By Rahul Thomas | Senior Manager - Operations and Donor Relations
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 observation homes are one of the most marginalized populations in Mumbai.
The children who live in these Homes come from different states of India and are educated in a Marathi medium school run by the Home. The language difference makes it difficult for them to learn. Remedial education helps in coaching the children in the Marathi language as well as their school subjects thereby helping them understand what they are learning and maintaining their interest to continue education once discharged from the Home.
Sahaara staff procures addresses of discharged children from the home authorities. The social workers 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.
During the period April to June 2018, 128 children were provided with remedial education in Chembur Children’s Home, Bal Kalyan Nagari and David Sassoon Industrial School.
We also helped the Child Welfare Committee trace the addresses of 12 lost children, track the educational status on 181 children and helped in reuniting 150 children to their families.
Renuka* has grown in confidence!
Originally from Raichur, Renuka Kristappa ran away from her home and boarded a train towards Mumbai in 2011. Under circumstances which were absolutely unexpected, Renuka lost her mother due to an illness in the year 2008 and adding to the demise of her mom, she also lost her dad due to excess consumption of alcohol.
She was orphaned and had no support that she could hold on to. After this, Renuka moved in with her aunt and grandmother. Some of the family members at her aunt’s home would pass comments at Renuka which made her upset and angry. That’s why she ran away and boarded a train to Mumbai.
After reaching Mumbai Railway Station she was caught by the Railway Police and brought to a Children’s Home in Mumbai at the age of 5. She was then transferred to another Home after two years and she attended the Kindergarten class there. In the year 2014, she was again transferred to Bal Kalyan Nagri Home in Mankhurd.
Project Pragati under Sahaara Charitable Society works with children like Renuka in Children’s Homes and Observation Homes to ensure that the children grow holistically and become responsible members of society. Sahaara met her when she first joined BKN and was pursuing her 1st grade in 2015.
The Sahaara staff observed that Renuka was weak in studies and a slow learner. She wasn’t able to cope with studies and she would feel ashamed. This resulted in low self-esteem and influenced her progress. She didn’t feel the need to be presentable so she didn’t care about how she dressed or her relationship with other children.
Sahaara decided to address the situation by giving her personal attention. To increase her confidence and self-esteem, Sahaara teachers gave her responsibilities that would motivate her.
She improved in her reading skills and concentration power in time. She learnt math by adopting a simpler and easy method.
She is now completing her 4th grade and immense improvements can be seen in her handwriting. Her grades have improved and she also comes neat and clean to class. She is confident when interacting with others.
Renuka continues to stay at Bal Kalyan Nagri and dreams to be fluent in English and become better at her writing skills. Sahaara is working to fulfil her dreams.
* Name changed to protect identity.
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By Rahul Thomas | Senior Manager - Operations and Donor Relations
By Taarika Chandy | Manager - Donor Relations and Communications
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