Holistic development of slum residents

Beating All the Odds: Umar is Now the Sole Earner of His Family

"When my father fell ill, I thought my dreams would shatter. I knew I had to be the responsible one and take care of my family," said Umar, a former student at Calcutta Rescue’s No 1 education centre. 

Umar lives in a slum area near the school, with his parents, three younger sisters, and one younger brother. 

As he was preparing for his class 10 board exams, his father fell ill and was unable to work. His mother, who was a domestic help, had to cut down on her work to care for her ailing husband.

Being the eldest son, Umar felt the weight of responsibility on his shoulders, and thought he would have to drop out of education to earn money to support the family. "I couldn't bear the thought of my siblings suffering," he said, voice trembling.

One by one, his siblings began to take up small jobs to ease the financial burden, and it broke Umar's heart.

Moved by Umar's plight, the teachers at Calcutta Rescue School started providing him with counselling.

With their support, Umar passed his class 10 and 12 board exams, and Tuli Chatterjee, the vocational training and career counsellor at Calcutta Rescue, managed to get him onto a year-long computer hardware technician course.

At the end of it, Umar had done so well that he was offered a job.  

"I cannot express how grateful I am," Umar said, beaming with happiness. 

He now earns a steady income of 9,000 rupees per month - enough to support the family of seven as the sole breadwinner. Along with his job, Umar has now started taking evening classes at college.

The family is very happy. Especially Umar's mother. She said, "Thank you Calcutta Rescue for taking care of my son."

Calcutta Rescue is Teaching Life Skills to the Students

Skills such as time management and problem-solving are vital tools for young people in today’s fast-paced and competitive world, but few schools in India teach them.

They are doubly important for children whose parents are illiterate and who are growing up in a slum, which is why Calcutta Rescue has begun teaching these life skills, plus others such as critical thinking, collaboration, and leadership.

Starting last year, CR began working with Azim Premji Philanthropic Initiatives (APPI) to provide additional academic education, health awareness, and vocational training for female students to help them develop into independent and strong women.

Our students come from backgrounds where the idea of critical thinking and having their own agency might sound unfamiliar. However, these skills are crucial for success in life. Last year, we chose 32 girls aged between 12 to 18 for the lessons. This year, we have expanded the program to include 126 girls and 126 boys of the same age and CR’s counselling team.

Students are thoroughly enjoying the classes, and participating in stimulating discussions. Suhana who studies in class 6, said "I absolutely love the sessions. My favourite part was learning about my rights and how to make decisions for myself. Before, I used to depend on my parents and siblings to make every single decision for me, regardless of how small it was. But now, I know how to think critically and make some decisions for myself. And I learnt all of this through Calcutta Rescue's life skill sessions.

Through these life skill lessons, Calcutta Rescue aims to provide its students with the tools they need to succeed in life and become self-sufficient individuals who can make a positive impact on their families and communities. Life skills are not just what one knows, but what one does with what one knows.