Yes. TARA can receive donations from different countries, and tax deductions apply in several:

• India: donations are eligible for a 50% deduction under Section 80G of the Income Tax Act, within the applicable limit of 10% of the donor’s Adjusted Gross Total Income. This deduction is generally available under the old tax regime, not under the new tax regime. We provide Form 10BE.
• France: 66% deduction via CHAYA. A €100 donation costs you only €34.
• United Kingdom: Gift Aid eligible (contact UK Friends of TARA).
• United States: tax-deductible via a 501(c)(3) partner (WECO).

Learn more about tax benefits →

Yes. You can donate items in good condition to TARA or buy for us what we need, such as food supplies, stationery, etc. We encourage donors to drop them directly at TARA in South Delhi, but pick-ups may also be possible in some cases. Please contact us first so we can let you know our current needs and organise the best option.

You can sponsor a child or a programme from as little as ₹1,020 / $12 / €12 per month.

Sponsoring contributes to the child’s care, education, health follow-up, psychosocial support, daily life, extracurricular activities, and long-term protection and empowerment. Sponsors receive regular updates and a photo of the child they support.

Sponsor a child →

Yes, visits are possible, but they must be organised in advance in order to respect the children’s routine and emotional stability.

To arrange a visit, sponsors are asked to contact TARA at least one week in advance. Visits are usually organised on weekdays after school or on Saturday mornings, depending on the child’s availability and that of the educational team. In some cases, outings can also be organised with staff supervision and subject to approval.

Children come from vulnerable communities in South Delhi or are referred through official child protection mechanisms.

Children in TARA Family Based Programmes live with their families in the community and are supported through education, protection and family strengthening measures. Children in TARA Residential Care or TARA Family Intervention are referred by the Child Welfare Committees, which place children with registered NGOs.

TARA does not choose the children.

TARA Family Based Programmes support children living in the community and children referred for family intervention and protection support.

TARA Residential Care receives children sent by the Child Welfare Committee, in accordance with our admission policy and the number of places sanctioned in our licence from the Department of Women and Child Development.

Yes. School enrolment is a priority for all children under TARA’s care.

Children in TARA Family Based Programmes are encouraged and supported to attend school regularly. TARA provides homework support, extra learning modules, extracurricular activities, and helps families with paperwork and liaison with schools.

Children in TARA Residential Care attend schools in South Delhi and also receive tutoring, educational support, and a wide range of activities.

TARA Residential Care is for children who cannot safely remain with their families and who are placed under TARA’s protection through the Child Welfare Committee. They live full-time in TARA’s residential homes and receive long-term care, education, protection and rehabilitation.

TARA Family Based Programmes support children while they remain in their family or community environment. This includes outreach support and TARA Family Intervention. TARA Family Intervention is designed for children in need of care and protection who are not institutionalised and who need support to prevent further harm, recover from trauma, and strengthen or rebuild a safe family environment. It works in coordination with the Child Welfare Committee and combines psychosocial support, family counselling, access to services, legal coordination and family strengthening.

It depends on the programme.

• Children in TARA Family Based Programmes spend time at the centre or receive support through family intervention, and live with their families or in their community.
• Children in TARA Residential Care live at TARA on a long-term basis in a structured, family-like environment supervised by trained staff.

Children stay at TARA for as long as it is in their best interest and as long as they respect the rules of the organisation.

In TARA Family Based Programmes, support continues for as long as the child and family need protection, guidance and stabilisation. In TARA Family Intervention, support is provided under the direction of the Child Welfare Committee and continues until the case is considered closed by the Committee.

In TARA Residential Care, placements are reviewed by the Child Welfare Committee. Once children finish high school and reach adulthood, they may transition to TARA Big Birds, our aftercare programme for young adults who have grown up in our homes and which is intended, in time, to welcome young adults from other homes as well.

TARA cares for children who are in danger within their community or who have been placed under protection. Most are not orphans, and even when they are, they almost always have a family.

In the rare cases where a child is declared eligible for adoption, the responsible authority is the Central Adoption Resource Authority (CARA).

TARA means "star" in Hindi. The name was chosen by the very first children to join TARA.

TARA’s programmes are implemented in India by ONYVA, the NGO responsible for running the programmes on the ground in Delhi.

Large institutions tend to generate instability and violence when they exceed their capacity. TARA works with children who have experienced trauma. Our priority is to provide a safe, family-like environment with enough individual attention for each child to grow and determine their own future.

No. TARA is entirely secular. We embrace diversity and inclusivity in all aspects of our work.

We welcome volunteers aged 22 and over for a minimum commitment of 3 months. Volunteers must be fluent in English, punctual and reliable on their agreed schedule.

If you are looking for a volunteering or internship opportunity in a small NGO in South Delhi, TARA would love to hear from you.

Apply to join the team →