About Us
The Aim
Children of the Ganges primary objective is to provide free education to children, without any discrimination based on religion, caste, gender, or social status. Our ultimate goal is to instil in them the values of kindness, compassion, and a sense of universal responsibility.
We aim to create an inclusive learning environment. We firmly believe that education is a fundamental right that should be accessible to all, regardless of their background.
In addition to academic instruction, we prioritize the cultivation of values and virtues that are essential for personal and social development by encouraging our students to embrace kindness and compassion towards others.
Children of the Ganges is a registered non-profit organization in the USA (501 (c)(3) and in India we are a Registered Society under the Indian Societies Registration Act 1860.
How we Started
While Truike Boekholt was doing her Yoga Teacher Training in Rishikesh, in 2010, she would often see children on the streets asking for money. Feeling she had to help these kids she started drawing and painting with them on the banks of the Ganges. Taking these drawings and paintings back to the USA to sell, she went back to India the next summer with the money raised and a suitcase of books (from the library at the International School in New York where she taught). She then found a hotel owner that would donate a room for three years, found a teacher in a local book store and Children of the Ganges was born.
New Beginings
In 2024 we opened up a second, smaller (pocket) school in the slums of Mayakund; a 'downtown' slum area. The whole community came together and painted the walls of the school with murals.
Here we are focusing more on green living and recycling, since the children live amongst a lot of pollution. We have an on ongoing project with the children: Making “Eco Bricks”, these are bottles stuffed with the plastic that they find all around them and then used to make functional items like seats, tables and plant pots.
The Classes
Children of the Ganges is dedicated to providing free education to a diverse group of underprivileged children between the ages of 5 and 16. Our classes are held six days a week, from 4pm to 7.30pm. We have a comprehensive curriculum that covers various subjects and skills.
We focus on teaching reading and writing in both Hindi and English, thus empowering children to understand and communicate effectively in these languages. Additionally, we offer maths tuition and computer skills training to equip the kids with the necessary technology literacy for the modern world. In addition to this we often have volunteers that expose the children to a variety of skills, i.e. languages, music, dance, creative writing, etc.
We emphasize the development of social skills, recognizing their importance in fostering positive relationships and interactions. Through various activities like yoga, dance and the arts, the children learn how to navigate social situations and engage with others in a respectful manner.
Our program goes beyond academic subjects, as we believe in nurturing well-rounded individuals. Meditation is introduced to help children develop focus, mindfulness, and emotional well-being. We also incorporate traditional Indian dance and music classes, to help preserve their cultural heritage and promote physical fitness.
By providing this wide range of educational experiences, we aim to empower these young individuals and foster their personal growth and potential and are committed to making a meaningful impact on their lives and helping them overcome the challenges they face.
