Child protection systems often respond after harm has occurred. Night Care challenges this model by placing prevention at the centre of protection, especially during hours when children are most vulnerable and least visible. Joy of Helping (JOH) supports Night Care as a strategic safeguarding intervention, one that prioritises early prevention over emergency response. By partnering with Ikshana, whose centres are located within high-risk red-light areas, JOH helps ensure immediate access to safety for young children while their mothers work at night.
Night Care addresses multiple layers of risk simultaneously. It removes children from unsafe environments, provides nutritious food and healthcare, and delivers trauma-informed caregiving in a family-like setting.
Beyond protection, it lays the foundation for long-term development by preparing children for formal education and linking them to continued care pathways after early childhood.
For donors and policymakers, this model offers a compelling case for sustainable impact. Prevention-focused care reduces future dependency on rescue, rehabilitation, and corrective systems. It is cost-effective, humane, and rooted in dignity. JOH’s support reflects a commitment to long-term thinking; investing in models where safety is proactive, not reactive. By strengthening Night Care programmes, JOH contributes to a protection ecosystem where children are safeguarded before harm shapes their lives.
As when prevention begins at night, futures are protected by morning.
