GOODNESS JOURNEY
MAY 2017
Goodness Journey
S
alma Memon is a young
dynamic girl. She is just
24 year old. She is the
Founder and Initiator of Project
UMEED – A Ray of Hope for
Better Tomorrow and Director
- Social Ambassador of the
Indian Development
Foundation (IDF). She is an
active volunteer for a number
of causes for the betterment of
society right from my
childhood. She is associated
with 14 plus NGOs in Mumbai.
She was 10 years old when she
started her journey of social
work with NGOs through her
school days, and the 14 years of
service have surely brought
smiles and relief for hundreds.
Her Life circumstances itself
has motivated her to work for
the betterment of the society.
She belonged to very poor
family which made her realized
things at very young age; “It
was very difcult for our
parents to educate us both. My
brother is 7 years Elder than
me, and had to quit his
education after 10thgrade, so
that I could study. He drives
an auto rickshaw now.” says
Salma.
Salma's realization that
education was out of reach for
thousands of children,
including herself was on a rainy
day in Mumbai, many years
ago. The rains were pouring
down heavily one night. In a
dim-lit house in the slums,
water was pouring from every
corner, but Salma's shivering
hands were busy cutting the
threads of shirts to earn 50
paisa for a night. It was all she
and her brother could do to
support their education.
Salma lost her father on the day
of her brother's wedding, which
came as a huge shock to them.
“It was very difcult to
survive after losing my
f a t h e r ” , says Salma. She
completed her graduation in
B.A English Literature and
Psychology in 2014 from
Bhavan's College in Andheri,
Mumbai and secured a diploma
in NGO management from
Nirmala Niketan.
“I had to work part time along
with college and my social
activities to support my
education and family. We had
no sponsors back then to
support our cause so my
friend and I used to count
every rupee to save” says
Salma.
She now works as a teacher in
Sunower Secondary School,
Jogeshwari which is a Private-
aided school. “I can easily get
job in an international school
that will pay me better, but
02
working here validates my
cause”, says Salma.
Every step right from childhood
was very challenging till my
college days. By God Grace
Things are now ne and now
Salma is an initiator and
founded her own brain child 2
years ago which works for
underprivileged and orphan
children to help in education,
health and empowering
women. Project UMEED aims
to delete the word
Underprivileged from the
society and make the bright
future of India by spreading
smile and happiness across.
Educational Fees: Because in
my life my experience says
NGO's support for Educational
fees but they have Rules &
criteria with higher number of
percentage and so on. So what
about those who stay in Slums
and no one available to guide
them. So Project UMEED an
initiative of IDF is to support
such children, give them extra
coaching. Because Education
is the Best Gift which can make
their life worth leaving. Year
2016-2017 we have
successfully supported 312
Children for Educational
Fees,Educational kits and
Extra Coaching. We also Run a
special centre where we teach
people English Speaking,
Computer trainings and much
more and support them with a
placement at Good Place.