Thank you for providing education to little Sania for an entire year.

Four year old Sania hails from Ghatkopar red light area, one of the innumerable poverty stricken red light pockets in Mumbai. Her parents, Shakil Sheikh and Samima, are both uneducated, and they struggle to make ends meet. Though neither of them is directly connected with the sex-trade, the fact that they reside in a red-light area means that they are subject to the same stigma as people actually working in the trade. Because of where she lives, children like Sania face educational deprivation in terms of generational illiteracy, physical access to education and quality of education.

Sania is enrolled at the Ghatkopar balwadi run by Sahaara, where she receives pre-primary education through 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 (colors, animals, flowers, personal hygiene etc), colouring, games and activities such as counting and recognition.

Sania is a bright child who is good in academics and is physically very active. She loves to do the actions whenever nursery rhymes are taught and also enjoys playing with her toys. She enjoys singing and dancing and immensely enjoys the drawing and colouring exercises.

Thank you for ensuring a secure future for Sania by providing a year of pre-primary education.

Children in red light areas live in severe physical and psychological peril, vulnerable to abuse, trauma and second generation prostitution. Here is the success story of one more child rescued from the sex trade.

Kavya* is a six year old girl, who’s mother was sold into the sex trade. Her mother hails from West Bengal, and cannot even think of escaping from the red light district in Mumbai where she is forced to work. Though she knows she cannot escape her fate, Kavya’s mother wanted a better future for her daughter, and in December 2010 managed to smuggle her out of the red-light district, and leave her at Anandalay (Home of Joy), the shelter home run by Sahaara, for daughters of trafficked women.

At the outset, Kavya was emotionally reticent and struggled with separation anxiety. Her social interactions with the children were very limited. She was restricted even in her physical movement and would just limit herself to her bed and the dining table.

Within a fortnight, Kavya began to mingle with the children and started sharing her toys with them as well. With encouragement and love from the houseparents and children, Kavya began to enjoy her new life of freedom.

Your generous donations of a week of nutrition each, , will enable Sahaara to provide fresh and nutritious meals to Kavya, thereby ensuring that she remains healthy and continues doing well in her studies.

Thank you for gifting three months of meals to Anisha, a child rescued from the red-light district, and saved from a future in the sex trade.

Four year old Anishas’ s mother is a victim of the sex trade, and works in the Ghatkopar red light area in Mumbai. With counselling, her mother was able to see the advantages of a rehabilitation home and agreed to send her daughter to Anandalay,­ the shelter home run by Sahaara, for daughters of trafficked women. Anandalay houses these children who are brought up by house-parents, in a loving and conducive family environment.

Anisha came to Anandalay on 18th November 2011. The transition period for Anisha has been minimal and she has settled down comfortably in the new atmosphere of Anandalay, enjoying the company of the other children and the house parents.

Your generous donation, Anju, will provide fresh and nutritious meals to Anisha, thereby ensuring that she remains healthy and continues doing well in her studies. The meals include a well balanced breakfast, lunch and dinner, and two mid-day snacks.

Five year old Jaanu hails from Ambedkar Nagar, Colaba, one of the innumerable poverty stricken slum pockets in Mumbai. Her father, Kishan Rathod, is a fisherman and her mother, Thadi, is a fisherwoman. Kishan has two sisters and one brother as well! Both his parents are illiterate.

Children like Jaanu from Mumbai slums, face educational deprivation in terms of generational illiteracy, physical access to education and quality of education as well. Though Jaanu hails from such a disadvantaged background, he can dream of a stable future with a good education because she studies at the Colaba study center, run by Sahaara. Being close to Jaanu’s house, the balwadi is a potent vehicle for transforming her future through quality education.

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.

Jaanu is a live wire who is energetic and lively in class!  He enjoys eating good food and is very talkative. He loves reading exercises. He is sociable and enjoys sharing his toys and things with other children!

Your generous donation will enable Sahaara to provide a year of pre-primary education to Jaanu. Thank you so much for your gift!

Thank you for coming together to gift a full year of pre primary education to Sumaya.
Three year old Sumaya Sheikh hails from Reay Road, one of the innumerable poverty stricken slum pockets in Mumbai. Her father, Kudoos Shamim, is a dealer and her mother, Shakila, is a housewife and she is residing back at the native place.  Sumaya has two sisters as well. Both her parents are illiterate. The family income is barely enough to make both ends meet.

