Fly High in the Sky

Mynoddin aged 17 years who hails from Narayankhed mandal of Medak district joined the umbrella of MARG through other children in September, 1999. On his interaction with the counsellor, he revealed that he had studied upto 10th class and wanted to become doctor but was not able to continue his studies due to financial crisis. The child was encouraged to continue his studies and was sent back to his village to get his certificates. When the child came with his certificates, he was referred to our Second Home and subsequently admitted in Government Junior college for Boys, Nampally, hyderabad. He opted for Science group. His performance in his Junior Intermediate was excellent and he created a record in his college by securing 52 marks out of 60 marks in Botany. He is getting BC Scholarship and has appeared for Intermediate Examination. presently he is preparing for his EAMCET examination. Hope a bright future awaits him.

Dream Come True

Babu Rao hails from a small village in Kurnool. Babu Rao was a target of parental tiff and left his home landing in Hyderabad with a ray of hope to settle down with good job.While on the streets, he met a beneficiary of HCHW-A.P. who helped him to join the umbrella of MARG. Constant support, motivation and counselling by the staff of HCHW helped him to enroll his name for intermediate which he passed with good marks. Meanwhile he showed interest in learning Spoken English and was thus enrolled into“Vivekananda Institute of Spoken English”. He was encouraged to learn martial arts.After doing his intermediate, he joined HCHW as a street educator. He was motivated by the staff of HCHW to go for further studies. Being inspired by the team of HCHW and the profession of social work, he wanted to continue his higher studies in the field of social work and has joined in Bachelor of Social Work. At present he is pursuing his Bachelors in Social Work and has written his degree first year exam.

Transformation of Lives

E.Venkatesh, 12 year old boy belonging to Mahboobnagar,was never admitted in school and instead engaged in beedi making at home. His fate was different from other children on streets who leave their homes and land in cities. He came to city along with his father in search of work, but to his surprise and shock his father left him on streets and went away. The child was lucky to meet our CDC children and thus joined us. While in CDC, the child worked as a hotel cleaner. The child was motivated and counselled about the benefits of being with family and at home. Regular counselling helped and the child finally decided to go back to his family. He was repatriated back to his family in the month of October. The staff members of HCHW-A.P accompanied the child to his home and counselled his father about his responsibilities towards family and cautioned him with the realities of street life. Now Venkatesh is live

M. Chandrashekhar, 14 year old boy and a student of 9th class, is an example of peer influence on child. Native of Rajamundary, Chandrashekhar’s father is a doctor. Teenage is a very sensitive age and children want to be accepted by peer group. The same was the case with Chandrashekhar and he started bunking classes. His father came to know about it and he literally bashed him. The boy couldn’t tolerate it and in a verge of anger he left his home and came to Hyderabad. It was his luck that he came in contact with Street Educators who asked him, his whereabouts and referred him to our CDC–Secunderabad, The counsellor at CDC interacted with the child and empathized with his feeling and asked about his dreams and aspirations. The boy aspires to become a doctor. On knowing his aspirations, the counsellor added colour to his ambition, and told him about the ground realities of street life and made him realise that he couldn’t achieve his ambition being on streets. Counselling helped the boy realise his mistake and he agreed to go back to his family. The child was thus reunited with his family. Child’s father was also counselled about the stress that the children face during adolescence period and was suggested to be friendly with children. Chandrashekhar’s parents were delighted to get him back and were thankful to the organization for saving their son’s future.

A Long Journey . . .

Nayeem, twenty years old, and a native of Nagarjuna Sagar,Nalgonda District has been one of the best beneficiaries who has come a long way. He was about sixteen year old when he joined Child Development Centre – Hyderabad. While staying in Child Development Centre, he worked as a mason earning Rs.60/- per day. The boy had a habit of sending the hard earned money to his parents once in a fortnight. Consistent efforts, counselling sessions by the staff of Child Development Centre motivated him to think positively towards life. As a result he opted to undergo car driving from Hyderabad Motor Driving School. Meanwhile he joined in ICSS - Software Training Institute as an office assistant. As the days and months rolled down, he was well adjusted with the centre and involved himself in the rehabilitative and development programmes of HCHW. His persistence, hard work, determination and social behaviour helped him to join as an Office Assistant at HCHW-A.P.presently he is working as a full fledged Driver cum Personal Assistant to Director thus enjoying the fruits of his labour.

