Balò

Balò took its first steps in 2005 following a volunteer experience of its founder, Elisabetta Ravaioli. In Pilkhana, a slum in the outskirts of Kolkata, Elisabetta immediately saw the need to intervene directly to help some very poor families to avoid their total collapse with the consequent immediate worsening of the children’s living conditions. These risks prompted Elisabetta to collaborate with some Indian volunteers who could follow the projects, families and children on an ongoing basis. As a first step, in 2007 Balò Tailoring was founded, made up of young women who make articles and clothing whose sale helps to raise funds to help other families and children. In the spring of 2011 Balò opened "Casabalò" in Pilkhana, a larger and more structured house to accommodate children during afternoon activities. In the same year, qualified teachers were hired to support the children in their homework. Having a bigger structure, Balò was now in a position to open its first kindergarten in 2013 with an in house canteen and in 2014 the first classes of primary schools were established. For the upper classes, children attended a nearby school fully paid by Balò funds. At the same time, in 2016 Elisabetta opened an Home Shelter for 8 girls between 8 and 18 years, rescued from situations extremely risky for their physical and mental safety. In 2017 "Balò English Medium School" opens, a structure that finally can include the entire cycle of studies from kindergarten to class 12. To date, 350 students are successfully attending it: every year more children will have a chance to study in a qualified and completely free school in the heart of the slum.