The month of August had an average of 45 to 55 children per day visiting the Shelter. Two new children were admitted to school this month and a total of 17 children have been admitted this year. The children who come for Day Care are encouraged and prepared for admission into formal schools in the coming academic year. These children belong to poor families with most of their parents employed as labourers in construction work or as helpers in the market. The parents being occupied with work form early morning till late night, the responsibility of household chores is often on the children. They carry water for their homes, wash clothes and even cook food, their little hands and feet often carrying tell- tale signs (burn marks, calloused palms) for the hard work they do.

We have come across a number of broken families where the father has left home, leaving the mother to run the house and look after the children by herself. Being illiterate and unskilled, these women usually take up domestic or construction work and need day care for their children. Asha Dep serves as an ideal place for these children to spend their day where they are not only looked after but also receive non formal education, medical care and nutritious food.

 

We are currently also providing night shelter to two boys who were previously in our Homes – Raghu Killedar and Michael Mascarenhas. They are undergoing training at The ‘Mariott and The Taj’ respectively.

 

Yeshu Killedar, who was with us for a few months, has now shifted to a hostel at Montfort Vocational Training Centre where he will be on a course in Automobile Mechanics. He visits Asha Deep on alternate weekends.

 

The Children celebrated ‘Independence Day’ by singing patriotic songs and enjoying a movie on Independence in the afternoon.

 

The love and care given by the staff of Asha Deep has made the Shelter a Home to those who have one or have never experienced love. Our heartfelt gratitude to the dedicated workers who put in so much effort.

 

 

This entry was posted on Monday, September 1st, 2008 at 10:26 am and is filed under Asha Deep, Events, Projects. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.