From Beneficiary to Auto Driver

Azam joined the umbrella of HCHW in the year 1996. Since begining, Azam had exhibited good behaviour and mannerisms.He had always responded positively towards the rehabilitation programme. He was soon well groomed to join as caretaker at Second Home of HCHW. A few years later, Azam expressed his desire to learn car driving. Those were the memorable days for Azam when he joined Hyderabad Motor Driving School in 2001.He learned the skill but found it difficult to get the job placement immediately. On the otherside, his parents had fixed his marriage. Azam decided to stay in Hyderabad after marriage with his wife. To maintain his family, he needed good income.His interest shifted to Auto driving. He was helped to learn auto driving. Today, Azam owns an auto (hypothecated to a finance company). He earns Rs. 200/- a day and leading a happy life with wife and a baby boy.

A social worker in the making

Rajaiah belongs to a remote village in Warangal District of Andhra Pradesh. Although born and brought up in a poor peasant family, Rajaiah studied upto IXth standard and was in Xth Standard when he was forced to stop education and take up job to supplement the family income. The family was in huge debts due to recurring failure of crops. Rajaiah’s keen interest and his firm determination to continue studies turned the situation at home ugly to the extent that he was badly beaten by his mother. Immediately the same night Rajaiah left home and thus started the journey to unknown destination. Moving to different places, Rajaiah finally landed at Hyderabad. “I worked in hotels for 14 to 16 hours a day and used to spend leisure time at Public Gardens”, recalls Rajaiah.

“I have faced many problems on the streets. I did not get food & shelter. I have also faced problem with the police in train. They have beaten me with ‘lathi’. But, slowly I learned to face all that” He said.One day, he learned about CHILD LINE 1098, a toll free facility offering rescue and relief services for the children in difficult circumstances, initiated by HCHW. Rajaiah did not believe it but, wanted to give a try. He made a call to CHILDLINE seeking shelter. The Crisis Manager of HCHW was in front of him in minutes. “I did not believe that people come to render help on receiving a phone call. It was a pleasant surprise for me when the Crisis Manager came to the garden in search of me” He wonders. On knowing Rajaiah’s background, he was referred to the Shelter Home of HCHW. He was 14 years old then. The social workers succeeded in their efforts towards motivating Rajaiah to go back to his native place. Rajaiah was accompanied by a social worker to his home in December 1998.His parents were very happy to see Rajaiah back.Everyone thought it was a happy repatriation. But, the real trouble started then.
The rumors spread in and around the village that Rajaiah was in the Naxalites camp all these days. (Naxal movements are very active in Telangana Region of Andhra Pradesh, Warangal district being the strong base for Naxal movement).
Rajaiah and his parents were interrogated by the Police. The police was not satisfied with the explanations of Rajaiah and his parents that he lived in the shelter home of HCHW. They suggested to get a written proof from the HCHW. Rajaiah, with his father rushed back to Hyderabad.
On hearing everything, the Director of HCHW gave a letter to them certifying about the period of stay of Rajaiah in HCHW. On presenting the letter to the concerned police officers, they got the relief but was mometary. Rajaiah was still under suspicion. “In our villages, if any adolescent or youth are not seen for a few days then, the rumors spread that they are in the training camps of Naxalites. And, their life become miserable with the suspicions and interrogations” said Rajaiah. It was a very difficult phase that Rajaiah and his parents were going through.“Please take my son back into your shelter home. He is living in fear and frustration. I am afraid that it may lead to wrong consequences” pleaded his father. Thus, Rajaiah wasback to HCHW again.
His previous study certificates helped him to join in Xth standard. He was very regular to school. He also joined in NCC.He secured First Division in SSC examinations. He was,then,helped to join in Intermediate course. While studying Intermediate, he developed fascination and interest in Social Work course. Later, after completing the Intermediate course,he joined in ‘Bachelor’s Degree of Social Work’. Rajaiah has good links with his family members. He visits his family in vacations and sometimes on the special occasions like festivals, functions etc., He still feel that the situations in the remote villages (of Naxalite areas) is not good. “Many adolescents and youth are still living in fear, tension and frustration. I am lucky that I have got a right ‘MARG’ and leading a happy life. Above all, I am able to continue my education” says Rajaiah.

