One boys journey from the streets of Mumbai, an orphan with a compassionate drive to help others!

Having just returned from a trip to India, shared wonderful experiences and seen some amazing places. I am compelled to share this story of struggle and selflessness.

Around 10 years ago, I visited Mumbai in India and lived for 3 months in a home for street children. I got to know a young boy above called Gopala (right) who had lost his leg in a tragic accident. Regardless of this he never let this hinder living life to the full.

A few weeks ago, sat by the hotel pool in Kerala I got into conversation with an 'exhausted' Human Rights lawyer. She was drained from fighting for the rights of children in remand centres in Delhi, India. She shared with me the cruel inhuman conditions the children endure. They are treated like vermin. Locked up for their own misfortune, being born into poverty, abuse and homelessness and living on the streets.

My heart went out to them, these little souls, traumatised, locked up, frightened and sick. No love, no care, alone. Many being physically sick and in emotional distress (most likely in fear of being raped by other boys if they had not been abused already).

When I returned home to the UK I received another letter from a girl I write to in prison here in the UK. Yes, she has committed horrible crimes when she was a child. She had been abandoned and rejected as a child, abused and almost killed. She is now an adult... by one year (and in adult prison) but still emotionally a child, let down by all of us.... So we are not in any arrogant position in the UK to judge the Indian situation for children.

But I am in the position to stand up as a human being and say, this inhuman, cruel, dehumanising torture of our children and young people cannot continue in our world. It has to stop and we have to be a voice for the voiceless and the powerless.



(L-R) Gopala, Sister Cyrilla ( Mother of many at one of the Snehasadan homes 1997) & Amin Sheikh, owner of the Bombay to Barcelona Cafe)

This is how we can play a part in breaking this cycle of pain...

In Mumbai there is a wonderful cafe called 'Bombay to Barcelona' which helps ex-street children who have lived at Snehasadan (a home for street children). It provides work and transforms their lives. The cafe is run by an ex street child - Amin Sheikh.

Gopala now works at the cafe and is mentored and coached by Amin. It was wonderful to see him, and to appreciate how well he has done carving his own way in the world. Full of ambition, wishing to help others coming from a similar background to himself.

Even though he lives with pain and obvious disability, his smile is infectous. He walks with a twisted spine (caused from the crudely fitting false leg), and without seeking specialist help, Gopala will continue to have mobility issues.

His dream is to have a good life in the service of others. Helping other street children get off the streets, showing them that there are options of work and new lives.

I am asking for your help in raising £4000 for Gopala to see a specialist Dr who can measure & fit him with a Prosthetic leg and then work with him to rehabilitation.

Any money raised over the £4000 will be donated to the 'Bombay to Barcelona' cafe to help other street children.

In helping this young man you will be helping many children, he is a wonderful, dynamic, inspirational and special person. Lets take back this world and fill it with love, I am done with fear and hate and evil. Please help.