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 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.

LEARNING TO WRITE HAPPY STORIES

Once upon a time, there was a young boy named Hardik*. He was quiet, almost verging on silent, a respectful boy in difficult circumstances, struggling to make life better.

Hardik lived in Ghatkopar, a crowded and unhygienic area filled with many people. His parents were divorced and his mother consequently married another man who satisfied every stereotypical description of an ugly stepfather.

He used to lounge around the house most of the time and get drunk on alcohol for most of the day. Hardik’s mother worked hard in an idli-packing factory but she was suffering due to a health issue regarding her kidneys. She passed away while Hardik was still young. After her death, Hardik’s stepfather took every opportunity he could to beat him and his younger brother and sister. He forced Hardik to do all the chores around the house like washing the clothes and making food for him every day. Hardik was only 11 years old.

One day in 2013, his stepfather beat him so badly that Hardik’s hand was fractured. A worried neighbour called the NGO ChildLine and they took Hardik and his siblings to the doctor. They then admitted the boys to New Observation Home and Hardik’s sister in a home in Mankhurd. In June 2015, Hardik and his brother were shifted to Chembur Children’s Home where Sahaara conducts coaching classes for children in 1^st to 6^th standard.

Hardik joined our classes in June when he moved. When we first met him his writing, reading and interpersonal skills were very low. After his mother’s death, he had been prevented from going to school so he could not read or write a single word. Some of the other children in the class used to tease him because of his problems.

We began to give Hardik extra attention, providing him with books to read and playing games to teach him both the Marathi and English alphabet. Hardik began to open up and share his stories with us, expressing that he was upset because of the other children teasing and provoking him in class. We counselled him, asking him to concentrate on studying and doing better so nobody would have anything to say to him.

Today, Hardik works hard and does well in all his studies! He is good especially in the areas of culture studies and sports and his involvement with his peers and us in class is excellent. He is still a quiet boy but we are watching him grow every day, learning to trust the people around him.

In Sahaara, we love stories like this and we do our best to ensure Hardik and other boys like him across the city, can write happy conclusions to each of their stories!

*Name changed to protect identity

Links:

• Visit our website

• Progress Report (PDF)