Calcutta Rescue Canada

Calcutta Rescue awarded 2009 Indian NGO of the year !

What we do

Calcutta Rescue is a registered charity in Kolkata (formerly Calcutta), India. Its mission is to help the most destitute of Kolkata and West Bengal with medical clinics, schools, and vocational training. Calcutta Rescue provides assistance to men, women and children regardless of caste or religion.

Founded over 30 years ago by Dr. Jack Preger in 1980 and incorporated in 1989, Calcutta Rescue was awarded a Rockefeller Foundation prize for Best Charity in India (medium size budget category). Several support groups around the world support the work of Dr. Jack and his team of workers. Calcutta Rescue Canada is the Canadian support group and a registered charity that has been actively helping since 2006.

What we do

Calcutta Rescue Fund is a small charity and we rely on the generosity of individuals and organisations to fund this vital work. If you like what we do then please consider supporting us in whatever way you can. Together we can ensure that the charity’s pioneering work reaches even more people in ever more effective ways.

Donate

There are a variety of ways to make a donation. Please follow the link below to find out more.

Volunteer in Canada

There are a variety of ways to make a donation. Please follow the link below to find out more.

October 2015 update:

Zeenat completed her degree in Travel and Tourism and is now working in a hotel and able to support her family!

A special Thank you to the people of Kingston, Ontario for their continued support.

One of Calcutta Rescue’s Success Stories: Zeenat Praveen

“Whatever I am today is because of Calcutta Rescue and my mother”

says 21-year old Zeenat Praveen whiis just one of the star students of Calcutta Rescue. Born in a poverty-stricken home, her journey was not easy. Her father disowned her mother and five sisters because he wanted a son.

Despite their daily struggle, her mother promised herself that she will make all her daughters educated so that she can break the taboo that a girl is meant to do indoor work. Zeenat was 5 years old when she came to Calcutta Rescue’s School No 10. Here she did pre-school training to help her to join a mainstream school. From a very young age Zeenat showed keen interest in her studies. With constant support from Calcutta Rescue, she joined Savitri Partshala School, a government formal school in Kolkata where she completed her education. She often had to study by candle light as there was no electricity in her house. She never allowed any obstacles to come in her way. A bright and dedicated student, Zeenat completed her schooling with Calcutta Rescue nurturing her dream and helping her enter Victoria College, under Calcutta University for a 3-year degree course in Travel and Tourism Management. Now, she is waiting for her final year result. She believes that she will be able to score above 80%.


Zeenat then would like to do her Masters of Business Administration, (MBA), a 2 year degree course, specializing in Travel and Tourism. In the meantime, she has already started looking for part time work so that she can help her mother financially. She lives in a one room house with her mother and five sisters. Her mother works as a maid and her monthly income is 1500 per month (about $30. Cdn.)


Despite all hardship and struggle there is always a smile on Zeenat’s face.

“Calcutta Rescue is like God to me. Everything I have, I received here – my confidence, smile, happiness, friends, mentor, books, food, everything… It is like a family to me. I will always be grateful to Calcutta Rescue.”

Claire and Julia fund raising at the Sunday Kingston market.

And the winners are . . . . .

Surrounded by other volunteers and shoppers, Tim Sugrue picks a winning ticket at our Treasures from the Orient Bazaar.

Calcutta Rescue at Queen's University

Misha and Brittany (on photo) and Arielle spread awareness for Calcutta Rescue at Clubs’ Nights on the campus of Queen’s University.
Many volunteers were recruited for our fall-winter fundraising.

Bravo Misha, Brittany, Arielle and all the others who worked hard spreading the word about Dr. Jack’s work.

Calcutta Rescue volunteers

Misha, Chantal, Christina and Brittany. Welcome to the group, Chantal and Brittany.

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Links to Calcutta Rescue and its support groups

There are also support groups in France (Paris, Strasbourg, Provence), Norway, Sweden and Ireland