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.
Hoping For The Future
One of the most unfortunate things that could happen to children is when they are taken away from the family they grew up with.
This is the story of one such boy named Atul*.
While in the ninth grade of high school, Atul was witness to a violent fight between his parents. On this unfortunate day, his mother found out that his father had a second wife and she was extremely upset. Soon enough, the argument turned violent and a police complaint was lodged against Atul’s parents.
The entire family was taken to court and while these sessions continued to happen, it was decided that Atul and his two siblings would be put into a government home for the duration of the case, for their own safety and care.
Atul was therefore admitted to Umerkhadi Observation Home (UOH) in March 2016 while his siblings were sent to another home.
A few months later in December 2016, Atul was shifted to David Sassoon Industrial School (DSIS) in Matunga.
Sahaara conducts both coaching and computer classes in DSIS for the children who live here. We met Atul soon after he joined the home and was enrolled in both our coaching and computer classes.
Within the first few weeks of meeting him, we noticed that Atul faced difficulty while reading and writing. He also struggled with Math. In order to help him, we began to spend more time with him, counselling and building a relationship with him in order to help him with day to day activities.
The little extra attention soon began to pay off! Atul is now able to read through picture books and books at a primary level. He is also practicing his writing and we assist him regularly with Math so that he can grow to understand and comprehend the subject.
Towards the end of the school year, this March 2016, we could see a considerable change in Atul. He started to take more interest in his studies and shared with us one day that he hoped to own an automobile showroom in the future. He also started taking his education more seriously and we began to see that he understood the importance of learning well.
A little extra attention has gone a long way in touching lives such as Atul’s. We hope that many young boys like him will dream of bigger and brighter futures beyond the walls of the homes that they live in!
*Names changed to protect identity
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