Empowering the Youth in India

Dear Reader

Greetings! And a very happy, responsible Earth Day 2019!

This report shares with you a story of determination, the story of a lad named Shivam and his journey. 

Shivam K, from picking rags to selling gadgets.

Shivam with his playful smile and tall, lanky look would pass off as any regular teenager. He was living on the platforms of Patna Junction (Railway Station of the city Patna) before coming to Sneh Ghar (Boys Home), Patna. He would collect garbage and used water bottles from trains and platforms, roam around and get some food from leftovers or by selling water bottles. Shivam found himself on the platforms of Patna Junction ever since he can remember. Along with his friends, kids his age, at the Railway Station, he would do petty thefts, take drugs and often have tete a tete with the patrolling Police.

Briefly, as he recalls he was sent to child care homes, from where he would run away. When Rainbow Homes' Social Mobiliser went to Patna Station for a survey, she noticed him and with her regular visits, Shivam came to Sneh Ghar. From 2014, Shivam stayed and studied in Rainbow Home Program - Sneh Ghar. He has passed Matriculation examination in 2018 and is pursuing XI grade in Science stream from National Institute of Open Schooling, a flexible learning & education method introduced by Government of India.

Shivam’s personality underwent a huge change, in course of various exposures, training and personality development classes at Rainbow Homes. He learnt Computer and spoken English and now converses in fluent English. He also won various prizes and awards and represented Rainbow Homes at different forums. One such is the Ist prize in Debate Competition on the topic of Mid-day Meals in Schools. He shares, that in his initial days at Sneh Ghar, he felt some problem with interacting people and staying in routine but slowly he started liking the place.  He started going to school and he took part in all cultural activities and extra-curricular activities. What is truly remarkable is the speed with which he bridged the years of schooling he never had.

Presently, Shivam is interning as Sales Support, at a leading Gadgets Industry & Japanese Brand, in Patna and earns Rs. 7000. He along with 2 other young friends from Sneh Ghar is the first batch of guys who went into group living after becoming of legal age. Shivam loves interacting and dealing with customers in his work as Sales Person. He loves gadgets and likes talking about their features. 

He states " It is the people who reach out to the ones in need, and that makes all the difference in life".

Thank you for helping Shivam reach his goals in life.

Regards

Rainbow Homes Program

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