Geography and the country they were born has condemned street-connected children into a life of hardship, but there is HOPE.

The Hope Foundation (HOPE) is a charity working to empower street-connected children in Kolkata, India, by providing them with protection and an education. Often these children are first-generation learners, who with HOPE's help are enabled to break the cycle of hardship and build better futures for themselves, their families, and their communities.

By signing up to Footsteps For HOPE from 12 April until 12 May and raising funds (no matter how small) you will help HOPE to sustain its programmes to enable street-connected children in Kolkata to begin a positive journey of education. (You will also walk in solidarity with all the street-children around the world, as 12 April is International Day For Street Children.)

The challenge is to walk 10,000 steps a day (or as many steps as possible) in the given time frame. You could choose to walk alone; or join with friends, family or colleagues and accumulate the steps together; or organise a group to walk together on a specific day.

However you choose to accumulate the steps and however much you raise you will walk in solidarity with street-connected children, who were born into a world of poverty, and enable them with the skills and power of education.

What the funds raised can provide:

£8.60 one pair of shoes and school uniform

£30 educational stationery and toys for a child

£80 one month's salary for a specialist teacher

£100 books to educate a child in HOPE's care.

100% of funds raised will be for educational resources and programmes.

Every fundraiser will receive a certificate of achievement at the end of the challenge.

Find out more about HOPE's Education Programmes here or visit www.thehopefoundation.org.uk