We have seen in our slum area that poverty has become worse in the last two years. Once governments make that commitment, I think it can happen. Support a local grassroots agency that does excellent work but is starved of funds because it is relatively invisible. I'm glad to find OneWorld supporting small groups as well as big ones. But do find out how these support groups help these families.
Some international agencies like to give poor people things like cement or uniforms.
When the funding agency leaves, the family is left without the donor they have come to depend on. At Katha, we have tried to do the opposite. If the child is a girl, we take Rs. 10 off. If the parent regularly sends the child to school, and the child studies hard, then we take a further Rs. 10 off the price. And we keep on reducing that amount.