Core challenges and hardships faced by the child

Soni’s parents admitted their elder son in English medium school but denied Soni to provide quality education, admitted her in a hindi medium school which Soni did not like and opposes. Her parents cited the reason of financial crunching but Soni still persisted to her wishes. She ended up dropping out of school. Soni has grown up in an urban slum of the metropolitan city of Kolkata where electricity and clean and safe drinking water was always an issue. Due to the unavailability of clean water it caused hindrances in not only going for school or tuitions but also to sustain a healthy life.

What has the child achieved despite the challenges and how?

After joining the mobile learning centre initiative by Save the Children, she started going to school again and became sincere with her studies. She is currently in class 9. Along with that she took the responsibility of imparting her knowledge about child rights to other children in her locality. After the intervention in the community Soni was identified as an encouraging child who came forward to be a member of the children gropu in EJC dock Junction area. She was undergone several trainings on Child Rights.

On 12th April, 2016, when the MLA had come to visit their area, she refused to accept the chocolates that the MLA was distributing for pleasing the children and demanding for the improvement of the conditions of her locality with utmost confidence. When no action was taken, she along with her friends from their children’s group submitted an application to the MLA reminding him of the work that was promised and has not been done. They did so without the help of any adult. Solely because of the efforts made by Soni and her friends, roads were built, electricity and clean water supply was provided to her locality. She has also decided to visit or write an application to the MLA every month t remind him of his responsibility till all repairs have been made in her area.

How has Save the Children contributed to the betterment of the child?

Save the Children motivated her to continue her studies and enrolled her into a school again. With the Mobile Learning Centre initiative, Save the Children has been able to help Soni with her studies and personality growth. Today she is an outspoken and confident yet humble girl. Save the Children also enlightened her about the Child Rights Act and encouraged her to spread the knowledge of the same. In her own words Soni had said that Save the Children has showed her the correct path of life and equipped her to follow it and now it is her own responsibility to diligently follow it.

What are the child’s thoughts about his/her future

She wants to train children, especially girls in Karate for their own safety. She also wants to use her knowledge to teach children. When she grows up she wants to become a social worker like Mother Teresa. She got this motivation from Anoyara Khatoon. She says she has realised that even to become a social worker, one needs some experience. Hence, her first aim is to become a politician. This would give her direct contact to the masses and then she will work for their betterment.

Family Background

Ayushman was born on 11th of November 2014 in a family where he was the youngest of two sisters and one brother. His father Raman Sing, President of EJC Durgapur Basti Committee and mother Lachi Devi is housewife. His elder sister got married couple of years back and other sister and elder brother work in a private firm.

Core challenges and hardships faced by the child 

His father came to Kolkata in the year 1979. He worked in a Tea producing company for about 25 years which got locked out in 1995. Currently he is serving as a president of EJC Ever since his family plunged into deep financial crisis. His elder siblings though contribute to the family financially and taking care of his education expenses. Apart from study he has a great zeal for sports that requires support as well. His cricket frenzy won him many accolades and wishes for pursuing a career in it. But needs do not match up the means.

What has the child achieved despite the challenges and how?

Despite living in a slum tugged in the out skirt of Kolkata, his childhood started off with obstacles. Save the children identified him in the year 2011. Our intervention changed him a lot. His shackles of shyness got broken, he became very vocal and took many initiative being part of child group working in the locality. Our intervention made him regular in school and he did the same to decrease the drop outs of his peers, He helped in organizing many sports activates within the community as well.

How has Save the Children contributed to the betterment of the child?

He was identified by Education Project team member (under Mobile Learning Centre (MLC) in 2011. Facilitators working with the children have been able to bring many changes in his life. He became more eloquent in expressing his views happening in and around him. He now dares to dream about his sporting career. He showed exceptional potential in every opportunity he provided with.

What are the child’s thoughts about his/her future

Despite every odd he aspires to be a sportsman. His outstanding knock in games made the selecting members of SC to choose him for the trail and audition of street children world cup to be held in England early in May 2019.

Rinky’s step father could not accept Rinky as his own child and neglected and abused her physically and emotionally. Rinky’s mother worked as a servant and Rinky was left to care for her step sister and brother and she never got a chance to go to school.

Due to her difficult family circumstances , Rinky ended up as a child domestic labourer living on the street , and she was soon identified by one of HOPE’s Social Workers as a child who needed protection and care. Thus Rinky was admitted to HOPE’s Ashar Alo Girls’ Home.

Rinky was then admitted to school and with the support of extra tuition, she quickly began to enjoy and excel at her studies. She is currently studying in class VIII at Kasba Jagadish Bidyapith for Girls, and she is a very keen student.

But it is on the cricket pitch that Rinky really excels and she loves the game. Playing cricket has allowed Rinky to become more expressive and participative in all creative activities. Rinky also participates in taekwondo classes and is very good at it.

Rinky is still very attached to her mother and to her step sister and brother. Her mother is very co-operative and supportive of Rinky’s dream of becoming a professional sports person.