Salaam Baalak Trust - working for street children

Amar had to start working at a mechanic shop at 7 years of age as the financial situation of his family was bad and it was difficult to make ends meet. Amar decided to run away from his hometown-Raipur because of the extreme physical and emotional abuse by his stepmother. One fine day, he boarded a train to New Delhi. Little did he anticipate that the life in a metro city would be this difficult. He soon started working as a rag picker and would pickpocket to earn some money. To control hunger pangs, he started using drugs.

Amar soon caught the attention of our outreach worker at New Delhi Railway Station and was approached by him. The social worker tried to convince Amar to shift in a shelter home where he would be provided food and education. He got excited at the prospect of getting education and a safe space. Without thinking twice, he took the offer with both hands extended and agreed to stay in Apna Ghar open shelter. There, he was enrolled in class 5th.

Amar soon settled in to school and other co-curricular activities however he was diagnosed with
Bone Tuberculosis. The illness took away 2 years of his life in recovery. Albeit, this couldn’t take
away his motivation to study and become what he always wanted to be. He studied hard and
cleared all his exams, despite all odds. Presently, Amar is working with Decathlon as Project Manager of Delhi- N.C.R. and pursuing graduation from a distance learning facility. Amar aspires to be an entrepreneur.

Links:

• SBT- Quarterly Newsletter