Though Sumaya hails such from a disadvantaged background she can dream of a stable future with a good education because she studies at the Reay Road study center, run by Sahaara. 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

Sahaara Charitable Society believes that every person has a dream, and their work centers around ensuring that marginalized persons are able to articulate and work towards achieving their dream. Sahaara’s early childhood education program gives children like Sumaya, get a start which will help her break out of the poverty cycle and fulfill her dream of a stable future.

Thank you for transforming the life of Karthikeyan through Mahima Home.

Here, Karthikeyan receives English medium schooling in one of the top schools in the locality,  quality accommodation and wholesome nutrition within a loving family environment afforded by dedicated  houseparents.

Karthikeyan is an energetic, physically fit and active thirteen year old boy today! He is a very good football player who is part of school football Under 12 team and has represented school in inter school competitions as well!  He is talented in athletic events as well and in 2011, Karthikeyan was selected to represent his school in athletics in the taluka level!

To add to his basket of talents, Karthikeyan is also learning to play the guitar too!  He is a good student in school and overall,  Karthikeyan has blossomed into a secure child, confident in himself and looking forward to a bright future!

Your generous donations, will enable Sahaara to provide three fresh and nutritious meals to Karthikeyan  for, thereby ensuring that he remains healthy and continues doing well in his studies.

Thank you all so much, for coming together in support of  Karthikeyan, and providing him with meals for three months!

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

Amin was a destitute child, who was left to fend for himself in the harsh city of Mumbai, till Sahaara  Charitable Society found out about him, and admitted him into Mahima Home, a home for orphaned boys.

At Mahima Home, Amin receives English medium schooling in one of the top schools in the locality,  quality accommodation and wholesome nutrition within a loving family environment afforded by dedicated  houseparents.

Amin is an energetic, physically fit and active thirteen year old boy today! He is a very good football player who is part of school soccer Under 12 team and has represented school in inter school competitions as well!  He loves to sing and to add to his basket of talents, Amin is learning to play the keyboard too!  He is a good student in school and overall,  Amin has blossomed into a secure child, confident in himself and looking forward to a bright future!

Your generous donations, David, George, Greg and Monica, Paavnee, Bill S. and Bill B. will enable Sahaara to provide three nutritious meals to Amin for six months, thereby ensuring that he remains healthy and continues doing well in his studies.

Thank you all, for coming together in support of Amin!

Thank you for providing meals to Rimpa for three months.

Six year old Rimpa’s mother was a victim of the sex trade and has been working in the Turbhe red light area in Mumbai since 2010. Rimpa was in severe physical and psychological peril, vulnerable to abuse, trauma and second generation prostitution, and her mother saw the benefit in admitting Rimpa to Anandalay,­ the shelter home run by Sahaara for daughters of trafficked women.

Rimpa has been at Anandalay for nearly a year. Initially, she was sullen and struggled to communicate as she knew only Bengali, but now she has picked up conversational Hindi and a little bit of English. A previous donation enabled Rimpa to go to school for six months.

Your generous donations will enable Sahaara to provide fresh and nutritious meals to Rimpa for three months. The meals include breakfast, lunch, dinner, and two mid-day snacks.

Thank you for providing a year of education for Rian.

Five year old Rian Ibrahim Khan hails from Reay Road, one of the innumerable poverty stricken slum pockets in Mumbai. His father, Ibrahim Khan, works as a dealer and his mother, Satila, is a housewife. Rian has two brothers and one sister as well. Both his parents are illiterate.

Children like Rian, from Mumbai slums, face educational deprivation in terms of generational illiteracy, physical access to education and quality of education as well. Though Rian hails from such a disadvantaged background he can dream of a stable future with a good education because he studies at the Reay Road study center, run by Sahaara. Being close to Rian’s house, the balwadi is a potent vehicle for transforming his future through quality education.

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 (colors, animals, flowers, personal hygiene etc), coloring, games and activities such as counting and recognition.

Rian is a smart student but is very mischievous as well. He loves to attend the balwadi as apart from studies, there are several playtime activities to engage the children as well. Rian is a live wire who is energetic and lively in class! He is a natural leader thoroughly enjoys physical activities like running and hopping.

Your generous donation will enable Sahaara to provide a year of pre-primary education to Rian.