Shampa Rice was born and raised in the slums of Calcutta just steps away from Mother Theresa’s Mission for the Destitute and Dying. Despite a difficult, impoverished childhood, some of her fondest memories are of following Mother Theresa around, often hanging onto her sari as she served those in the community. Since childhood, Shampa has had a heart for the poor and downtrodden. Shampa and her husband Jonathon have dedicated their lives to bringing hope and change to to the overlooked and outcastes of Indian society.

Their many programs include:

• -Basic education classes to help combat child labour practices
• -Weekly computer, self-defense and sewing classes in a nearby slum
• -Private schooling and a hot lunch for children of outcastes
• -Creating  job opportunities for women, especially widows, who are taught life skills to enable them to support themselves and their children
• -Rescuing children from temple prostitution
• -Facilitating safe home placement for orphans and at risk children
• -Community groups where self worth is taught, helping  break the mentality of the caste system