By Rahul Thomas | Head of Operations - Programs
Sahaara believes that every person has a dream and our work centres 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.
Our Staff have been conducting an After School Remedial class at the Chembur Children’s Home for several years. Many of the children have traumatic pasts and are faring badly in School. Unable to cope with the Grade Level Requirements, they are falling seriously behind in academics. Consequently, it was observed that many children from Grade 3 – 5 had struggle in reading letters in the Marathi alphabet and even counting till 20.
Thus, with the support and permissions of the Home & the School authorities in 2017, we decided to launch a three stage Remedial Program for catering to the educational need of the children.
This program involves diagnostic testing in the initial stages, after which the child is introduced to an appropriate curriculum which is designed around his needs. Innovative methods are used to help the child to learn and succeed. After we had run this course we were able to see improvement in the academics of the child thus building confidence in them to flourish in their studies.
During the period January to March 2019, 89 children were provided with remedial education.
Level 1:
Mathematics
• 36 % of Level 1 children Exceeded the Required Learning Levels.
• 7% of Level 1 children Met the Required Learning Levels.
• 25% of Level 1 children are at Beginning or Approaching Levels and they require Remedial Help.
• 32% of Level 1 children have joined the program in the middle of the academic year and will remain at Level 1 during the New Academic Year.
Marathi
• 61 % of Level 1 children Exceeded the Required Learning Levels.
• 7% of Level 1 children are at Beginning Level
• 32% of Level 1 children have joined the program in the middle of the academic year and will remain at Level 1 during the New Academic Year.
Level 2
Maths
• 50% of Level 2 children Exceeded the Required Learning Levels for the quarter.
• 35% of Level 2 children Met the Required learning Levels.
• 15% of Level 2 were at Approaching and Beginning Levels. They require Remedial Help to progress to the next level.
Marathi
• 56% of Level 2 children Exceeded the Required Learning Levels.
• 26% of Level 2 children Met the Required Learning Levels.
• 18% of Level 2 children are at Approaching and Beginning Levels, and will require Remedial Help to progress to the next Level.
Level 3
Maths
• 26 % of Level 3 children in Level 3 exceeded the Required Learning Levels in Maths
• 44% of Level 3 children Met the Required Learning Levels.
• 30% of children are at Approaching and Beginning Levels. Some of these children have fared badly due to poor attendance.
Marathi
• 48% of Level 3 children exceeded the Required Learning Levels in Marathi
• 19% of Level 3 children met the Required Learning Levels Marathi.
• 33% of Level 3 Children are at Approaching and Beginning Levels.
THE GARDENER
“There are always flowers for those who want to see them”.
Delhi…… the capital of India, is one of the most densely populated cities in the world. Sandeep* is a ten-year-old boy who hails from a slum which is a really tough neighbourhood to survive in. At a very young age he lost his father. Day to day survival became really hard for him and his mother. The financial condition became really critical and they were unable to make ends meet. After his father’s death, there was an absence of a father figure in his family and because of that, his relatives started to dominate and emotionally harass them. They quite often beat Sandeep and physically assault him badly. It was becoming an unhealthy living condition for young Sandeep.
All these hurts and traumas were transforming Sandeep into a dormant volcano waiting to erupt soon. One day Sandeep was so frustrated and angry after being beaten up, that he ran away from home at the age of eight. He sneaked onto a train and landed in Mumbai. On his arrival he was caught at Mumbai railway station by the Railway Police after they noticed him alone and pegged him as a runaway. He was sent to Observation Home where the Probation Officer tried to trace his home and his parent’s whereabouts but failed.
In 2017, he was transferred to a Government Children’s Home where he was with other orphans and semi orphan boys. Sahaara staff has been working alongside the government providing educational support to children in such homes. It was during one such field visit in May 2017 that Sahaara staff met Sandeep. It was tough for young Sandeep to heal from the hurt and trauma which was quite evident in his behavior. Sahaara staff noticed that he was distant and lonely, and always used to seek isolation. He was unable to focus and be attentive in class. Sahaara staff decided to help him to bring about change in his behavior and improvement in his academic progress.
Then one day, Amit, one of Sahaara’s ex-beneficiaries now a teacher and staff of Sahaara, shared his life story with him and explained how Sahaara helped him. Sandeep was encouraged, motivated and felt that he could relate to Amit’s story. Gradually with proper nurturing and caring he started to share his feelings with the staff about how much he missed his parents, his feeling of bitterness, of being rejected and all the hurt he has faced.
Sandeep willingly started to approach teachers requesting their help with studies. He was provided with special attention in our remedial classes. Mathematics is his favorite subject. The feeling of acceptance and security has been one of the catalyst to a positive change in his behavior.
Sahaara has a vision to fulfill dreams of the vulnerable and marginalized in society and hopes that Sandeep realizes his dreams and is able to fulfill them.
*Name changed to protect identity.
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