Our Story

Inspired by the ideals and philosophy of Mahatma Gandhi, Child Haven International is a registered charity founded in 1985. We assist children and women in 4 countries, who are in need of food, education, health care, shelter and clothing, emotional and moral support.

Child Haven has five homes in India, one in Nepal, one in Tibet in China and one in Bangladesh. Our homes accept children who are disabled, parentless, or from socially disadvantaged situations - and who are destitute, i.e. do not receive even one good meal a day.

Girls and boys are treated equally, and without regard to race, caste, colour, religion or culture. Living is simple and meals are vegetarian. We try not to Westernize the children, but rather attempt to raise them according to the highest ideals of their own cultures. We respect the heritage of each child, whether Hindu, Muslim, Jain, Sikh, Christian, Buddhist, secular or other.

Creating Self-sufficiency
Destitute children from birth to six years of age are referred to us by local social welfare agencies. Child Haven Homes provide full care through high school (Tenth Standard), and then provide vocational training so that each child can enter the local society as a self-sufficient adult.

Women's Programs
Another aspect of Child Haven's Gandhian philosophy is our commitment to improving the condition of women through direct employment, education, medical aid, legal aid, and training opportunities.

"Let me light my lamp, says the star, and never debate if it will dispel the dark"
Rabindranath Tagore

Read more: The First Ten Years The Cappuccinos