Sona's Blog

  Gully Boy & His Adoptive Nani (Maternal GrandMother) Very often, even mistakes bring us closer to each other, says Sona Kumar on her experience with Salim Khan.   I met Salim in 2009 when we started moral classes in Anand Nagar Slum, Jogeshwari West, Mumbai, India He was the thinnest, tallest and most mischievous child in our class. He would get into trouble because one or the other child would complain... He was mischievous but never misbehaved. He was enrolled at YMCA to play basketball with 13 more children. They would play Basketball early in the morning, go to school and then come to our coaching classes to complete their homework, revise tables, answers etc  Irfan Khan, the Choreographer, offered to teach our children and give them the opportunity to dance on stage at Bhaidas Hall in vile parle west. He would depute a dance teacher for an hour to teach our kids, who were short-listed. Salim was 1 of them. 1 fine day Salim refused to dance and left the classroom. I was very

  Ration Distribution Thank you, Fischer and Jordan LLC, who again distributed 100 ration kits for our students, widows, and physically challenged people living in slums. Thank you Guide Star India for the referral.

Our Teachers: Covid Warriors We have many warriors in our group as they have understood all the challenges of the children and their lives including their families too. When covid stuck, they became covid warriors. Here, we shall share some of their stories with you. Mrs Yashodhara Rajurkar  joined us to inculcate moral values in slum children, as they are surrounded by many Anti-Social Elements. She has succeeded in her task as our children are very well mannered. She suggested that we start tuition classes for children as parents are illiterate, and children don't do homework. They fail and drop out and start working. Parents also welcome an extra income. She ensures that children complete their homework, solve their problems, and help them revise tables, poems etc. There has not been any school dropout since then. Teachers in school treat her as the mother of students as their parents don't care. When the lockdown started she ensured that children were given bananas, dates,