Haimanti Sen, a social reformer from Mumbai is changing the lives of young kids by teaching them the basics of education. She teaches them the alphabet, numbers, communication, arts and craft. These kids live on the foot-over bridge at the Kandivali station. They are a group of 15-16 children belonging to the Pardi community. Their tribe is known for a lot of criminal activities around the area.
It all started when Haimanti took note of a few children on the street begging for food and money. She was worried that they were unaware of schools and decided to meet their parents. But the parents spurted out a blatant lie that the children attended schools.
It was then that Haimanti made a firm decision to educate the kids. She got in touch with a school in the area to enrol some of them. But the authorities were hesitant because they were unsure if the children would attend classes regularly.
To equip them for formal schooling under the Right to Education Act, Haimanti started teaching them.
Later, Haimanti started a non-profit organisation, Junoon Foundation which aims at providing an all-around development to the underprivileged kids; helping them discover their potentials and working with it.
While sharing her journey, Haimanti Sen said, Some children, through no fault of their own, have their basic amenities and education overlooked leaving them ill equipped to deal with the complexities of life. At Junoon, we are providing such children what they are rightfully entitled to— basic education and essential training so they can envision a better future, get motivated and grow to live up to their full potential. To take up a career of their choice and become actual changemakers. We empathetically listen to their problems and understand their needs. Then, through one on one interactions we equip them with the knowledge, skills and tools to channel their emotions, thoughts and actions for them to become productive, well rounded individuals who can then go on to live meaningful lives with a deeper sense of fulfilment.”
“We create an environment that shapes these children’s minds and builds their awareness of the various skills they can practice and arts they can pursue. By being in an environment they feel safe, cared for and comfortable in, the children learn to open up and eventually trust themselves, and others. By giving them all equal attention and keeping the learning fun, we ensure appropriate guidance and nurture while keeping their inquisitive minds continuously fed”, she added.
Junoon is a well-established NGO with an eight-member board that strongly believes in the right to education and learning for underprivileged children. The NGO teaches children to read and write, do basic Math, and learn communication skills. They monitor the school attendance and continue and help them cope with their academic work. The board members continue to raise INR 10,000 every month to fund the initiatives and reach 80 children at 4 of its centers in Mumbai, all of which are on the skywalks of railway stations at Kandivali and Borivali. The school starts at 11.30 am and provides lunch to the children.
They have a well-defined curriculum. On Saturdays and Sundays, the team conducts dance, art, and craft classes. On Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, there are regular classes, and on Wednesday, the children watch street plays.