Helping them identify problems,and solutions

These are experiences of slum children,who share their problems at the Alternative and Innovative Education (AIE) centre at the Government Middle School,Sector 52,Kajheri.

In an innovative project,Saathi,an NGO run by school students,creates profiles of slum children to better understand the problems they face in pursuing education. Later,these children will be counselled with their parents on a one-to-one basis.

The aim of this exercise is to identify problems like child abuse,domestic violence,emotional stress and drug abuse among these children.

The NGO,supported by students of Classes IX and X,has adopted 310 slum children in an attempt to educate them and ensure they don’t leave schools.

“We have started creating profiles of the children to ensure that we go in depth of their problems,” Punita Singh,founder of Saathi,said.

Saina Kohli,a student volunteer,said,“We have already identified talents like singing and dancing among these children and will try to help them develop such skills.”

“The data base they are creating will answer some questions and help in identifying real problems of these children,” H S Bhatti principal of the Sector-52 school,said. “The attitude of parents towards these children is the main problem. They get their wards admitted in the school but don’t ensure that they come regularly.”