Ujwal hails from Golaghat, Assam, and was detained in the Central (Arthur Road) prison in Mumbai. When the social workers from Sahaara came in contact with Ujwal in April 2011, a few months before his release, they realized that while Ujwal feared that he would be stigmatized for his stint in prison, he was determined to seek a job and start life afresh.

Sahaara helps rehabilitate newly released prisoners by providing physical and emotional support, giving vocational training and helping them find good jobs. Sahaara also runs a home called Mukti Niwas (Place of Freedom), where former prisoners get wholesome nutrition and quality accommodation, till they are emotionally and financially self-sufficient, and ready to take their place in society.

Ujwal was welcomed into Mukti Niwas in June 2011. Ujwal would be receiving training in housekeeping, nursery training and basic life skills. He desires to become a chaueffeur and take care of his mother who resides in Assam.

Valmik hails from a poor family from Duliya district in Maharashtra. Valmik 's father is farmer and his mother is a house wife. He has three younger sisters and two younger brothers to look after.

He was detained in the Byculla prison in Mumbai, it was when he came in contact with Sahaara, that he enrolled for the value education classes conducted by them, in the prison. Valmik was keen on getting employed and starting life afresh once he got released, but he realized that he would be stigmatized after his stint in the prison.

Sahaara helps rehabilitate newly released prisoners by providing physical and emotional support, giving vocational training and helping them find good jobs. Sahaara also runs a home called Mukti Niwas (Place of Freedom), where former prisoners get wholesome nutrition and quality accommodation till they are emotionally and financially self-sufficient, and ready to take their place in society.

After his release from the prison, Sahaara offered him shelter at Mukti Niwas. Through networking and financial support, the staff helped Valmik gain computer skills and employment in the marketing field.

Valmik would soon be starting a new life, and once he is financially able to do so, he has pledged to help other newly released prisoners like him to make a fresh start in life.

Prakash hails from a poor family from Kolhapur, Maharashtra. Prakash is married and has two children.

He was detained in the Byculla prison in Mumbai for a petty crime. It was then that he came in contact with Sahaara,  as part of the in-prison value education classes conducted by them . Prakash was keen on getting employed and starting life afresh once he got released, but he realized that he would be stigmatized after his stint in the prison.

Sahaara helps rehabilitate newly released prisoners by providing physical and emotional support, giving vocational training and helping them find good jobs. Sahaara also runs a home called Mukti Niwas (Place of Freedom), where former prisoners get wholesome nutrition and quality accommodation till they are emotionally and financially self-sufficient, and ready to take their place in society.

After his release from the prison on 14th April 2011, Sahaara offered him shelter at Mukti Niwas. Through food, accommodation, emotional support, Mukti Niwas is helping Prakash look forward for a better future. Sahaara staff  are also actively helping Prakash get back his driving job so that he can be self-sufficient again.

Prakash would soon be starting a new life, and once he is financially able to do so, he has pledged to help other newly released prisoners like him to make a fresh start in life.

Placy is an orphan hailing from Mumbai. He has no relatives or no family support, to fall back on.

Placy was detained in the Central (Arthur Road) in Mumbai, when he came in contact with Sahaara during the staff's in-prison relationship building interactions. Placy's keenness on getting employed demonstrated his willingness to start life afresh, after he got released, but he realized that the he would be stigmatized after his stint in the prison.

Sahaara helps rehabilitate newly released prisoners by providing physical and emotional support, giving vocational training and helping them find good jobs. Sahaara also runs a home called Mukti Niwas (Place of Freedom), where former prisoners get wholesome nutrition and quality accommodation till they are emotionally and financially self-sufficient, and ready to take their place in society.

Since Placy did not have a family to fall back on, after his release from the prison, Sahaara offered him shelter at Mukti Niwas. Placy is now enrolled in a vocational trade and is learning Nursery Training and Housekeeping Training. He wants to be equipped with skills that will help him get employed, so he can move out and start life anew.

Placy would soon be starting a new life, and once he is financially able to do so, he has pledged to help other newly released prisoners like himself, to make a fresh start in life.

Jonathan was detained in the Thane prison in Mumbai, it was when he came in contact with Sahaara when he enrolled for the computer education classes conducted by them in the prison. Jonathan was keen on getting employed and starting life afresh on ce he got released demonstrated, but he realized that the he would be stigmatized after his stint in the prison.

