Hope Foundation gets €100,000 to help Calcutta’s child prostitutes

THE Hope Foundation has received €100,000 from the Government to assist its work with the street children of Calcutta.

The foundation was told about the grant on Monday. It was allotted through the Ireland Aid Fund, operated by the Department of Foreign affairs.

The news was greeted with delight yesterday at the Hope Foundation's head office in Cork. "We are absolutely ecstatic," said director and co-founder member Maureen Forrestal.

"We had applied for it some time ago and had an indication it was coming but we didn't dare hope. It means we will now be able to help many more street children."

For the past three years, Hope has been helping to take young prostitutes many barely in their teens off the streets and provide them with sheltered accommodation.

The Government grant will be used to buy a large building in the district of Kaligat, the most notorious red light area of Calcutta. It is Hope's fourth home in the city which has over 200,000 children living destitute.

The foundation already provides a drop-in centre for young boys and shelters mentally challenged youngsters who are particularly vulnerable. The new building will house 30 girls and their babies.

"There are more than 5,000 child prostitutes in that area alone. You can see them most waiting for clients. It's heartbreaking. Most of them are only about 14 or 15 years old."

The foundation has had a training centre for the past three years. It was set up by a former prostitute who helps the young girls and their babies. They train in dressmaking, making bags, pottery and other crafts.

The small business that arose from those craft classes is now thriving.

Hope's most spectacular fundraising event this year will be a two-week charity walk in September across India from Calcutta through the foothills of the Himalayas. "The response so far has been fantastic," said Ms Forrestal.

lThe foundation's annual fundraising lunch will be held this Friday in the Rochestown Park Hotel in Cork. The guest speaker is racing commentator Tracey Piggott.

lFor details contact: Hope Foundation, 1 Clover Lawn, Skehard Road, Cork.