Friends of Kolkata Australia Inc. is a Melbourne-based, not for profit incorporated association, which organises fund- and awareness-raising activities on behalf of the Institute of Social Work, a non-government organisation in Kolkata, India. We hope that browsing our website will provide a more detailed account of our activities and how they reflect our ideas.

The aims of our work are:

• To provide effective and ongoing support to our partner organisation the Institue of Social Work (ISW)

• To raise awareness among Australian communities of the issues facing Indian communities today

• Mobilise both existing and new skills and resource within Australia and India

• To promote exchanges that benefit Communities, our partner organisation and volunteers in Australia and India

• To strengthen local community ties within Melbourne, within Kolkata and between the two cities 

There are many activities, projects and fundraisers that run under the banner of Friends Of Kolkata (FoK). The core, ongoing programmes of FoK, established to meet needs identified by our past and present partner organisations, are: 

Scholarship Program:

Running since 2006, the sponsorship program provides funds for education, assisting young women and men through ISW schools and programs. 

Volunteer Program: 

Rwo to three week volunteer-run visits to Kolkata to undertake development projects, deliver benefits to the children and the communities that ISW works with, and strengthen the relationship between FoK and ISW.

Other Projects 

Recent activities that have added to FoK’s core programmes are three new ISW run projects – a Computer and English Literacy Project, the Lekha Para Education Centre and the Jaynagar Day Care Centre. In addition FoK is always looking at new ideas for projects and fundraising. We also welcome new volunteers - if you are interested, contact us here.