12 people. One makeshift hutment. That’s three-year-old Faizan’s jam-packed home in a slum community that borders Mumbai’s largest garbage dump. Everyone here belongs to Faizan’s mother’s side of the family. Faizan’s memories of his father are hazy
Their community though, remembers Faizan’s father far too well – he was an alcoholic drug addict who abused his mother on the streets. A while ago, his parents separated, and Faizan and his older brother Adil came to live with their mother Ruksana and her family – making a total of 12 members in a household that survives on the daily-wage income of two women.
Faizan’s mother Ruksana is brave beyond her years. As a single mother of two in a community that undermines women, she’s determined to give her children the best she possibly can. She works as a tailor, and alongside her sister Farzana, they feed their household of 12. While some months bring in a basic income, others have been lean. There have been times when the neighbours have given the children in their home food to survive the day.
Through all her struggles, Ruksana ensured that her older child Adil stuck with his education. He studies in a public school near their slum community. However, Ruksana couldn’t afford education for Faizan.
That’s when your generosity reached out to Faizan and enrolled him into our Beacon Learning Centre inside their slum community. Your gifts brought quality pre-primary education, a nutritious daily meal, healthcare, dental workups and much more into Faizan’s life – all at no cost to him and his family.
Faizan has rarely missed a day of class at our nursery. He loves reciting nursery rhymes and he even won four medals at our Sports Day last month!
Your support has also roped Ruksana into our Community Champions Development Program. As our Community Champion, Ruksana advocates for education, nutrition, healthcare and more within her neighbourhood, and she receives training from our experts on topics that are crucial to the growth of her community – such as financial planning, Government schemes, poverty alleviation plans etc.
Thank You for empowering Ruksana to be a force of change within her community, in spite of all her personal challenges, and thank you for giving Faizan a headstart in learning. You’re sowing sweet dreams of hope and ambition in this family’s heart today!
