Indian Chapter of CWEF assists in the education of impoverished children to break the cycle of child labor and poverty. CWEF’s work in India has been to assist needy widowed mothers. Currently, there are more than 33 million widowed mothers bringing up more than 100 million children. Widowhood plunges mothers in poor households into particularly desperate and extreme poverty. In the absence of a social security network, destitute widows have a difficult time providing for their children. As a consequence, most of these children are deprived of education; some feel compelled to help their families by entering a life of begging; and others are forced into child labor. By helping their mothers for their education, CWEF offers these children a viable alternative to begging or child labor and a future brimming with possibilities. CWEF is committed to assist these widows so that their children can be saved from this cycle of poverty through education.

• CWEF works through the school principals, who volunteer their services, and relies on information provided by them. These volunteers follow our directions to determine which needy widowed mothers require help for the education of their children. (Click here for the procedure and the important dates for processing)
• CWEF supports the education of a child for as long as the child keeps studying.  CWEF supports a child’s education in school, college and university or for any other professional education. Amount of assistance for post-secondary education is Rs 5,000 per student per year. ( Click here for the letter to grade XII students and the application form) - Please pay particular attention to the 3 notes at the bottom of the Application Form.

India Bound ?

If you plan to visit India in the coming months, perhaps you would like to visit one or more of the schools where the children of widowed mothers that we assist study.

In the past a number of our members have made such visits and their experiences have been very positive. Reports of these visits and pictures are available in the power point presentations of 5^th, 6^th, 7^th, 8^th and 9th Annual General Meetings.

A LIST OF INSTITUTIONS SUPPORTED IN INDIA

Contact Information: Please look at the list of these institutions by clicking here. If you wish to visit one, we suggest that you contact the CWEF [click here for contact information] so that we can advise the institution of your planned trip and provide you with  a letter introducing you to the Principal as well as any other information needed to facilitate your visit. 

WHY ASSIST NEEDY WIDOWS FOR THE EDUCATION
OF THEIR CHILDREN?

There are more than 33 million widows in India comprising about 8 per cent of the total female population of the country. One in four households has a widow. These widowed mothers are bringing up about 100 million children.

In the absence of social security and national pensions widows of poor households find it difficult to bring up their children. The children of such families are deprived of education. Many children beg for living and many others are forced into child labour.

Everyone observes social and economic disparities in societies that one lives in. Thoughts of these disparities in sensitive minds crystallize into organizations that make a difference and help to reduce these inequalities. Canadian World Education Foundation (CWEF) is one such organization. Indian Chapter of this organization assists widowed mothers in India, to reduce shortage of funds available to them, for the education of their children.

"When we read the letters sent to us by the widowed mothers and their children, we experience conflicting emotions of grief, humility, gratitude, and joy. We feel grief that life's circumstances can deal such a heavy blow to the less fortunate among us and that kind, decent people can suffer so horribly in this world. We are filled with a sense of humility that we (toward whom fortune has cast a favourable eye) should have the opportunity to not only have enough for ourselves, but enough to help others. We feel enormous gratitude that our extended family of caring friends, colleagues, and fellow-citizens would want to work with us in attempting to address these needs. And, we feel joy in being a part of this caring community."
-Rick Caron

Knowing the enormous extent to which the global poor suffer reminds us of the words uttered by a wise saint: "We cannot do great things. We can only do small things with great love."