Education, food and healthcare for street children

We are pleased to report that your incredible support is enabling 100 homeless children from the streets of Kolkata to attend school every day!

With the help of our friends, streetchildren.dk, these children are receiving the nurturing care and attention, lifting the children away from the harsh realities of life on the streets and provide with safe refuge, food, nourishment, medical attention and of course education.

Since our last report, the children have continued their amazing transformation and development with the help of an innovative teach and reward method introduced by their teachers and counsellors. With emphasis on making sure the children attend the school every day, gain confidence to engage and interact with the other children and their teachers, the children receive monthly recognition and reward for taking the small steps toward their individual progress.

Most of the homeless children are from migrant families. As such, their normal lives and the comfort and security of their homes has been torn away, leaving many with both mental and emotional challenges. In addition, many come from different cultural backgrounds and with parents conflicting with their needs and understanding.

That is why your support enables us to make a telling difference. The children are carefully nurtured, guided and supported to overcome any trauma of being cast on the streets of Kolkata, without the care and protection of their parents who are busy working most of the day.

Given this background, many children require time and support to open up to teachers and the other children at the school. Constant sessions with counsellors, along with concentration techniques and meaningful conversations between teachers and children, have been instrumental in addressing these challenges.

The most vulnerable of the children are nurtured using careful, expert counselling, daily monitoring using progress charts that chart behaviour recognition. Through engagement and increased parental involvement, each child is supported through their development with a comprehensive assessment of the child’s overall understanding and application of basic cognitive learning and social concepts.

Mahi's journey of growth & confidence during recent months:

Last time we reported about the wonderful development and progress made by Mahi and other children like Mahi. As hers and the other children’s confidence and participation in their studies and extracurricular activities grows, they are introduced to new learnings and creative skills.

Mahi, a now increasingly confident young girl, has expressed an aspiration to become a police officer, and now excels in all her studies and extracurricular activities. Despite having to miss school for a few days due to her mother’s hectic work schedule, Mahi has quickly made up lost ground, with help from her teachers and counsellors.

Like many other children, she has also embraced vocational training by joining the sewing school, where she quickly learned to sew and proudly crafted a beautiful dress within just one month. With continued support, Mahi and the other children continue to make healthy progress towards achieving their dreams of a brighter, more calmer future.

Zehra, learning artistic skills and celebrating world days to raise awareness :

Children such as Zehra also benefit from these methods. Zehra, bright young girl with a passion for mehndi art, has within her first year, and despite facing challenges at home, including an abusive father and a strained relationship with her stepmother, excelled in the school’s healthy, nurturing environment.

She’s now perfecting her recitation skills, adding another facet to her growing list of talents. Her talent for painting was showcased during World Earth Day using creative methods to organize posters related to environmental issues and performed in front of each other. This boosted her confidence and allowed her to express herself creatively, something she struggled with before joining the school.

Nurturing today for a brighter tomorrow: (future plans)

Looking ahead, our focus will be on ensuring the children continue to develop, learn and enjoy their childhoods which otherwise would prove elusive. Coupled with other initiatives, designed to encourage more of the parents to take an active role and participation in the education of their children, we anticipate even further benefits to arise for the children.

During the next quarter, the children will be reintroduced to sports to promote well-being, healthier and enjoyable recreational activities.

Your continued support is of vital importance and is making a concrete difference to the lives of these children and their parents. Together, we are building a secure and hopeful future, one child at a time.