Reuniting lost or abandoned children with their families

Railway Children rescues vulnerable children whose solo journeys put them at risk of human trafficking or exploitation. This work is carried out at four railway stations across Delhi, one bus terminal and five slum communities located around these stations. With the help of the railway authorities and state and district level authorities, it protects 4,000 children every year.

Until now, Railway Children has mainly focused on ensuring that vulnerable children found on the rail network are reunited with their families. The NGO then follows up the case for a maximum of 18 months to assess if the child has remained at home. In most cases, this is enough to be sure that the child is safe, and will stay at home and return to education.

However, what about those children who have more complex issues at home and where there is a need for a more holistic approach that includes the whole family? This is what Railway Children intends to work on with support from Fondation Dora.

Railway Children is now aiming to reinforce its work by identifying and supporting children who need a much more intensive and often therapeutic approach. To do so, the NGO has developed a model and conducted research and data analysis studies to ensure that all children feel safe at home and to address the issues that led them to leave in the first place.

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