Amcha Ghar

Amcha Ghar, a home for girls is dedicated to helpless female children

irrespective of their religion or caste- who are susceptible to the vulnerable
conditions of living on the street. The home aims to educate the girls in an English
medium school, to train and transform them into skilled adult women who are able
to live an independent life in the main stream of society. The house began with
three children and is now home to 30 with hundreds on the waiting list. They are
listed among the leading students and are known for their loving nature and
discipline. The main objective is to give them an opportunity in life that protects
them from falling in to the clutches of the darker side of society.

History
This organization came into existence thanks to Ms. Susheela Singh and Mr.
Anthony Dias who had witnessed sexual abuse and prejudice cases towards girl
children living on the street. The project was created to prevent the girl child from
falling into the clutches of pimps and commercial sex work, abuse, and
vulnerability to the various conditions of living without proper accommodation.
The concept of Amcha Ghar originated after Ms. Singh and Mr. Dias approached
several institutions that took care of girl children. What they came to realize was
that no home catered to semi-orphan children or to those living in vulnerable
situations. The girls were denied admission if they had a single parent.
Relatives of the girls sexually exploit, abuse, and take advantage of their
vulnerability. A single parent often would go to work leaving their children in the
hands of a vulnerable and exploitive society. From the experience of witnessing
such helplessness Ms. Singh and Mr. Dias were inspired to form a unique
organization that would serve those that were living in such situations.
What we do

Redeem girls from the clutches of pimps and prostitutes, save them from begging
or working at a young age, intervene in abusive situations, rescue them from
people that take advantage of a childs vulnerability.
Amcha Ghar works with rejected children, orphans who do not know their origin,
children who are forcibly given drugs, children abused by their relatives, children
who have witnessed the act of suicide of their family, and children deserted due to
poverty and hardship.
These children are often found on the street, crossroads, parks, parking lots,
pavement, beaches, slums, and in unhygienic conditions.
Amcha Ghar children are educated in an English Medium School. We accept that
not all children are good at academics therefore we place emphasis on vocational
development. Their interests are encouraged and opportunities are provided to
pursue their aptitude. Classes in drawing, singing, music, self-defence, sewing, and
computer education are provided. We hope that through a broad spectrum of
education, academic and vocational, facing the future is rich with opportunity.
Amcha Ghar MSCEN
Project
Amcha Ghar, a residential home for girls
English Medium School for girls and community
Three kindergarten schools
Community development
Vocational development
Future goals
The organization plans to open a full-fledged compact campus that would consist
of a school, residency, and a technical institute. The facility would cater to the
inmates and children that lack the financial resource to attend school. A vocational
training facility is needed to empower the people of Uttan. We hope to provide the
community with this opportunity in the future.

Our short-term goals include purchasing a form of transportation for the students
that attend school in, and outside of Uttan. We hope to obtain land and construct a
house for them in an independent place.
Expansion of our project, and the acceptance of more children is hoped for in the
near future. While reaching our goals it is always a constant aim to keep our
mission in mind and provide the most efficient and caring staff to nurture this
valuable project and maintain its sustainability.

Amcha Ghar has successfully completed 18 years of providing a home for

poor girls and providing them access to English education
In the 1990s, Agatha Susheela Dias and Anthony Dias were engaged in social work
in Mumbai. In 1995, they rescued a sexually exploited girl from the streets, only to
discover that no institution would admit her because she was not an orphan. They
realised that no home catered for semi-orphaned girl children or for those living in
pitiable conditions. Girls are denied admission in homes if they have a parent,
despite the fact that the single parent often works all day, leaving the girl to fend
for herself and may places her in the care of sexually, physically or emotionally
abusive relatives.
This helplessness inspired Agatha and Anthony to set up a new organisation for
young girls in such circumstances. On 14 April 1996, in Bhayander (a distant
suburb of Mumbai), a committed team of social workers, attorneys and doctors
joined the Dias couple to set up Amcha Gharour home in Marathi.
After 18 years of putting a smile back on the faces of so many children, The
demeanour and discipline of Amcha Ghar girls have earned us the reputation of a
respectable institution in Mumbai. Amcha Ghar strives to create self-sufficient,
empowered young women who can succeed in todays fast-paced and competitive
world by bringing them to the mainstream of society, said the founders.
Amcha Ghar caters to orphaned, street and underprivileged girls in Mumbai and
other states. It provides English-medium education, residences, medical attention,
recreation and spiritual facilities until they become independent. It works towards

the holistic development of orphaned destitute girls at the residential home as well
as for children of nearby villages through its English-medium school.
Amcha Ghar Home has nearly 80 girls who have been rehabilitatedeither by
getting them married, or by placing them at workplaces, some have gone in for
higher education. Around 600 students are given education at the school run by the
NGO. The school is affiliated with the Maharashtra State Board of Secondary
Education and has obtained a 100% pass percentage over the last few years.
Ms Dias says, Although they are village children, they get the opportunity to
compete with city children. With the continuing mission of educating children in
English, Amcha Ghar has started four balwadis to help villagers who need
protection for very young children and infants.
The home for girls has ISO accreditation and is housing 25 girls in the current year.
In the words of Ms Dias, We have two of our girls studying in the first year of the
diploma course in Hotel Management. There are six kids in junior college pursuing
arts & commerce. The rest of the children are at schoolfrom nursery to Standard
X.
For those who have the time and would like to volunteer to work with young girls,
the website of the NGO says, Amcha Ghar welcomes and has experience with
volunteers from India as well as from abroad. At Amcha Ghar, you will be part of a
team of supportive, like-minded, committed people where your contribution will
make a real impact.
Donations are welcome (and eligible for tax exemption under Section 80 G of the
Income Tax Act) at Amcha Ghar, to help alleviate poverty that forces street
children into beggary and abusive and exploitative situations. Amcha Ghar also
permits donors to see for themselves how the children are looked after and
experience a day in the life of a former street child, for a nominal fee.
Amcha Ghar
406/407, Deep Sagar Building,
Uttan, Bhayander (West), Thane 401106
Phone: 022 28451022/ Mobile: 9892270729/9004002009
Email: ag.angels@hotmail.com
Website: www.amchaghar.org