Sahaara helps rehabilitate newly released prisoners by providing physical and emotional support, giving vocational training  and helping them find good jobs. Sahaara also runs a home called Mukti Niwas (Place of Freedom), where former prisoners get wholesome nutrition and quality accommodation till they are emotionally and financially self-sufficient, and ready to take their place in society.

Since Jonathan did not have a family to fall back on, after his release from the prison, Sahaara offered him shelter at Mukti Niwas. Through networking and financial support, the staff helped Jonathan gain training as a welder and fabricator. He is now employed and would be moving out as soon as he is emotionally ready to make a fresh start in life.

Jonathan would soon be starting a new life, and once he is financially able to do so, he has pledged to help other newly released prisoners like him to make a fresh start in life.

In 1999, Joshua, a seven year old boy, from a family in Mumbai slum was left destitute due to family tragedies. Mahima Home took him into their full-time care. Mahima Home is Sahaara?s initiative to rehabilitate hitherto orphan and semi orphan boys - children of terminally ill parent(s).  Here, Joshua is looked after by house parents and a maid, who help him develop holistically through a family environment. He also enjoys wholesome food, excellent accommodation and access to English medium education at Don Bosco School, one of the most prestigious English medium schools in the locality.

With medicines, supplements and wholesome meals, Joshua's health picked up well! The nutrition-rich diet at Mahima Home provides him, in his crucial growing years, the much needed carbohydrates, vitamins, calcium, minerals, dietary fiber and protein inputs.
Being the eldest in the family, Joshua was accustomed to shouldering the responsibility of taking care of his younger siblings. But at Mahima, house parents lavished love and attention on him and he could become a child again.

Joshua's leadership skills surfaced when he was selected Captain of primary school (Grades I To IV). Again, in his X grade, he was chosen Captain of the entire school!  Joshua has also represented his school in football in all the levels (right from 10 years to 16 years). He has given on-stage performances playing the electronic keyboard and has enjoyed playing lead roles in a couple of school plays.

Joshua is also good in athletics and won the coveted Championship Award in 2008-2009 as well! Championship Award is given to participants who score highest prizes across multiple athletic events. As a fitting crown to his achievements, he went on to win the Best Student Award in 2008-09!

It's amazing to see the change in his whole life over the past years - and it?s not over! Our joy overflowed when he successfully cleared his 10th standard examinations with 78% and has gained admission into the 11th grade entering Junior College!

Jeevan, the sixteen year old teenager, is impressively versatile: An excellent football player who plays for his school team as a defender. A talented musician  skilled at playing the piano. A treasure trove of  artistic potential as a skilled painter. A passionate singer. An energetic runner. A hardworking student who does well in school.

At first glance, his versatility would belie the background from which he hails. Jeevan is one of the boys whose life has been changed through  Mahima Home.

Mahima Children's Home, run by Sahaara Charitable Society, cares for homeless and desolate street and slum children. Started in July 1999 with just two boys, the home today is a haven for 13 boys between 6 and 18 years of age, all either parentless children or children with terminally ill parents or children of trafficked women unable to care for them.

Mahima provides these children with more than just their basic needs: Educated at English medium schools, the energetic and talented boys actively participate and shine in sports and other extra-curricular activities.

Here, Jeevan receives English medium schooling in one of the top schools in the locality,  quality accommodation and wholesome nutrition within a loving family environment afforded by dedicated  houseparents.

Jeevan has blossomed into a secure child, confident in himself and looking forward to a bright future!

Mahima Home is a home for  orphans/ semi-orphans of terminally ill parents who lived in poverty and squalour. Unschooled, neglected and employed in child labour, the children lived in dire circumstances. Through the rich environment of Mahima Home, the boys have emerged School leaders, Award-winners, Sportsmen, Musicians and Public speakers!

Timmy is one such boy whose life has been transformed through Mahima Home.

Here, Timmy receives English medium schooling,  excellent accommodation, wholesome nutrition in a loving family environment. Within this nourishing environment, Timmy has emerged a confident and talented singer and dancer who is learning to play the keyboard as well! Also, he does not miss the opportunity of a good game of  chess with the houseparents and the other boys when it comes up! He is a good student in school and overall,  Timmy has blossomed into very friendly person who spreads joy and cheer with his smile and bubbly personality. 

