THEY WERE 3,000 UNTOUCHABLES. NOW, THEY'RE BEING SET FREE.
ANDHRA PRADESH, INDIA
PROJECT: TO SUPPORT BASIC NEEDS
Partner: Set Free Alliance
In Indian society, people are defined at birth by the Hindu caste system either as haves, have-nots, or untouchables. When we learned of a group of 3,000 Indian untouchable children being held as slaves in the rock quarries of Andhra Pradesh, sold by their parents as payments for high interest debts, we had to take action. These boys and girls, ages 6-18, had never attended school, had no access to basic necessities, and were subject to unspeakable sexual, physical and emotional torture. We partnered with Set Free Alliance to help set these kids free. In 2013, the Premier Foundation provided financial support to help provide care, shelter, nutrition, basic education, and vocational training for these former slave children.