Edith Wilkins

"It was an experience that changed the course of Edith's life." After working in India with NGO, ( Non Government Organization) for three months Edith found it hard to leave all the street children behind without someone to care for them. In her early months in India, Edith slept on the streets with the children, to establish relationships with the people living outside. Her idea was to establish a safe place for these kids to sleep; she would create a Night Shelter. In her experience in India and sleeping, on the streets she met children as young as three, living all alone with no place to call home, except the streets. There was no place for children who may have been suffering from venereal diseases, from tremendous abuse because, orphanages and other existing homes refused to take them in. Edith then decided to take up her proposal for establishing Night Houses with NGO. The first half- way-house was born. From a young age, Edith had showed she had a caring nature by spending her summer holidays looking after the sick and elderly. Edith Wilkins is such an inspiring person because of her determination and selfless to the kids in India, we should all strive to inspire in the right way, like Edith.

Edith Wilkins Foundation has been helping the street children of India for ten years. Supplying clinics, Half Way Houses, HIV/AIDS shots, and night shelters for the children. Edith's main focus on her foundation was to do something positive for these kids. She has been responsible for initiating the building of maternity hospitals in rural, remote areas where the mortality rate was very high. She has set up many residential homes; drop in centres, night shelters, sick bays, and awareness community programs in the slums, on the streets and in red light areas of Calcutta. Now, Indian NGOs run these programs. In Calcutta, Edith and others set up a forum to bring NGOs together to work under one banner for the rights of street children.

In September, 2011 Edith Wilkins won The International Person of the Year Award. For her dedication and efforts in Darjeeling, Edith was honored by Rehab with the award. All the money and publicity went to the children of the streets. With the word about winning The International Person of the Year Award, Edith hoped more people would volunteer and want to become a part of the foundation. She has promised that her work will go on and she will continue to help those in need.

Edith is always looking for volunteers and anyone interested to help. If you would like to help you can hold fundraisers and donate all the profit to the Edith Wilkins Foundation. Another way to help is get your class in school or your youth club to sponsor events or work for the Foundation in your transition year. Fundraisers are not mandatory; you can just donate money straight to the foundation. There are many ways you can help and become active in this organization.

Edith's choice to make a difference for those kids in India made a huge impact on them. Everyone should try and be more like Edith, less selfless and more caring. Thinking of someone other than yourself can give you the kind of perspective on life that Edith had. One person can move the world to do great things. Edith is a perfect inspiration for people everywhere; she shows that determination, effort, and being caring can be one of the best things. "It was an experience that changed the course of Edith's life." Just imagine what it could do for you.