Mahima Home is a home for orphans/ semi-orphans of terminally ill parents. Unschooled, neglected and employed in child labour, these children lived in dire circumstances before coming into Mahima Home. Through the rich environment of Mahima Home, the boys have now emerged School leaders, Award-winners, Sportsmen, Musicians and Public speakers!
Rahul is one such boy whose life has been transformed through Mahima Home.

At Mahima Home, Rahul is looked after by house parents and a maid, who help him achieve all round development in a loving family environment. He also enjoys excellent accommodation, access to English medium education, good clothing, wholesome nutrition, health care and emotional care.

Rahul is an energetic , physically fit and active seven year old boy today. He loves playing frog jump and has won prizes in school for that as well! He loves the outdoors and does not miss the opportunity of picking up football skills from the other Mahima Home boys when it comes up! He is a good student in school and overall,  Rahul is blossoming into a secure child, not fearing, but looking forward to his future!

Amin was a destitute child, who was left to fend for himself in the harsh city of Mumbai, till Sahaara  Charitable Society found out about him, and admitted him into Mahima Home, a home for orphaned boys.

At Mahima Home, Amin receives English medium schooling in one of the top schools in the locality,  quality accommodation and wholesome nutrition within a loving family environment afforded by dedicated  houseparents.

Amin is an energetic, physically fit and active thirteen year old boy today! He is a very good football player who is part of school soccer Under 12 team and has represented school in inter school competitions as well!  He loves to sing and to add to his basket of talents, Amin is learning to play the keyboard too!  He is a good student in school and overall,  Amin has blossomed into a secure child, confident in himself and looking forward to a bright future! 

Twenty seven year old Rekha, was born blind to a poor family in Mumbai. She has five siblings: one brother and four sisters. Rekha stayed with her parents. After they passed away, Rekha applied for and was granted admission into the Government hostel for blind women (Andheri), where she received free food and accommodation for four years.

However, being a temporary accommodation, Rekha was asked to leave the hostel in the end of 2007. Being illiterate, orphan and visually impaired, she was destitute. She was visibly weak and vulnerable when the Sahaara staff met her and needed much counselling.

Rekha was welcomed into Jyoti Home, a residential home run by Sahaara for vulnerable and blind women, and has been staying here since the end of 2007. She is well looked after by a house parent and a maid who take care of her needs in an environment where she receives love and personal care. She now enjoys stable accommodation, nutritious food and vocational training assistance in a family environment. She is starting to come to terms with the horrors of her past, and is starting to believe that her life is not the curse that she thought it was.
Jyoti Home has enabled her to pursue and complete the course of a masseuse successfully! Since June 2010, she has been working as a masseuse as well earning a good income. Within the family environment, Rekha, hitherto withdrawn, has blossomed into a friendly, trusting person and looks forward to a great future.

Twenty-two year old, Pavithra, was born blind to a very poor family, in Darjeeling. Her father is a daily wage labourer in the tea gardens and her mother is a house wife. She also has three younger siblings: one brother and two sisters. Her father barely earns enough to meet their basic needs.

Being visually impaired, Pavithra studied in a boarding school for the blind till the 12th grade, in her home-town Darjeeling. After completing her basic education, with no viable options for the visually challenged in Darjeeling, she decided to migrate to Mumbai - hoping to pursue her higher studies. Coming from a poor economic background, she knew it would be difficult for her parents to afford to send her away, but they were very supportive of her decision and collected just enough money to cover her travel costs.

Pavithra, thus came to Mumbai in 2006 in search of opportunities but had no place to stay. She was allowed to reside in the Government hostel for blind women (Andheri) free of cost, where she received free food and accommodation. With the support of a relative, she got enrolled for Bachelor of Arts and is currently studying in the second year. After four years of living in the hostel, her worst fears came true when she was asked to vacate the place. She found herself stranded and was visibly weak , destitute and needed much counseling when the Sahaara staff met her and offered to take care of her.

Pavithra has been staying at the Jyoti Home, a residential home run by Sahaara for vulnerable and blind women, since November 2010. She is well looked after by a house parent and a maid who takes care of her needs, in an environment where she receives love and personal care.

Pavithra, who was almost on the verge of discontinuing her studies because of not finding readers, was motivated to continue her studies with the support of the Sahaara staff, and is now doing well. She will, however, continue to need financial support till she is able to establish herself in her chosen field of interest. 

