Two NGOs working for Indian children get U.K. prize

Two Indian NGOs — Mumbai-based “Prerana” and “Sense International India,” Ahmedabad — are to get $100,000 each for their work among disabled and poor children.

They are among the six grassroots organisations from South Asia and Africa selected by Stars Foundation, a London-based charity, for this year’s “Stars Impact” awards given every year to groups which have made a “demonstrable difference” to the lives of disadvantaged children.

In a statement on Thursday, the foundation said “Prerana” was selected for providing night and day care and education/training for children at risk from ‘second generation’ commercial sexual exploitation and trafficking in India.

Recognised

The Sense International India was recognised for supporting hearing-impaired and visually-challenged children and for setting up South Asia’s first teacher training and mentoring course in tackling these handicaps .

Muna Wehbe, chief executive of the Foundation, said the two groups had demonstrated “extraordinary commitment and found inspirational solutions to the challenges facing children in their communities.”

“Over the past three years, our recipients have benefited in many ways from the awards beyond the funding and the consultancy support that we offer. Organisations have secured increased funding, enhanced media profile, and built stronger partnerships with other organisations and local government. As a result, this has benefited thousands of children,” she said.