Altaf enjoys drawing

Five year old Altaf  Mohammad* hails from Turbhe red light area, one of the innumerable poverty stricken red light pockets in Mumbai. His father passed away some time back and his mother, Mausami Sheikh, is a woman trapped in prostitution. His mother does not earn enough to make both ends meet.

Children in red light communities, like Altaf, live in highly dangerous environments of violence, trauma and abuse. Often, they are kept drugged under the very beds upon which the trade is carried out. Perishing in hunger, neglect, illiteracy and hopelessness, these children long for the day their childhood would be theirs again.

Altaf, like his peers, battles against hurdles of generational illiteracy, inaccessible and poor quality of education. Though Altaf hails from such a disadvantaged background he can dream of a stable future with a good education because he now studies at Turbhe study center, run by Sahaara.  The foundational pre-primary teaching provided at Sahaara’s balwadis enables Altaf to step into a bright future through enrolment in a good school.

Sahaara’s balwadi has a systematic curriculum wherein children are equipped in the following subjects over the period of a year: English and Hindi: alphabets and poems, writing skills, general knowledge (colours, animals, flowers, personal hygiene etc), colouring, games and activities such as counting and recognition.

Altaf loves to attend the balwadi as apart from studies, there are several playtime activities to engage the children as well. Altaf is a live wire who is energetic and lively in class! He is naughty by nature and thoroughly enjoys physical activities like running and hopping! He loves to draw and enjoys playing with other children.

Your kind donation of a year of education, Ritesh,  gives Altaf, a head start which will help him break out of poverty and step into a safe future.

Thank you so much, Ritesh, for your generous gift to Altaf!

*Name changed to protect identity