By Taarika Chandy | Coordinator - Communications
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.
From Being Abandoned to Abandoning Fear
That he was discarded in a garbage bin when he was just a month old, found by the police and taken to Asha Sadan Children’s Home is all Arun* knew about himself while growing up. Loneliness and abandonment was something this boy became very familiar with, especially as he was physically disabled.
When he turned six, he was transferred to Chembur Children’s Home (CCH) – a government run home, where orphan and semi-orphan children are taken care of till they are 18 years of age.
Life at CCH was not easy for Arun as he was constantly bullied by other children for his physical disability.
The constant bullying and the stigma of being “handicapped”, shattered his confidence in his abilities and made him an angry yet timid young boy who would keep to himself.
Sahaara has been conducting coaching classes for children at CCH. Here, each child receives the attention and help they require to grow and be nurtured into following their dreams.
Our staff met with Arun as he enrolled in our classes in 2011. Our teachers saw beyond the façade of tantrums and anger which Arun frequently displayed. We knew beneath that he was a lonely child craving for attention.
As we began to give him personalized attention, counselling and constant encouragement, we saw Arun slowly begin to display his talents and abilities. He began to participate in sports and other activities in school.
We also counselled other children not to bully Arun and to be sensitive to him and his difficulties. We would use opportunities to speak well about Arun in front of his classmates, thus building confidence in him.
The result was brilliant, we began to witness a truly confident boy who started to excel in all the things he set out to do.
Recently, Arun took part in a dance show at the home where he was appreciated by the authorities and his classmates. He now has friends at the home who are sensitive and do not bully him for his physical disability.
We are happy to be able to have the opportunity to encourage boys like Arun, once abandoned at birth, now abandoning his fear of loneliness and rejection, to embrace confidence in who he is!
*Name changed to protect identity
By Taarika Chandy | Coordinator - Communications
By Taarika Chandy | Coordinator - Communications
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