BHN focuses its work in Varanasi, India. Varanasi is one of the oldest cities in the world and poorest cities in India.  It is also a holy city in Hinduism and many Indians travel for days to come to Varanasi in the hopes of reaching salvation. With a population of over one million people, approximately 140,000 of these live in slums.  BHN supports these marginalized children and families from Samne Ghat and the surrounding rural areas.  

BHN supports schools and programs that provide education to the children and young adults from the Camp, an unregistered slum perched on the edge of the river Ganga.  Many of these children might not otherwise have an opportunity to be in school. We support the Damini Education Centre which runs a free pre-school program for the youngest children, while Varanasi Ashram School provides free elementary school for school-aged kids. BHN also sends over 40 children to secondary and post-secondary schools and colleges. These are children we have supported since they were little. 

These schools include instruction in basic subjects (Hindi, English, Math, Environmental Studies, Computers), and often co-curricular subjects such as library access, arts, music and dance classes are included.

BHN ensures that teachers of these schools have the resources they need. We help to acquire school supplies such as writing supplies, textbooks, story books, computers etc. BHN also actively supports teacher training and ongoing professional development for teachers.  

BHN provides regular and nutritious food for these children. The children at school have access to breakfast, snack and lunch. BHN also supports a program which delivers free nutritious breakfasts to over 40 children in the camp every day, and provides families with medical care they can't afford. Many of these children are un-housed and living in precarious conditions.  BHN is currently supporting two boarding houses for some of our students. 

BHN helps ensure the continued operation of these schools and programs. 

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By providing education, food, shelter, medical care and love, BHN is giving kids a childhood they otherwise wouldn't have.