Twenty-four year old, Sangeetha, was born blind to a poor family, in a village in Uttar Pradesh. Her father is a shop keeper and her mother is a house wife. She has five siblings: three brothers and two sisters. Her father barely earns enough to meet their basic needs.

Being visually impaired, Sangeetha studied in Kamla Mehta Dadar School For The Blind, Dadar from nursery till the 12th grade where food, accommodation and education was free of cost. After completing her 12th grade, she applied for and was  granted admission into the Government hostel for blind women (Andheri), where she received free food and accommodation. Sangeetha also aspired to study beyond the twelfth grade and therefore enrolled for BA Sociology with support from a well wisher.

However, she was asked to leave the hostel in June 2009 in the middle of pursuing her BA. She was destitute and was forced to consider discontinuing her education. She was visibly weak, destitute and vulnerable when the Sahaara staff met her and needed much counselling.
Sangeetha  has been staying at the Jyoti Home, a residential home run by Sahaara for vulnerable and blind women, since June 2009. She is well looked after by a house parent and a maid who take care of her needs in an environment where she receives love and personal care. She now enjoys stable accommodation, nutritious food and vocational training assistance in a family environment.

Jyoti Home has enabled her to pursue and complete her Bachelor's degree successfully ! She has now enrolled in Masters programme (MA) in Sociology and is about to give her first year's examination too!  Within the family environment, Sangeeta, hitherto withdrawn, has blossomed into a friendly, trusting person and looks forward to a great future.

Renuka hails from North East India and had been staying at a temporary accommodation for blind women for four years. With temporary accommodation, she was uncertain about the duration for which she would be allowed to stay there and was worried about her safety and future, if she was asked to vacate the place, someday. Going back to her hometown was not a viable option since there are no job opportunities for blind women in her hometown. She was visibly weak, destitute and vulnerable when the Sahaara staff met her and needed much counselling.

Renuka has been staying at the Jyoti Home, a residential home run by Sahaara for vulnerable and blind women, for a little over three years. She is well looked after by a house parent and a maid who take care of her needs in an environment where she receives love and personal care. She is starting to come to terms with the horrors of her past, and is starting to believe that her life is not the curse that she thought it was.

Sahaara has empowered Renuka to train as a masseur, and she has now started working. She will, however, continue to need financial support till she is able to establish herself in her profession.

an 8 year old studying in 2nd standard was very mischeveous girl when entrusted to us for coaching. She used to make funny gestures to disturb the entire class. Our teacher after identifying the problem started giving incentives to those children who remain quiet and disciplined. Pooja responded to this technique positively. Observing the change in the child, the teachers started positively reinforcing this changed behavior in Pooja. This made her feel good about herself and from then on tried to be at her best behaviour in class. Now Pooja is attentive in class and is also doing very well in her studies.

• aged 8 years was entrusted to Sahaara?s remediation classes in 2006. This child faired very poorly in her studies. She was weak in her academics because of her low grasping power and due to this she had a low self-esteem. The teachers observed that she was very silent in class most of the time. So our teachers encouraged Suvarna to answer in class and she was constantly reminded that she can do better. This constant reinforcement increased her level of confidence. Today Suvarna is one of the best students in the remediation centre and has also started securing better scores for her exams.

• studying in standard 4th in Bal Kalyan Nagari, Mankhurd was noted to be very mischievous and a highly disturbing factor in the class. Whenever this child entered the centre, she would trouble all the other children of the class by beating other children, speaking harshly to the teacher and classmates. This distracted the whole class causing disturbances in the teaching and learning process. Our teacher felt the need to address this issue at a personal level. One day after dispersing the coaching classes, Sonali was asked to wait back to be talked about this matter. After speaking to her it was clear that she was emotionally disturbed as she was not given any importance. This brought a feeling of neglection in Sonali and in order to gain recognition she exhibited all these kinds of abnormalities. Sahaara?s teacher incharge took her into confidence, counselled her by convincing her that she is unique and important. Our teachers started regularly speaking to Sonali which only helped her to improve in her attitude towards the Sahaara teachers and also relate nicely to her classmates and friends. Now Sonali feels happy to come to class and she finds it much easy to concentrate on her studies without troubling her class.

