the meantime. By the end of 2005 well over 150 girls had been returned to through our efforts either directly or indirectly.

Once the children are back in our management of them varies according to age but we of course take individual circumstances into consideration. The very youngest children who are of school age are given in house educational bridging courses that allow them to return to school or go to school for the first time. This is underpinned with school scholarship and other educational support to them and to their vulnerable siblings. On the other hand, teenage girls who are either too old or who are unwilling to resume education are offered non formal education linked to training that leads to real employment opportunities.

We still need to raise £50,685 towards our 2006 Circus Children Project budget of £127,403. This covers the retrieval and rehabilitation of children, educational and income generation projects and the legal action we need to take both against the agents and the circuses. To donate towards The Circus Children Project please use the button below.

Many thanks for your support!