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.
THE CHANGE IN AMIT*
Many families in India have just one earning member. But what happens when that one member passes away? Almost all families lose their only source of income, and inevitably, they aren’t able to care for their young ones.
Here is the story of one such boy left to fend for himself.
Amit* was born on 1st January 2005, to a low-income family living in Chembur, Mumbai. His father was an alcoholic working at a local restaurant. Due to excessive drinking, he passed away leaving three children to the care of their unemployed mother.
Having to cope with the stress of being unable to sustain the family and care for her children, she spiralled into depression. One day, she left her children and ran away. Amit was only a young boy at this time. He doesn’t remember much about his family.
He remembers only that he was left to the care of his grandmother for a while. But due to her old age and financial struggles, she couldn’t take care of him either. Eventually, enrolled him into Bal Kalyan Nagari Home (BKN) in Mankhurd, Mumbai.
Sahaara conducts coaching classes for children at BKN, in order to help them with their education and plant seeds of hope for a better life ahead.
We met Amit during the academic year of 2015-16 when he was enrolled into our coaching classes at BKN.
When we first met him, he came to us as a shy and unresponsive child, unable to read or write and with a fear of public speaking. We noticed also that he was a special child and needed personal care and attention. We also counselled him regarding his personality and academics, hoping that he would grow in confidence and do better with his studies.
Over time, Amit has started to find more confidence and hope every day. He has become more responsible and is willing to answer questions and interact with the teachers during class. We asked him to be the class monitor and this made him very happy and boosted his confidence levels. He has also improved in reading and writing and says that his favourite subject is Marathi.
He hopes to someday become a dancer.
We are grateful to have witnessed such an improvement with this thirteen year old boy! Amit’s future is beginning to look a little brighter as we continue to walk alongside and work with him. Through the work we do, we can only hope to touch many such lives and bring joy and hope to these children.
*Names changed to protect identity
By Taarika Chandy | Coordinator - Communications
By Taarika Chandy | Communications In Charge
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