The year has been especially inspiring, with children from all over the world stepping in to make a difference.
We feature here a few of them beginning with Soulya and her band of friends, who live in a slum in Govandi East, Mumbai. The people who live here are prone to many health hazards because their home is close to India’s largest dumping ground in Deonar. To add to their woes, open drains run on both sides of the slum alleys. Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) have engaged people through workshops and programmes to create awareness.
“I started attending the health sessions at Apnalaya a little after I turned 13. I found their sessions detailed and helpful. They helped us understand the changes in our body during puberty. They promoted menstrual hygiene by teaching us how to use sanitary napkins The teacher didis there are very sensitive to our needs and questions,” says Soulya.
As part of WASH4Life programme, Soulya and her team are determined to make a change. But first, they have to make a change in their own homes. Once that was accomplished they talked to neighbours. Though some of them tell them to mind their own business, others listen to her.
Soulya says that the girls in her community are the ones who lead this process of change. She believes that youngsters have to take responsibility for the community to progress.
A different calling
Deeya Shroff is in Std. XI and studies in Mumbai. She launched an initiative called Jal Jeevan, to ensure that everyone can have access to clean drinking water. She got in touch with Eureka Forbes and they helped her develop her project plan to set up water ATMs in rural areas. Now, it is possible for people in the rural areas of Maharastra to get get clean drinking water.
Art is often used as a catalyst for change. Seventeen-year-old Kaanchi Chopra creates awareness through her work. She tackles themes like domestic violence, discrimination and body shaming through her pictures. She says this is artivism. She has done a series on victims of acid attacks too.
Used tyres pose a major problem when it comes to disposal. So, Anubhav Wadhwa decided to do something. He founded Tyrelessly, an organisation that ensures responsible disposal. It has an online platform and people who wish to get rid of their tyres can log on to it and send their tyres to be disposed off.
Riddhi was a teacher with Teach for India. She got the idea to start Riyaaz when she was teaching a low-income school in Delhi. Later, another young teacher Ragini joined her. Riyaaz means practice in Urdu, and represents consistency, discipline, and humility. A typical session happens in a circle with 25 students and fellow mentors. It involves a range of activities including meditation, understanding rhythm by singing, and discussing how important empathy is to a singer. Kids do group activities and get homework to help them take lessons to their communities.
For Arav Hak, a student of class VII, meeting Aditya at the Dr. Ernest Borges Memorial Home in Mumbai is what changed his outlook to life. Aditya had cancer and his greatest dream was to watch a cricket match. Arav made it happen and he says he was so happy to see the joy on Aditya’s face. Ever since, he has been raising funds for the children at the Dr. Ernest Borges Memorial Home.
