Preventing school dropout of 300 children in India

Sahaara believes that every person has a dream, and our work centers around ensuring that marginalized persons are able to articulate and work towards achieving their dream. Children in juvenile homes are one of the most marginalized populations in Mumbai. The tracking program of children discharged from juvenile homes help children get a start which will help them break out of the poverty cycle and fulfill their dreams of a stable future.

Sahaara staff procures addresses of discharged children from the home authorities. The trackers then traverse through labyrinthine gullies of Mumbai slums searching for the children’s residences. Through such home visits, networking with local schools, facilitating assistance in books and materials, the child is facilitated entry into formal education paving the way to a bright future.

Arjun Pawar is one such boy who has regained his right to education by the interventions carried out by Sahaara tracking personnel.

Arjun, a 16-year old boy from Chembur comes from a Maharashtrian family. His father died when he was a young boy and he lives with his mother Swarna, who works as a house maid. He has one brother and one sister. One day, Arjun got into a fight with his neighbors and they registered a complaint against him at the Chembur Police station and he was to the Umerkhadi Observation Home.

The Sahaara staff met him at the Home and came to know his circumstances. Our staff person also went to his home in Chembur and met his family and the neighbors. During the interaction with Arjun, we came to know that he would be entering into Class XII next year, which is a crucial year in Indian education. Our staff counseled Arjun, his family and their neighbors and encouraged them to live peaceably with each other. Our staff also intervened on his behalf and helped in getting Arjun released from the Home. After being released from the Home, Arjun did not want to continue education due to the social stigma he was facing, but our staffs encouraged him and told him not to let his past define his future. After repeated visits and counselling to Arjun and his mother, Arjun finally agreed to continue his education. Sahaara also helped Arjun by providing him with the necessary stationery items for his studies. Arjun is currently preparing for his Class XII exams.

Your generous donations have enabled Sahaara to provide the educational expenses necessary for Arjun to continue his education and have an opportunity to dream of a better tomorrow!

Links:

• Know more about the Project

• Progress Report - January to March 2013 (PDF)
  

Sahaara believes that every person has a dream, and our work centers around ensuring that marginalized persons are able to articulate and work towards achieving their dream. Children in juvenile homes are one of the most marginalized populations in Mumbai. The tracking program of children discharged from juvenile homes help children get a start which will help them break out of the poverty cycle and fulfill their dreams of a stable future.

Sahaara staff procures addresses of discharged children from the home authorities. The trackers then traverse through labyrinthine gullies of Mumbai slums searching for the children’s residences. Through such home visits, networking with local schools, facilitating assistance in books and materials, the child is facilitated entry into formal education paving the way to a bright future.

Priti Dinesh Jadhav is one such girl child who has regained his childhood and the right to education by the interventions carried out by Sahaara tracking personnel.

Sahaara personnel met 15 year old Priti in the juvenile home. When she was brought to the home, she was studying in ninth standard. Initially she was unwilling to continue her studies due to the trauma and due to stigma her parents were not willing to take her back into the family. Through counseling and guidance Priti was able to come out of the trauma and realize the importance of education in her life.  Through repeated visits and interactions, her parents were counselled to accept Priti into the family again. After she was discharged from the juvenile home, the school authorities were reluctant to admit Priti because of the break in studies for a significant period of time. The parents were also tending to resign themselves to the inevitable and discontinue her studies. However after counsel to her parents, an explanation of the background to the school authorities and after procuring the bonafide certificate which was necessary for admission, Sahaara personnel facilitated Priti’s admission into the school in the 9^th standard. Priti is now excited to be back with her friends and has regained the focus to fulfil her dreams.

Your generous donations have enabled Sahaara to provide the educational expenses necessary for Priti to continue her education and have an opportunity to dream of a better tomorrow!

Links:

• Description of interventions in juvenile homes

• Progress Report - October to December 2012 (PDF)