A happy childhood is the foundation of life and school days are an important part of a child’s formative years. Unfortunately large numbers of children in India’s carpet weaving belt start work at an age when western children are starting school. To deal with this problem Project Mala was founded in 1989 to provide a three year non-formal education course to children. Our aim is to help eradicate the use of child labour on the carpet weaving looms and enable working children to regain their lost childhood.
Patrons of Project Mala
Felicity Kendal CBE
Sir Mark Tully OBE
Lady Young
Madeline Weinrib
The Maharaja of Benares
Corporate Patrons of Project Mala
Obeetee Pvt. Ltd.
Surya Carpets Ltd.
Totzke Ltd.
Trustees of Project Mala
Project Mala UK
- Robin Garland MBE (Chairman)
- Anne Gilmour BA PGCE DipSpLD
(Education Adviser) - Dr Pujit Gandhi MRCPsych MBBS
- Dr Nupur Gandhi MBA MRCPsych MBBS
Project Mala USA Inc.
- Neville Platt
- Robin Garland MBE
Project Mala Limited (Australia)
- Christian Rogers
- Robin Garland MBE
Objectives
- Facilitating personal growth through education and rehabilitation training
- Providing physical improvement through healthcare and nutrition
- Mainstreaming the children into formal education system
- No discrimination between boys and girls
Operational Area
Traditional carpet belt in the Mirzapur/Bhadohi district near the holy city of Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh.