Hopegivers International has launched a new campaign to bring hope and love to even more neglected children in India and Africa through its child sponsorship scheme.

The charity, founded 40 years ago in the north Indian state of Rajasthan as Emmanuel Mission, has launched “Operation: 10,000 Hopegivers” as part of an effort to rescue one million children in primarily India and Africa from poverty, homelessness, hunger and disease.

“The fact that there are any homeless children anywhere is the shame of the civilised world,” said Dr Samuel Thomas, co-founder of Hopegivers International. “But I believe this tragedy can and must be changed.

“God wills it!” he added.

Hopegivers International warned that most people are numb to the “overwhelming” number of children who have no place to call home. In India alone there are an estimated 78 million children without homes.