Education, food and healthcare for street children

Making sure the homeless children are fed everyday

As we come to the end of another amazing year of progress helping the homeless children of Kolkata, India with your incredible and generous support, we are pleased to share our latest update on the progress that has been made by the children, their teachers, their parents and especially our on-the-ground friends.

One outstanding feature of the progress during this last quarter has been the continuing dedication of the 3 wonderful ladies who have for the last so many years, lovingly, have cooked for the children a healthy nutritious meal everyday come rain, shine or storm.

During this quarter alone, they have prepared and served over 10,000 meals for the children ensuring that they receive at least one square meal a day, stay healthy and suitably energized to pursue their activities at the school.

Children’s Growth & Development:

During this time we have also seen remarkable progress in the continued growth and development of the children. With the help of their teachers, a combination of purposefully designed activities and constant nurturing and support, the children are becoming more engaged at school, and taking greater responsibility for their following up on their schoolwork, how they behave with the other children and also being able to complete their homework.

This gives them greater confidence in their overall abilities, their studies as well as presenting them with opportunities to experience a normal childhood which they otherwise would not have had. Many of the children take it upon themselves to also help their parents and their peers. The teachers and counsellors play a key role in guiding the children, and monitoring their individual progress, celebrating the children’s progress with a rewards system that further encourages them to continue improving.

New Initiatives

Several new initiatives have also been introduced, designed to support the children’s overall learning and development. One of the most exciting changes is the homework system that encourages the children to observe a daily practice, despite their desperate circumstances living in badly or unlit temporary street shelters or housing. This helps to keep the children engaged even outside of normal school hours.

A recognition system to celebrate the children’s progress and accomplishments are regularly displayed on the “star wall,” boosting their motivation and encouraging them to continue developing, learning and striving for success.

Menstrual Healthcare and Hygiene Management

Thanks to the support of another local NGO partner, Inner Wheel, the first workshop has been held for adolescent girls to help them learn about menstrual healthcare and hygiene, as well as to help them understand the biological changes their bodies are going through.

This is important for the girls as many come from village communities with their migrant parents where they lack safe spaces, are often ostracised by their own families and communities during their menstrual cycles. This often leads to confusion, desperate isolation and also gives rise to mental healthcare issues as the girls often wonder why, through no fault of their own, they are suddenly less supported and loved.

The workshop teaches and informs the girls and their female siblings and mothers about proper hygiene practices to observe during menstruation, the nutritional diets to observe as well as to help address and where possible, remove the stigmas surrounding menstruation.

These initiatives benefit the adolescent girls by encouraging them to seek help whenever they need guidance and/or have questions. Jhumpa and Alisha are two girls who have shown curiosity and openness about their health, an in turn helping the other girls to also understand how to stay healthy during their menstrual cycles.

Introduction of Food Monitors

The introduction of “Food Monitors” to help encourage the children to eat their food has helped the school, the teachers, the counsellors as well as the parents to understand why some children are unable to or do not wish to eat their main meal served during their school day.

Some children suffering difficulties from home, or finding themselves in unfamiliar surroundings often express their feelings by shouting or becoming angry or emotionally disturbed during meal times. With the help of the Food Monitors, these children are provided a calmer, supportive way of expressing their needs and/or why they are unable to finish their meals.

Older and more able children are given the responsibility as Food Monitors to help other children to finish their meals and/or convey their needs to the teachers or the cooks. This encourages the children to adopt a sense of responsibility as well as teamwork. The other benefit of this initiative is that it has also led to reduced food wastage and greater information to the cooks as to how to vary their meals.

Second Term Exams

Most of the children were also helped to prepare for and sit for their second term exams during this quarter. We are happy to report that the majority of the children were able to participate and also performed with confidence and success.

Although a few children were unable to attend the exams due to illness, it was nevertheless impressive to see these children contact their teachers to request a rescheduling of their school exams. This shows the teachers and their parents, a growing sense of responsibility and ownership among the children.

Children’s Attendance and Parents Involvement

Another initiative undertaken during the quarter has been to help improve the children’s attendance. With constant encouragement from the teachers, regular interactions with the children’s parents, the children are able to attend school regularly, rather than be forced to miss attending and often having to work on the streets of Kolkata.

Parent involvement has also increased, with 45% of parents attending the recent parent-teacher meetings. This engagement has provided parents with valuable insights into their children’s academic progress as well as their development, their behavioural characteristics when at school and with other children.

Many parents have since expressed their desire to play a more active role in their children’s development and education. This is a significant step in creating a nurturing and supportive learning environment for the children.

Afroz’s Journey: From Hesitant to Confident

One such example is young Afroz. When Afroz first joined the school, he didn’t want to come to school and struggled with regular attendance because of the challenges he and his brother faced at home. He was shy and kept to himself, needing lots of encouragement, love and care from the teachers to remain involved and engaged when at school

Eventually Afroz’s confidence grew. This was especially noticeable after being encouraged to take part in the Indian Independence Day celebrations and played the role of Gandhi Ji in a play that the teachers and children together organised and performed.

That moment gave him a big boost in confidence. Now, Afroz comes to school regularly, shares things with his friends, and talks openly with them. He has overcome his shyness and is showing strong determination to do well in his studies and while at school.

Sarfaraz’s Journey: Turning Energy Into Leadership

Sarfaraz, Afroz’s younger brother, also started attending the school at the same time. Initially he expressed lots of energy and a playful, mischievous side. While his focus wasn’t always on schoolwork at first, with the help of the teachers who worked closely with him, his enthusiasm has been channelled towards more productive and beneficial pursuits whilst attending school.

Today, Sarfaraz has grown into a smart and focused young boy. He finishes his schoolwork quickly, helps his classmates, and even shares his experiences with them. He is developing strong communications and leadership skills, while also setting an example for the other children.

Looking Ahead: Future Plans for the Children

As we look forward towards the next quarter, our collective commitment remains towards ensuring that the children continue to thrive both academically as well as in their own development, physically, emotionally as well as physically.

During the coming months, the focus will be on :

1. Reintroduce sports activities to promote physical health and well-being; and

2. Continue to further encourage parental involvement and providing them with additional support through workshops that equip the parents with tools to assist their children's education and progress; and

3.  Organize an exhibition to showcase the children’s work and achievements, offering them an opportunity to take pride in their progress and display their talents.; and

With your continued support, the children will continue to improve their learning capabilities and capacities, while also becoming more confident, strong, and creative. This gives us the confidence  needed to know that they will overcome their challenges and grow in ways that will have a positive impact on their lives for many years to come.