Stories of HOPE
At Sunbeam, there are times when we run out of stationery, or space or teacher or volunteers… But if there’s one thing we’ve never run out of, it’s hope.
All credit is due to our little wonders. Not a day goes by when we aren’t astounded by their spirit, the fight for their dreams, their unblinking faith in us and their ability to love. We present just some of the amazing ways in which they inspire us.
What do you do when your parents move to another construction site and your school report hasn’t reached you? And what do you do if that means you can’t be admitted to a private school?
If you’re Ganesh, age 11, you don’t complain that life is unkind. You don’t wait for your teacher to figure out what to do. You take charge. You march into the nearest post office, have a word with the postmaster and return to the centre within an hour - report card in hand.
Proactivity like this is unique. But then, so is Ganesh. In the 5 years that he’s been with Sunbeam, his parents have moved sites as many times. But come rain or shine, by bus, train or on foot, he’s turned up at the nearest Sunbeam centre. And not just that, he’s ensured that he’s among the top in his class.
Because of his sterling performance, Ganesh was one of the 25 students who was selected for admission to a private school. But before Ganesh could step into a private school, there was one final test. The teachers reported that they couldn’t find a good private school in the vicinity of Ganesh’s home. Was Ganesh disappointed?
If you’ve gotten to know Ganesh a bit by now, you’ll have guessed what he did next.
That’s right! He personally scoured the area and came up with the names of a few private schools. Today he’s gained admission in a good private school in Wadala.
Shubangi, our teacher at Chandanwadi had this to relate about Kiran
“The children at Chandanwadi are quite unruly. And Kiran, their outspoken leader. So, the other day when we were on our way to the sports ground, he broke the queue and ran off. Nothing unusual for Kiran, I thought. But then I was stunned by what I saw. Kiran had sprinted across the road to help a visually impaired person who was unsuccessfully attempting to cross a busy road. Kiran offered him his arm and helped him all the way to the railway station before joining the group again. This unlikely gesture from Kiran almost made me cry."
Bhurjamma was in the Phoenix Mills centre for a brief period before her parents moved to a construction site at Dadar. She was disappointed of course, but that didn’t stop her from canvassing for Sunbeam among the 40 children and their parents at Dadar. Next, she confronted the contractor and got 2 tiny rooms where classes could be conducted. “Now you have to start a centre at Dadar,” she said with a winning smile.
The centre was started in Jan 2002. Unfortunately for Bhurjamma, her father passed away and her mother contracted a bad case of tuberculosis. Bhurjamma went to work to support her family until her mother recovered. It’s a sad irony that Bhurjamma who helped set up the centre never got the opportunity to study there herself. But thanks to her proactivity, 40 children went to school
Shiva and Maruti were regulars at the Phoenix Mills Centre. They were excited about the new computer at the centre. But the lessons had to be cut short when their families moved to sites in faraway Powai and Kalyan. But that didn’t stop them from making the long journey to Kamala Mills every Saturday afternoon, for their regular dose of English and computers.
“How are you Khurshid didi, Archana didi, Pushpa didi, Chhaya didi? Hope you are fine. All other children at our centre must also be fine. But I, Arjun, am the best amongst all.”
Arjun’s self-aggrandising letter had us all in splits. Of course, what he’d meant was that he too was doing well in the village. Only it hadn’t quite come out sounding that way.
But merriment aside, there was more to be read between the lines. Which Arjun’s father articulated for us. In a voice laden with disbelief he said, “I can’t believe that within a few months of attending your classes, my 8 year old son has been able to draft a letter and post it to you.”
At the Aksa camp last year, Naresh found children making fun of Pappu, because of his worn out clothes. Naresh promptly went and handed Pappu a pair of his own clothes saying, “Don’t let others make fun of you. Here take my clothes. And use this soap to wash your clothes.” When we commended Naresh later, he merely replied, “My father always said that I should share. Today, he is no more. So I remember him by doing what he did.”
Suresh’s stutter made him the butt of many jokes. And consequently a recluse. But when he saw that a teacher’s purse was torn, he approached her tentatively saying, “Didi, I’d like to buy you a purse from my Diwali bonus. I’ve known humiliation. I don’t want you to face that.”
When we faced a staff crunch at Kamala Mills, unlikely help came from 9 year old Tara . She took it upon herself to coach 15 children for 2 hours every morning. And completed her own studies in the evening. Thanks to her efforts, all 15 children were promoted to Std. II, while she went to Std. III.
Last year, when our classrooms were demolished at Kamala Mills, there was little help forthcoming. But that was until Arjun arrived on the scene. Son of the labour contractor at Phoenix Mills and a Sunbeam student, 13 year old Arjun stood by the teachers assisting in the reconstruction efforts, even laying the bricks himself. |