• (Name changed to protect identity), 12 years old girl from Additional Observation Home, Mankhurd, says, ?I want to become a Doctor, but I am not happy with the quality of the school studies. They do not teach well and a lot of our questions related to subjects remains unanswered. This leaves me unsatisfied and frustrated. I love the Didi?s (elder sisters) from Sahaara who come to teach us in our Homes. They give special time to answer our curious questions about difficult subjects. Now I am satisfied and happy. I feel good to get quality education from Sahaara.?

Four year old Gopal Naskar lives in Reay Road, one of the most poverty stricken slum communities in Mumbai. His father, Rasan, is working in a hotel and his mother, Leela, is working as a maid. Gopal has three sisters and two brothers as well. Both his parents are illiterate.

Children like Gopal face educational deprivation in terms of generational illiteracy, physical access to education and quality of education as well. Though Gopal hails from such a disadvantaged background he can dream of a stable future with a good education because he studies at the Reay Road study center, run by Sahaara. Being close to Gopal's house, the balwadi is a potent vehicle for transforming his future through quality education.

Sahaara's balwadi has a systematic curriculum wherein children are equipped in the following subjects  over the period of a year: English and Hindi: alphabets and poems, writing skills, general knowledge (colours, animals, flowers, personal hygiene etc), colouring, games and activities such as counting and recognition.

Gopal is a bright child who is good in academics but he is very reluctant to get involved in physical activities. He is a quiet child but has a hunger for learning more and more from the teachers. He is sociable and enjoys sharing his toys and things with other children. He loves drawing and enjoys playing with colours!

Four year old Angel Raju hails from Gorai, one of the innumerable poverty stricken slum pockets in Mumbai. Her father, Raju, is a construction worker and her mother, Sulochana, is a housewife. Both her parents are illiterate.

Children like Angel, from Mumbai slums, face educational deprivation in terms of generational illiteracy, physical access to education and quality of education as well. Though Angel hails from such a disadvantaged background, she can dream of a stable future with a good education because she studies at the Gorai study center, run by Sahaara. Being close to Angel's house, the balwadi is a potent vehicle for transforming her future through quality education.

Sahaara's balwadi has a systematic curriculum wherein children are equipped in the following subjects over the period of a year: English and Hindi: alphabets and poems, writing skills, general knowledge (colours, animals, flowers, personal hygiene etc), colouring, games and activities such as counting and recognition.

Angel loves to attend the balwadi as apart from studies, there are several playtime activities to engage the children as well. Angel is a live wire who is energetic and lively in class! She loves listening to stories and playing with her toys. She thoroughly enjoys physical activities like running and hopping!

Four year old Joshua Sati hails from Gorai, one of the innumerable poverty stricken slum pockets in Mumbai. His father, Mohan Sati, works as a mechanic and his mother, Laxmi, is a housewife. Both his parents are illiterate.

Children like Joshua, from Mumbai slums, face educational deprivation in terms of generational illiteracy, physical access to education and quality of education as well. Though Joshua hails from such a disadvantaged background he can dream of a stable future with a good education because he studies at the Gorai study center, run by Sahaara. Being close to Joshua's house, the balwadi is a potent vehicle for transforming his future through quality education.

Sahaara's balwadi has a systematic curriculum wherein children are equipped in the following subjects over the period of a year: English and Hindi: alphabets and poems, writing skills, general knowledge (colours, animals, flowers, personal hygiene etc), colouring, games and activities such as counting and recognition.

Joshua is a smart student who enjoys writing exercises.  He is naughty by nature and thoroughly enjoys playing football and other physical activities like running and hopping!
Sahaara Charitable Society believes that every person has a dream, and their work centers around ensuring that marginalized persons are able to articulate and work towards achieving their dream. Sahaara's early childhood education program gives children like Joshua, get a start which will help him break out of the poverty cycle and fulfill his dream of a stable future. 

Five year old, Pallavi Manor hails from Gorai, one of the innumerable poverty-stricken slum pockets in Mumbai. Her father, Manor, works as a carpenter and her mother, Rekha, is a housewife. She has three sisters as well. Though her parents have not studied much, Pallavi can dream of a stable future with a good education.

Pallavi studies at the Gorai study center run by Sahaara. She is a keen student who has always been eager to attend the study center. She is a very quiet child but has a hunger for learning more and more from the teachers. She recites numbers from 1-10 and alphabets from A-Z with bubbling enthusiasm. She loves to draw and also enjoys playing with her toys.  She thoroughly enjoys physical activities like running and hopping as well!

