Tangra FOC is a voluntary educational NGO supporting children and families in under-privileged area in Kolkata. 100% of our donations received go directly to fund our work. We are totally dependent on local donation and this generosity is highly valued and acknowledged. It is our aim to achieve FCRA status (Foreign Country Regulation Act) for Tangra FOC so foreign funding already pledged from Ireland and other countries can be availed of. This will greatly enhance all our collective efforts to serve all students to the maximum of our capabilities
Built in 1997, the Tangra Center is located in the heart of the former municipal garbage dump. Our students are mainly children of local rag pickers who make a living by recycling plastic, leather and rubber. Over the years, early dropout rates have improved significantly to now being practically zero and the number of students continuing their education to third level is constantly increasing.
Built in 1996, Topsia was our first school. Many of the people living in this area are migrants from neighbouring states of West Bengal who came to Kolkata in search of work. We are extremely proud to see so many of our students enter college and take up university placements. Given the circumstances in which they live, this is a tremendous achievement, proving that economic conditions need not undermine the spirit of dreaming big.
Located in the city's Docklands area, Khidderpore School is a
light of hope for the future dreams of students who are
children of migrant workers. The School opened in 1999 and has
become a wonderful hub of learning and activity. It is in this
school in 2018 that we launched our first Adult Literacy
Programme for parents & grandparents. In 2020 we were
delighted to welcome our great friends, the NGO Calcutta
Rescue, to serve the medical needs of this special community
on an ongoing basis.
We are so proud to take the name of our former Tangra Student Priya, an ambitious future attorney who recently completed her final semester at a premium institution. Priya is now our legal advisor as well as a founding member of the Tangra FOC board.
Let us introduce Nasir. A brilliant ex-student of Topsia School since the age of 3. Nasir completed his studies of a Masters Degree in Political Science. We are proud to have him as the newest member of our teaching staff in his beloved Topsia School.
Salim attended Khidderpore before pursuing his graduation in commerce while arranging adult literacy classes for parents and grandparents who never had the support to attend school. He recently returned from working in Kuwait. We look forward to his continued support.
We are very proud of the 52 apprentices who are learning
tailoring & handicraft. The three diamond centres are
located in Topsia, Tangra, Khidderpore. Each graduate will
ultimately receive a sewing machine on completion of the
course. Our trainees make all uniforms for our junior students
and accept extz`ernal orders. An annual highlight is the
Handicraft Award Night held in the Hot Wok restaurant in
Chinatown. The handicraft talents of all the trainees are on
display during this most enjoyable evening and there is great
excitement as to whose innovative design will capture the much
coveted Sheela Sengupta award.