Kolkata is the new name for Calcutta, a city in northwest India.

It is one of the largest and poorest cities in the world.

It is the last city in India with man-pulled rickshaws.

During the summer it is unbearably hot.

During the monsoon season, the rain floods the streets.

It’s noisy, cluttered, and chaotic.

Preyrona is the Bengali word for "Inspiration"

Preyrona is a one-room school in the Dakshindari slum of Kolkata. Reena Das and her son, Ashit Sur opened the school to give the poorest children an opportunity for a better life. It serves 60 children ranging in age from 4 to 14 years.

Eight children were given digital cameras and spent an afternoon walking through their neighborhood taking photos of their friends, families, homes and everything in between. This website was created to tell the stories of these Preyrona schoolchildren through a unique glimpse into their environment.

We hope you will enjoy the children’s photos and use the Interactive Activity to understand how children living in Kolkata spend their days.