Sahaara's balwadi has a systematic curriculum wherein children are equipped in the following subjects over the period of a year: English and Hindi: alphabets and poems, writing skills, general knowledge (colours, animals, flowers, personal hygiene etc), colouring, games and activities such as counting and recognition.

Sahaara Charitable Society believes that every person has a dream, and their work centers around ensuring that marginalized persons are able to articulate and work towards achieving their dream. Sahaara's early childhood education program gives children like Pallavi get a start which will help her break out of the poverty cycle.

Four year old Kaveri Kakeri hails from Ambedkar Nagar, Colaba, one of the innumerable poverty stricken slum pockets in Mumbai. Her father, Prakash Kakeri, is a taxi driver and her mother, Soru, works as a maid. Kaveri has one brother as well. Both her parents are illiterate.
Children like Kaveri, from Mumbai slums, face educational deprivation in terms of generational illiteracy, physical access to education and quality of education as well. Though Kaveri hails from such a disadvantaged background, she can dream of a stable future with a good education because she studies at the Colaba study center, run by Sahaara. Being close to Kaveri's house, the balwadi is a potent vehicle for transforming her future through quality education.

Sahaara's balwadi has a systematic curriculum wherein children are equipped in the following subjects  over the period of a year: English and Hindi: alphabets and poems, writing skills, general knowledge (colours, animals, flowers, personal hygiene etc), colouring, games and activities such as counting and recognition.

Kaveri is a live wire who is energetic and lively in class!  She is smart and talkative. She loves reading exercises. She is sociable and enjoys sharing her toys and things with other children!
Sahaara Charitable Society believes that every person has a dream, and their work centers around ensuring that marginalized persons are able to articulate and work towards achieving their dream. Sahaara's early childhood education program gives children like Kaveri, get a start which will help her break out of the poverty cycle and fulfill her dream of a stable future.

Project Parivartan strives to serve the women trafficked into the sex trade and their children through diverse activities and inputs. Life for the trafficked women is extremely demeaning and depressing, but the rescue of the ones and the twos brightens up the gloom and the darkness!The story of Sunita is one such bright spark as we see her rescued from the vicious cycle of the sex trade and released into a life of freedom and dignity.

Sunita is a twenty year old girl from a village near Kolkata, India. A pimp, under the pretext of offering Sunita a well-paying job, deceived and sold her into the Mumbai sex trade. Sahaara staff met Sunita in the Turbhe red light area in June 2010. She began to attend the cell meetings therein and received the love of God into her heart. With counselling and prayer, Sunita?s will to exit the red light area was strengthened. To our joy and delight, Sunita became a part of Sharan Sthan family on 30th July 2010!

A few months back month a local hospital was recruiting trainees for a one year nurse aid program. Sunita applied and to her great delight, she was selected. She is now undergoing the one year course and is eagerly looking forward to a promising career on completion of the course.

This training would open up opportunities to serve with organisations with a health focus, as well as be eligible to work with nursing bureaus who dispatch home-nurses. Her enthusiasm is as infectious as her smile and her journey rekindles hope in every heart.

Project Parivartan strives to improve the lives of trafficked women and their children by helping them to exit and by rehabilitating them into society.

Khushi is a five year old girl from West Bengal, India. She was welcomed into Anandalay in December 2010. We rejoice at the way her inborn talents and abilities have been blossoming over short span of the past four months! At the outset, she was emotionally reticent and struggled with separation anxiety. Her social interactions with the children were very limited. She was restricted even in her physical movement and would just limit herself to her bed and the dining table. In a fortnight, Khushi began to mingle with the children and started to share her toys with them as well. With encouragement and love from the house parents and children, Khushi began to enjoy her new life of freedom.

In January 2011, Khushi was enrolled into the Nursery programme of one of India?s leading education service providers. Khushi thrived in the school environment and her report card brought joy to our hearts! She was judged ?Excellent in studies, an obedient child and respectful towards elders? and was the only student selected to receive the ?Award for Good Behaviour?! In addition to achieving the afore-mentioned milestones, Khushi enjoyed activities like creative art and craft, sports and particularly looked forward to song and dance! Therefore, Khushi was absolutely delighted to be selected for the school?s Annual Day event! She was placed in a prominent position in the seven-member dance troupe as they performed for a thousand member audience! We are excited and trust that even further opportunities will open for her in the years to come!

