About us
Our work
LittleBigHelp is a Danish NGO that since 2010 has been working to create a brighter future and better opportunities for vulnerable children and families in West Bengal, northeastern India. Our aim to secure children’s fundamental rights, such as protection and education, and to empower marginalized women socially and economically through vocational training. Through 25 projects, LittleBigHelp provides direct support to over 3,000 vulnerable children and adults every year, with indirect positive impacts on 13,500 individuals.
The projects consists of 13 Community Centres in slum areas of Kolkata and Howrah, a Boys’ Hostel and a Girls’ Hostel, several Skills Development Centres for women, and projects focused on Youth Capacity Building. We also supports a Centre for Special Education and local initiatives for a total of 380 children with special needs. Our team consists of 90 local staff members in India and three in Denmark.
Our approach
Our strategy for helping others has changed over the years from mainly responding to the direct consequences of poverty to focusing on sustainable preventative work.
Working from the belief that empowering individuals will help break the cycle of poverty, we give people the support, skills and tools they need to create a brighter future for themselves, their family and their community. It is our belief that the benefits will ripple down generations and have a lasting impact.
Our goal is not to give charity or make the people we support dependent on LittleBigHelp but, on the contrary, to empower them to take responsibility and ownership of their own lives. Education is central to all our projects, as we believe this is the way to ensure lasting, sustainable and social development in the long term.
The support and involvement of local communities is crucial to the success of our work, and without our Kolkata team members’ invaluable knowledge about local conditions, culture and challenges, we wouldn’t be able to fully understand the struggles of people living in these conditions.
Our history
LittleBigHelp was founded in 2010 by Lisbeth Johansen. Giving up a career as a hotel sales director, Lisbeth decided to pursue her dream of helping people in India who don’t have access to the same human rights, healthcare and educational opportunities as in developed countries. Several years of travelling and volunteering in India gave her the insight she needed into the complex Indian culture and socio-economic challenges to start LittleBigHelp in Kolkata, West Bengal.
Why India?
India’s economic growth doesn’t benefit much of its population. 46,5% live on less than $3,65 per day, and many don’t have access to basic human rights such as education, clean drinking water, adequate shelter or sufficient food. These conditions are especially prevalent in the slums where children and women are most vulnerable.
An estimated 10 million children between the age of 5-14 are employed in work
45% of children from the slums drop out of school before they turn 13 years old
India is rated the world's most dangerous country for women due to a high risk of rape, trafficking and other forms of sexual violence
Education, skills training and awareness are important steps towards more equality and better opportunities for vulnerable children and women in India.
LittleBigHelp is a member of ISOBRO (The Danish Fundraising Association) and CISU (Civil Society in Development – An association of Danish CSOs working in development)
LittleBigHelp is FCRA-Approved. Registration No.: IV-056162012
