~~ Good Shephered Homes : ..::GSH HOME::.. ~~

Good Shepherd Homes is a No-Nonsense, Hands-On charity dedicated to get kids off the street and working towards their own future.

Street children are now a global phenomenon. UNICEF estimates 100 million children live on the streets. 18 million of those children live in India. No country has more street children than in India. Our area of operation, the Mumbai- Pune region has more than 350,000 kids without a home or adequate shelter and education.

At GSH, we believe ‘Each one is worth it', and have a common aim to house and provide care for orphans and destitute children. We are open to children of all communities regardless of caste, creed or religion.

Today 122 children call GSH their home. They have the best available facilities and grow in an atmosphere of love and care.

• Nearly 16.4 million Indian children aged 5-14 years are engaged in economic activities and domestic or non-remunerative work.

• The Indian Government has banned employment of children below 14 as domestic servants or in the hospitality sector, effective from 10th October 2006 under the Child Labor (Protection & Regulation) Act.

• 74 percent of child domestic workers in India are between the ages of 12 and 16.

• Estimated 100,000 – 125,000 street children each in Mumbai, Kolkata and Delhi, with 45,000 in Bangalore.

• India has the largest population of street children – more than 11 million, according to conservative estimates by UNICEF.

• A large proportion of the street children are boys, but girls are the more vulnerable. Many young girls end up at the mercy of pimps

• Estimates cite figures of between 60 and 115 million working children in India -- the highest number in the world.

• Globally, more than one in four children are out of school during one or more years of primary school age. One in ten will never attend primary school.

• India, Pakistan, Nigeria & Ethiopia have the greatest numbers of out-of-school children.

• In India the ratio of exclusion in primary-school age of girls to boys is 136:100. 21% of out-of–school children work in India.

• Khopoli shelter Home for children infected with HIV/AIDS.

• A team of 25 members from Times Square Church will be on their Short term mission trip to India at GSH.

• The documentary film “VT Station” is in its final stage of post- production. The film acquaints one to the plight of the scores of homeless & vulnerable children wandering on the streets of Mumbai.

The idea is to create a complete community village for 400 children and staff. more