ABOUT ENLIGHT

The United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP, 2008) defines “Children in especially difficult circumstances are those children who are for shorter or longer periods in their lives, exposed to intense multiple risks to their physical and mental health. A common characteristic of these children is that they lack proper adult care and protection and that they lead their lives outside mainstream society”.

Enlight was initiated in the year 2015. It is a collaborative effort of Aide et Action and Capgemini aiming towards a better future for girl children living in difficult circumstances through 'Education'. Operational in nine cities, Enlight engages with a specific group of girls in each city, Chennai – Girls from Adi Dravida Community (Dalit), Delhi – Girls from migrant families, Hyderabad – Girls with disabilities, Kolkata – Girl child of women sex workers, Mumbai – Girls from families engaged in waste picking, Pune – Girls from De-notified Communities (The Waghri and Sikligars), Salem - Girls infected/affected by HIV and AIDS and Trichy – Girls from community engaged in Manual Scavenging.

ENLIGHT 2.0, launched in 2021, led to the project’s re-initiation in Delhi - Girls of families living with Leprosy & Bengaluru – Girl Children from Madiga community ( who engaged in manual scavenging) and its expansion to four additional cities including Bhubaneshwar - Girls of families engaged in Waste Rag Picking, Gurugram - Girls of families engaged in Rag Picking, Noida - Girls of families engaged in Manual Scavenging, Coimbatore - Girls from community engaged in Manual Scavenging. As a result, the project became operational in 13 cities, reaching 2,416 girls living in difficult circumstances.