A helping hand

Though the Bal Bhavan is in a nascent stage,the members of the organisation are hoping to run a full-fledged branch in another six months that will work for over 500 children. The organisation is being helped by the volunteers from the Nagarwasi Mitra Mandal to rehabilitate and educate the target group. Vishesh Kulkarni,another member clarifies that Bal Bhavan is not a school. “We counsel the parents and students on the importance of education. If the child is in need of rehabilitation or de-addiction,we try to convince the parents for the same,” he adds. The Bal Bhavan will also train the teachers from local municipal schools,to teach these students in a special way since they require a different kind of education considering their background and other dynamics.

The Bal Bhavan also runs a night school in the area that has facilities like computers and a mobile library. “Currently,we are collecting clothes and books to provide for the 25 students who have joined the initiative already,” says Jyoti Ekbote,one of the volunteers.

Besides education,Bal Bhavan also provides a balanced diet in order to attract slum kids,especially the ones who are not keen on attending the school. The organisers say that Bal Bhavan model can be replicated in other parts of the city. The team has surveyed other slum localities and are also planning to launch Self Help Groups (SHGs) for slum women.