Salim, 14 years, is a rag picker who sorts waste for a living. He ran away from his home in Bihar 2 years ago after a fight with his father. Although life is tough on the streets of Delhi, he can earn his own money and has a group of friends like him. At nights he and his friends find a place to sleep in a park. And when it gets real cold, they can always sniff some “solution” that will make them forget the cold.

Salma, 5 years, lives under the bridge in a shelter made of tarpaulin. Her mother is a migrant from West Bengal and was abandoned by her husband who left her three small children to bring up. She works as a domestic worker and earns Rs. 300 a month. To supplement her meager income, she works as a rag picker as well and occasionally sells herbs on the streets.

Salim and Salma are only two of the 600 children the Hope Project reaches out to in Basti Hzt. Nizamuddin. Founded in 1975 by the Sufi teacher, Pir Vilayat Inayat Khan, the Hope Project supports the poor in their efforts to help themselves.

The creche, for example, was begun in response to the needs of working mothers, mostly maids and factory workers, who wanted to leave their children in a safe and caring environment so that they could earn a livelihood and support their families. Having a creche close by that is open all day allows these women – often single and abandoned - to go out and work with the assurance that their children will not come to any harm. Moreover, there is a friendly foster mother to play with the children and feed them. And should they fall ill, the doctor is just around the corner at the Hope Project Health Centre. Similarly the nursery classes give children between the ages of 4 and 5 an opportunity to get a head start in life. Typically these are children who have no other options and are first generation learners. The curriculum at the Hope Project encourages children to explore their creativity and discover the joys of learning. Once they have finished nursery and kindergarten at the Hope Project they are mainstreamed into government schools. Equipped with a stronger foundation, they are less likely to drop out and stand a better chance in life.

The night shelter is run in collaboration with Butterflies, a non-profit organization that works with street children all over Delhi. Approximately 35 – 40 children between the ages of 8 and 18 seek refuge there every night. Many of them, like Salim, work as rag pickers. Others work at wedding parties, serving food or washing dishes. A roof over their heads not only protects them from the weather, but also from police harassment. In addition they have access to toilets, a water cooler and a TV for entertainment. The children have formed their own rules for their night shelter, including keeping it clean and drug free.