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About Paper Boat
From Poverty to Infinite Potential
At Paper Boat, we believe in a world that unlocks the infinite potential of every child. For over 50 years we have supported education and skills development in Tamil Nadu, inspiring and enabling young people to change their world.
We work with expert local partners in Tamil Nadu’s poorest communities to protect and empower vulnerable children.
We rescue children abandoned due to HIV, and we run safe, creative after-school hubs where children and families living in poverty build confidence and creative leadership skills for a better future.
Over 15,000 children have already escaped the cycle of poverty through our work.
Poverty tells children they have no future. Creativity tells them they have infinite potential.
What We Do...
We meet children’s needs where they are — strengthening families and building resilient communities.
We work where the need is greatest, alongside trusted local partners.
We turn specialist knowledge into grassroots action that can be scaled.
We set best practice, deliver proven value, and ensure every gift makes a difference.
So that…
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Children grow up in loving families and caring communities
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Vulnerable children access learning that sparks imagination
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Children know their rights and they're empowered to raise even the quietest voices
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Supporters can invest in children’s creativity and solutions that drive real change
What the Children Say About Us
They taught me about the camera, then they teach me everything about acting and drawing. I really like it.
In the hub both foundation skills, education, and alternative art makes learning more engaging, and exciting for me.
Through theatre I overcame my shyness. I love play as a method of education - I learnt joyfully here, not at school!
Meet The Team
Safeguarding
Paper Boat is fully committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and adults at risk of harm and abuse. Our beneficiaries are some of the most vulnerable children globally and as such the safeguarding of children is at the very centre of our focus.
As a UK charity working with vulnerable children and communities through funding partners in India, we recognise our responsibility to ensure the safety and protection of all individuals in our programmes and activities.
It is both a fundamental belief and duty of the organisation to focus on the prevention of child abuse and exploitation, whilst also advocating child protection in all that we do.
Our Partners
DACS (Dindigul Aids Control Society)
We partner with DACS to provide urgent medical care, and as a 'last resort' long-term nurturing home and family to babies and children orphaned or abandoned due to HIV/AIDS. We work with DACS to keep families together whenever it is possible, and many children are adopted by safe families.
CEDAR (Centre for Education, Development Action and Research)
CEDAR spent its first 20 years fighting child labour across 144 high-risk villages in Tamil Nadu. Today, they work with children and youth from the most marginalised communities, helping them unlock their creative potential and agency through nurturing community hubs.