The Army of Street Fighters
Hamara Footpath works with nearly 60 street children in ways that may leave passersby surprised. They rehabilitate the kids by educating them and getting them placed in permanent homes, teach the children’s families about birth control and help them get off substance abuse. They also have a new project in the offing that deals with child sexual abuse, an issue to which street kids are particularly vulnerable.
“We are trying to develop a model that other organisations can also adopt,” says Ishita Manek, a volunteer. “Currently, we have a few counsellors who conduct sessions with the children.” The regular Sunday classes come with a twist, focussing on practical lessons like using maths in life situations: they create a dummy book-store and teach kids to deal with the cashier and keep accounts.
Hamara Footpath is a community group that began on the streets of Churchgate in 2006. What began as an informal engagement with street children, encouraging them to learn, has grown in strength and outreach since then.
It aims at creating a strong future for the city’s street kids. “We believe in a qualitative approach. We don’t want the kids to simply pass an exam, we want them to score good marks as well,” says Taha Jodiawala, a member. Some of the families associated with the group have also been rehabilitated from the street to permanent residences.
To volunteer: Email the team at hamarafootpath@gmail.com
Hamara Footpath works with nearly 60 street children in ways that may leave passersby surprised. They rehabilitate the kids by educating them and getting them placed in permanent homes, teach the children’s families about birth control and help them get off substance abuse. They also have a new project in the offing that deals with child sexual abuse, an issue to which street kids are particularly vulnerable.
“We are trying to develop a model that other organisations can also adopt,” says Ishita Manek, a volunteer. “Currently, we have a few counsellors who conduct sessions with the children.” The regular Sunday classes come with a twist, focussing on practical lessons like using maths in life situations: they create a dummy book-store and teach kids to deal with the cashier and keep accounts.
Hamara Footpath is a community group that began on the streets of Churchgate in 2006. What began as an informal engagement with street children, encouraging them to learn, has grown in strength and outreach since then.
It aims at creating a strong future for the city’s street kids. “We believe in a qualitative approach. We don’t want the kids to simply pass an exam, we want them to score good marks as well,” says Taha Jodiawala, a member. Some of the families associated with the group have also been rehabilitated from the street to permanent residences.
To volunteer: Email the team at hamarafootpath@gmail.com
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