The Late Fr. James Stevens, the founder of Udayan, was a British priest who came to India with a mission to support underprivileged children. Intent on setting up a secular children’s home, Fr. Stevens sought Mother Teresa’s guidance on where his efforts would be most needed. Mother Teresa recommended he should focus on children from leprosy-affected families - who she felt were by far the most neglected and marginalized group in society.

In 1970, Fr. Stevens established Udayan, a home for children affected by leprosy in Barrackpore, Kolkata, starting with just 11 children. Over the years, the home grew and expanded to include a school (Udayan Vidyalaya) eventually having capacity to serve up to 300 children.

Children at Udayan come from Leprosy Colonies across Eastern India, where their families suffer from Leprosy and live in sub-standard, outcast conditions. UDAYAN brings these children out of degrading living conditions, where they are vulnerable to Leprosy infection and the stigma of the disease.

Leprosy affected families in India, live in isolated communities of their own, near municipal garbage dumps, by the side of railway embankments, or other such places not normally accessed by ordinary citizens. They beg to support themselves and their children.
Udayan enables these children to realize their full human potential, whilst they live in a safe, secure and nurturing environment under the supervision of caring adults. Children at UDAYAN are provided with all the essentials of life - safe shelter, wholesome food, clothes, medical care and opportunities for formal schooling, skill development, vocational training and higher education. All children are enrolled in regular local schools, whilst UDAYAN operates a primary school of its own where Bengali is the languages of instruction. Children are provided with scholarships to attend college or vocational training institutes, and supported into finding respectable jobs.

Through the four pillars of Udayan namely Home, health & wellbeing, Education, Personality development & employability, children attain secure meaningful, dignified employment across a range of fields from professional, earning respectable incomes to support them and their families in life – lifting them out of poverty and away from the stigma of the disease.