Children in red light areas live in severe physical and psychological peril, vulnerable to abuse, trauma and second generation prostitution. Perishing in hunger, neglect, illiteracy and hopelessness, these daughters long for the day their childhood would be theirs again. Here is the success story of one more child rescued from the perilous environment of the sex trade and released into a life of freedom and opportunity. Sahaara has worked in Ghatkopar red light area since 2006. Trafficked women and their children receive services of education, nutrition, medical.

Sahaara has been counselling the women in Ghatkopar area to release the children to the rehabilitation homes into a bright future. However, due to the availability of reasonably good educational institutions near the area, many of the women were reluctant to release the children into rehab homes. We however, continued to counsel them believing for a breakthrough.

Four year old Monica's mother was a victim of the sex trade and worked in Ghatkopar red light area in Mumbai.To our delight, Monica?s mother was able to see the advantages of a rehab home and agreed to sent her to Anandalay,? the shelter home run by Sahaara, for daughters of trafficked women. Anandalay houses these children who are brought up by house-parents, in a loving and conducive family environment.

The transition period for Monica has been minimal and she has settled down comfortably in the new atmosphere of Anandalay, enjoying the company of the other children and the house parents.

Children in red light areas live in severe physical and psychological peril, vulnerable to abuse, trauma and second generation prostitution. Perishing in hunger, neglect, illiteracy and hopelessness, these daughters long for the day their childhood would be theirs again. Here is the success story of one more child rescued from the perilous environment of the sex trade and released into a life of freedom and opportunity.

Anisha Poddar is a four year old girl from Kamatipura red light area. Her mother, Rehana, forced by family circumstances, was deceived and got sucked into the sex trade. Hearing of Anandalay, Anisha?s mother was able to see the advantages of a rehab home and agreed to sent her to Anandalay,? the shelter home run by Sahaara, for daughters of trafficked women. Anandalay houses these children who are brought up by house-parents, in a loving and conducive family environment.

To our joy and delight, Anisha became a part of Anandalay family on 18th November 2011! At the outset, Anisha was sullen and quiet in the new environment of Anandalay. She has blossomed gradually and has settled down comfortably in the new atmosphere of Anandalay, enjoying the company of the other children and the house parents.

Five year old Sonali's mother is a victim of the sex trade and used to work in a red light area in Mumbai. When her mother passed away, Sonali was brought to Anandalay,? a shelter home run by Sahaara, for daughters of trafficked women. Anandalay houses these children who are brought up by house-parents, in a loving and conducive family environment. Sonali was welcomed into Anandalay on 15th October 2008.

Initially when she came in, she used to communicate through sign language as she did not know Hindi and the house parents did not know Bengali. She struggled to cope in school too as her foundational skills were poor. With encouragement and guidance from her houseparents and tutor, she worked hard. Being studious, diligent and intelligent by nature, she enjoyed completing her homework and obtained excellent results in the examination. She is now very talkative and has become very fluent in hindi and comfortable in understanding English and manages to communicate well too.

Currently she is enrolled in Sr. K.G. in one of the top schools in the locality.

As for other interests, she has now emerged confident in various skills like reading and rote skills. She particularly enjoys reading English story books. She has been selected to be a part of the school hockey and football team. She was also chosen to be a part of the carol singing group and was also chosen to do march past in the annual sports day programs.
She feels at home in Anandalay and loves to help the younger girls of the home in their studies. As for her demeanour, she is very obedient in nature and is tender and sensitive - she is a child who yearns to receive and give out love.

• Daughters of women in prostitution live in severe physical and psychological danger. Perishing in hunger, neglect, illiteracy and hopelessness, these daughters long for the day their childhood would be theirs again.

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  Four year old Mamta?s mother was a victim of the sex trade  in Ghatkopar red light area in Mumbai. Mamta?s mother admitted her into Anandalay for the opportunity of a safe and a better future for her.

