About Butterflies USA

Mission Statements

Mission of Butterflies USA

Butterflies USA Inc. is a non-profit, tax-exempt charity, the US resource base for Butterflies India, a registered NGO in Delhi serving vulnerable street youth since 1989. Butterflies empowers 1200 working children via education; emergency rescue, therapeutic care, & restoration to families; and democracy, leadership & financial training. Butterflies delivers its services directly through four children’s cooperatives and a culinary and catering school and it conducts research and child rights advocacy. Butterflies USA raises awareness of the Butterflies’ philosophy and approach and raises funds via appeals, events, crowdsourcing campaigns, and foundation proposals which it transfers directly to India for Butterflies’ general operations and specific projects. We also recruit interns/fellows and cultivate partnerships with domestic/global educational, cultural, professional and philanthropic groups to expand Butterflies’ impact.

Mission of Butterflies NGO

Butterflies is committed to work with the most vulnerable groups of children making sure that such children have the opportunities to reach their full potential for growth and development, enjoying all their human rights. To this end, Butterflies works:

• To give children a voice and skills to raise issues which have a bearing on their lives and to facilitate the changes that will enable them to become valued and productive citizens.
• To encourage children to have confidence and motivation and means to make the world a better place for themselves and for their children.
• To influence government policies which affect children and to ensure that child rights are an integral part of the government’s political agenda.
• To work in partnership with international agencies to raise awareness of problems which affect marginalized children everywhere.
• To use the Constitution of India and the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child to advocate for children’s rights.

Butterflies’ goal is to continuously seek approaches and strategies for working with children in their efforts and struggles in protecting their rights.

Rita Panicker
Founding Director
Butterflies

We dream of a world where every child…

• Is loved and respected regardless of race, religion or caste Is fed and clothed and housed within a caring family environment
• Has free access to quality education and training in line with his or her abilities
• Has free access to quality health care
• Has free access to recreation and leisure
• Has a voice and can speak out without fear of the consequences
• Is free from exploitation and abuse
• Is free from the direct and indirect effects of armed conflict and communal violence
• Is free to be a child and has hope for the future