The association Balò came into being in 2005, in order to raise funds,to supplement the work of Mother Teresa‘s Missionaries Charity in Calcutta in India.
Balo's first autonomus activity was to locate children who were at risk because of the closure of an orphanage of Mother Teresa in Howrah (where these children had been known).
These children had been returned to families and were at risk of serious poverty. Balò intervened to help those households in order to avoid family disruption and the deterioration of the living conditions of these children. These families lived well below the poverty line.
Since July 2006 Balò has collaborate with local volunteers who oversee the programmes while the Italian administrators are not in India. Several times a year the italian volunteers go to Calcutta to personally monitor the projects, to improve and enlarge the activities.
Over the time Balò established a small logistic centre was in Howrah in Mistry Lane, Pilkhana where children and families get together to listen and receive help from volunteers. The number of those now receving assistence continues to increase.
Balò stresses the education of school children, which will give them a better future than their illiterate parents had.
From 2007 Balò assists a group of young women to make handicrafts and clothing. The sale of their products helps to raise funds to assist other families and children.
On 30 April 2008 the association obtained the approval of Onlus as non-profit charitable organization.
From September 2009 Balò has collaborated with Buddhist Indian monks who look after 27 children. All the children come from tribal areasin West Bengal and most of them are orphans. Balò provides the daily food and afternoon tutorial programmes.
In spring 2010 Balò opened a larger center in Howrah which can accommodate more children for the tutorial activities. The center also houses the women of the sewing group who meet several times a week to improve their stiching and embroidery technique.
In a short time lunch will be provided for the most needy children after the school day.