SUNDAY
We were all beaming with excitement as we piled
onto the minibus to travel to the first charity we
were to visit. Sneha Sadan is a children’s home that
helps identify why they are on the streets, trace their
families and reunite them with their families wherever
possible; if this isn’t possible, they become a part of
the Sneha Sadan family and are encouraged to
become self-sufficient adults.
Being able to speak the native language, I found it
deeply touching to understand their lives and future
aspirations. The fact that most of these boys were
able to talk about their devastating past experiences
with ease shows that they know they are in safe
hands, and demonstrates that they have grown to be
independent, confident and, most of all, happy boys.
MONDAY
On venturing to Save the Children India (STC) we
learnt about the incredible and vast array of teaching
and support that the NGO delivers, not only through
schooling 233 children who suffer from hearing
impairments, autism and learning difficulties but also
in helping to educate rescued trafficked girls as young
as 17. Without STC’s help, the children would struggle
to adjust and learn at a local school and would later
struggle to find a job. At STC they are welcomed
into an accepting environment where they gain an
education as well as skills that will help them become
self-sufficient and integrated into the community.
We were invited to participate in classes with students
of varying disabilities and ages; in the class I was
welcomed into, we assisted autistic children with
multiplication. I was amazed at the patience and
kindness of the teacher. Fundamentally, for me Save
the Children India highlighted the difficulties that
mentally disabled children can face around the world.
It is obvious that STC have helped and improved the
lives of many children who would have otherwise
probably ended up living on the streets with no
education or job.
WEDNESDAY
Upon arrival, it was clear that the boys were keen
to make a good impression. After a game of football
we engaged in many other group activities: bubble
blowing, cricket, frisbee, colouring-in and a light game
of catch. We also enjoyed eating with the boys in the
typical Indian way of sitting together in a circle on
the ground. Towards the end we played a game of
rounders and despite the fact that they had never
played it before, we still were able to enjoy the
game together.
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S V E A R L V E I T C E E
With one million people crammed into an area less
than two square kilometres, Dharavi is the heart
of Mumbai. The slum area inevitably faces many
challenges, including a cramped living environment
with a population density 20 times that of Mumbai,
as well as unsafe working conditions and long working
hours. But ultimately what makes Dharavi is the
people. For lunch we were welcomed into a home to
eat with the locals before visiting the school around
the corner. What was prominent throughout was
the welcoming attitude of everyone, as well as the
generosity and optimism of the teachers. We spoke
to a teacher who came back to Dharavi who made us
think deeply about the role of charity. This powerful
lasting connection that he had with the community
is exemplary of what Dharavi is: a society full of
generosity, care and imagination, with everyone
contributing in their own way.
THURSDAY
After an early start, we drove to Vasind, first visiting
Jindal Vidya Mandir, where we all enjoyed the wide
range of activities they had prepared for us – mural
painting, rangoli, arts and crafts, and a lesson on
a traditional Indian dance – which allowed us to
immerse ourselves in traditional culture. We then
visited one of Jindal’s vocational schools which taught
practical skills such as welding and offered training for
the beauty industry; we were all amazed by the skilful
henna patterns we were adorned with.
After a visit to the Jain temple, we visited a Christian
charity that provided homes for people with leprosy,
HIV/AIDS, and the elderly. The welcome songs that we
received had a huge impact on us, but a tour of the
bleak surroundings in one home cast a sombre mood
over the group, humbling us in our good fortune.
FRIDAY
From the desperate eyes of a beggar child to the stark
contrast of a slum overshadowed by a skyscraper, our
trip to Mumbai showed us that inequality is deeply
embedded in the world. As we discovered throughout
the week, there are in fact many people who spend
their lives supporting not only their communities,
but also complete strangers. NGOs as well as local
charities devote themselves to the specific needs of
those around them in various ways, such as education,
shelters and medical treatment. For example, a
charity called Magic Bus, which we visited on our
last day, focused on life skills, encouraging education
and development for children. Using sports and
games, they create an environment that supports
children who would otherwise end up in the same
monotonous, low-paying jobs as their parents. We
joined in on an afternoon session on communication
and decision-making skills which would later be
invaluable for the children. The Magic Bus staff led
the various games we played, and it is perhaps the
charity’s greatest accomplishment to create a safe
place for children to establish their own community
and believe in themselves. We then visited their main
centre which consisted of two small rooms in the
middle of a slum. We relished the opportunity to get
to know the children in a more personal environment,
playing games with them. Those working at Magic Bus
have taken on a difficult task, giving up their time in
order do what they can to support those who need it.
These are the kind of people who were present
in every charity and organisation we visited over
our week. We realise that there is no way we even
came close to resolving the massive inequality we
saw on almost every street corner. However, we did
discover that there are people out there who dedicate
their lives to this, showing the immense power a
compassionate human being can have on the
world around them.
Will Boyde, Alex Clinton, Ines Deeley, Dom Gualtieri,
Lara Gueorguieva, Gabriela Ivanova, Ernest Lok, Rosie
Owen, Harriet St Pier, Parth Shahi, Lucie Tauveron
(Lower Sixth)
SEVENOAKS SCHOOL 2017-2018
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