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  Anandalay ?(Home of Joy) is a home for daughters of victims of the sex trade.  The children receive wholesome food, excellent accommodation and quality education under the care of committed house-parents. Mamta was welcomed into Anandalay on 12th June 2009.
  When she came in, Mamta was 3 year old toddler. A home tutor engaged with Mamta and helped her catch up developmentally. In 2010, Mamta was enrolled in Junior KG in St. Xaviers? School, Airoli, a branch of Ryan Schools. Ryan Schools has strength of students of nearly 200,000 children with a nationwide spread, guided by eight thousand educators focussing on child-centered qualitative learning.

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  In school, Mamta's syllabus covers basic alphabet, numbers, drawing lines, action songs and craft. Mamta particularly loves action songs and dance and has demonstrated excellent grasping and recall skills in them! At the outset, Mamta was reluctant and fearful in the new environment of her school but over the past year she has grown out of her anxieties and is bold in approaching the teacher and her classmates today.

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• She feels at home in Anandalay and being the youngest, she enjoys the pampering and love showered by the others! Anandalay has indeed restored to Mamta the joy of her childhood, protecting her innocence and nurturing her in love.

• Children in red light areas live in severe physical and psychological peril, vulnerable to abuse, trauma and second generation prostitution. Perishing in hunger, neglect, illiteracy and hopelessness, these daughters long for the day their childhood would be theirs again.
  Five year old Muskan's (The name means "smile" in the Hindi language) mother was a victim of the sex trade and worked in Bhandup red light area in Mumbai. Sahaara staff met the mother for the first time in around 2006. We counselled her to exit the trade and start a new life. In 2009, with our help her mother exited the trade and was referred to a rehabilitation home in Pune. Simultaneously, Muskan was brought to Anandalay ? a shelter home run by Sahaara, for daughters of trafficked women. Anandalay houses these children who are brought up by house-parents, in a loving and conducive family environment. Muskan was welcomed into Anandalay on 20th March 2009.

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  Initially when she came in to Anandalay, she was a slow learner, withdrawn and very passive by nature. Over the years, there has been a turnaround in her social and academic skills: she has become expressive, smiling, talkative, interactive, blossomed into an extrovert, proactive in making friends and she has shown significant improvement in her grades.
  Currently she is enrolled in Sr. K.G. in one of the top schools in the locality (St. Xaviers? School, Airoli, a branch of Ryan Schools). Ryan Schools has strength of students of nearly 200,000 children with a nationwide spread, guided by eight thousand educators focussing on child-centered qualitative learning. The syllabus covers English (alphabet recognition, reading, writing, and sentence formation), numeracy, activities, extracurricular activities such as sports, craft and drawing etc

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  Muskan  has now emerged confident in skills like story narration and poem recitation. She particularly enjoys song and dance and craft and drawing. She feels at home in Anandalay and loves to welcome the new girls who come into the home. As for her character, she is honest about her mistakes, tender and sensitive - she is a child who yearns to receive and give out love.

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• Anandalay has been a boon to Muskan who now enjoys her childhood and has a hope and a future afforded by education! 

• Daughters of women in prostitution live in severe physical and psychological danger. Perishing in hunger, neglect, illiteracy and hopelessness, these daughters long for the day their childhood would be theirs again.

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  Seven year old Payal's mother was a victim of the sex trade and worked in Turbhe red light area in Mumbai. Sahaara staff knew Payal's mother since 2008. Payal was a student in the Sahaara balwadi as well. With counsel, Payal's mother decided to admit her to Anandalay for a better and safer future. Anandalay (Home of Joy) is a shelter home run by Sahaara, for daughters of trafficked women. Anandalay houses these children who are brought up by house-parents, in a loving and conducive family environment. Payal was welcomed into Anandalay on 1st April 2009.

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  Initially when she came in, Payal hailing from an environment of violence and abuse in the red light and unfamiliar with a family environment was very aggressive in her language and did not show respect to others. The houseparents engaged with her, assured her with love ad instructed her in good behaviour. Observing the other children and heeding the guidance, Payal began to mature in her social skills. Payal is now respectful and loving in speech and conduct with the other children in the home and her houseparents.

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  Currently she is enrolled in Sr. K.G. in one of the top schools in the locality (St. Xaviers' School, Airoli, a branch of Ryan Schools). Ryan Schools has strength of students of nearly 200,000 children with a nationwide spread, guided by eight thousand educators focussing on child-centered qualitative learning. The syllabus covers English (alphabet recognition, reading, writing, and sentence formation), numeracy, activities, extracurricular activities such as sports, craft and drawing etc