"No thank you."

In my head I start to rationalize my frustrated response, if I give money to one of these beggars then i will be surrounded by 50, and that wont help anyone. Yet I'm here in India to witness the efforts of some incredible individuals who have transformed the lives of a great many people such as these.

Transformative education

The next morning 08:30 I am at a school assembly. 200 children singing in assembly is not unusual in most countries of the world, the song choice 'Blowing in the Wind' by Bob Dylan may be slightly more so.  However, it is the fact that every child was found destitute on the city's streets and bought into a unconditionally loving environment that makes this school and home called Future Hope so special. The children ranging from around 4-16 all smiles and keen to lock gazes and shake hands with us foreigners.

"Saturday we will be holding a session to discuss your CVs," announces the headmaster, I can't help but think that their education may be better than mine. This thought crosses my mind twice more as we are guided around the school, the lessons all in English are tackling difficult Maths problems or grammar and we are told that 8 members of the Indian National Rugby Team are from the school. 

The Journey for Change is also about a personal transformation; each of the inspirational founders and workers we have met first underwent a personal transformation which motivated them to make a great change in society. 

We meet the school's director, who oversees looking after of all the children who stay at Future Hope. He tells us the story of his transformation: formerly an MIT graduate with a high flying job, he one day decided to quit his job and move to Kolkata to work for Future Hope. The catalyst for his transformation was a book by William Darlrymple called 'Nine Lives', the book he says, is about India and transformation and was instrumental in giving voice to his inner convictions. He initially signed up for 12 months work, a 12 month contract turned into 2 years and now he has decided to stay their indefinitely. The call of corporate America remains unanswered.

The story of Future Hope

The founder, Tim Grandage has a similar story: Tim worked for a large multinational bank in Calcutta, like me when he walked the streets he was constantly confronted with beggars and homeless children, and likely found himself rationalizing his ambivalence towards them. Walking to work in the rain one day Tim got his new shoes wet in a puddle, on arriving in the bank he felt agitated by the rain, damp feet and ruined shoes. He then looked out the window and saw the street kids playing in the rain barefoot, content with their lot in life, resilient but with no opportunities, this really struck a nerve with Tim.  The next time he walked the street he took some of the street kids home with him, fed them and started to teach them. Today Future Hope has taken on 200 kids living in poverty and there are plans to cater for 500.

The steps taken by Tim, the director and all the staff at Future Hope represent a huge outpouring of unconditional love to these homeless children. Some will runaway from the school and go back to their fiercely independent but difficult lives on the street. When they return, sometimes 10 years later, they are happily welcomed back into the fold. As the children turn to adults, Future Hope does not leave them to fend for themselves, it provides them with accommodation and opportunities they need to stand on their own two feet. Future Hope can even provide a home for ex-students who are now married. Many former students have degrees and high flying careers: all have been given great opportunity and have taken full advantage of it.

Such unconditional love towards the students must at times be very large burden for the staff to bear, but the rewards are greater. "Why didn't you leave after 12 months?" a colleague asks the director. The answer - "How could I leave my own kids here?"