Opportunities . . . at the Right Time makes all the Difference

Shabbir is fourteen years old. He joined the umbrella of HCHW in May 1997 with an interest in studies when he was eight years old. He was immediately sent to HCHW - Second Home and admitted in Ist standard in a private English medium school.Being sharp and intelligent, he picked up studies very fast and scored first rank in all tests and examinations, all through the year and then, year after year. In the last six academic years shabbir got double promotions for three times.He bagged two awards during the last year – one, for always being first in class. (eversince he joined his school) and the second for being the best student of the school. Today,shabbir had just appeared for IXth standard examination.
Shabbir hails from a family which had migrated from Warangal District of Andhra Pradesh and settled in Hyderabad for long. His father, an abusive alcoholic is an autorikshaw driver. Shabbir is fourth in order among his nine siblings. Unable to manage the expenses of such a large family his father stopped the education of shabbir’s two elder brothers and put them on job. The next target became shabbir. Although too young to work, Shabbir was forced to join in a garage. “My father never used to give money for the house hold expenditures.
My mother found it very difficult to run the family.Hence, I had to leave school and join the garage” recalls Shabbir. He further says “I used to earn only Rs.10/- per day, but that was really required at that time for food and sustenance”. Shabbir had always nurtured a dream for high education and secured employment with big salary that can solve all his domestic problems. However, with the situation at home his dream was getting more and more unrealistic. “As the day comes to an end and the evening starts, we all used to be very scary-that our father comes home, consuming alcohol, and beat our mother and us without any reasons” recalls Shabbir.
With continued efforts and counseling services of HCHW staff, shabbir was helped in resuming back his links with the family. His mother and siblings were very happy to see him when shabbir was taken home for the first time. “My husband will not let shabbir attend school, he will again put him to work, please keep my child with you and let him continue his studies”,pleaded shabbir’s mother at the time of home visit. shabbir prefered to stay back at HCHW and continue his studies. “I thought my life will also end up in doing some labour work like my brothers. I never imagined that I will be given a second chance to enjoy my childhood, school life and family environment. I am thankful to all those who are shaping my future, my life” says Shabbir like a grownup boy.

The Glimpses of Childhood in Dreams

Fourteen years old Prabhu joined the umbrella of HCHW long back in August 1997. He was, then, around 8 years old. During group activities and one-to-one interactions, the social workers found that Prabhu belongs to Warangal. It is further found that Prabhu’s father works in a Church located beside a petrol pump. Efforts initiated towards the repatriation of
Prabhu, and he also responded positively. Immediately, a staff member of HCHW reached Warangal (who is also a native of Warangal) to locate Prabhu’s parents and his home. All these efforts have gone vain. It was indeed unfortunate that the staff member failed in his efforts and came back with the information that there is no such church in Warangal located beside a petrol pump with his father working over there. It was indeed a shocking news for Prabhu also. Thanks to the individual attention given by the HCHW-Counsellors at that time which had encouraged Prabhu to accept the reality as it is and involve himself in the development activities of HCHW. As a second step, efforts initiated towards creating an interest in Prabhu towards education and his enrolment in regular school for formal education. The social workers succeeded and soon, Prabhu was joined in school in IInd standard in 1997. Now, Prabhu is appearing for VIIth standard examinations. In the last week
of January 2003, Prabhu was observed depressed and withdrawn. This was understood as natural since most of his friends had either gone back home or established a link with their family members. Soon, Prabhu expressed his desire to meet his family members with the Resident Social Worker. Prabhu also shared that he is watching the particular church and petrol pump located in Mahaboobnagar district of Andhra Pradesh in his dreams regularly . The RSW immediately catches the name of the district and tried to confirm with him. He was reminded by the RSW that he had earlier said Warangal and as such efforts were made to trace his family over there and not in Mahaboobnagar. He confidently confirms Mahaboobnagar district as his place. This information has further strengthened the ‘hope’ in Prabhu as well as the RSW. Prabhu became restless and his eagerness to visit home was clearly visible in his eyes and on face. Prabhu was sent to Mahaboobnagar on 2nd February 2003 along with a trained staff member of HCHW. It was a miracle. The particular church and beside it the petrol pump as described by Prabhu were located. With little more efforts involving the local people and with their cooperation, Prabhu’s family was traced. It was really a joyous moment for Prabhu, his family and HCHW that Prabhu is back to his family after six long years.

What the child could not recollect in six odd
years finally remembered seeing glimpses of his childhood in dreams

Can you believe it ! Yes, Prabhu is the live example

On to the Right ”MARG” . . .

Mohd. Irfan, also known as Sultan, is a 16-year-old boy, with a family of four brothers, four sisters and parentsfather an auto driver and mother a housewife. With a family so huge and a single breadwinner (father), Irfan was forced to join work at the young age of six. With no formal education to support he had to work in garages and workshops. He says “ I like radium work. We can stick different types and designs of radium stickers on the vehicles”, recalling his days in a workshop. Irfan was experiencing the bitterness of poverty, the scarcity of all the basic necessities was felt, he exclaims, “ the situation in my family was very difficult. Difficult for anything and everything. All can not get proper food, clothing etc., It was like a saying ‘Ek Anar aur Sau Bimar’ (one pomegranate and 100 sick). Irfan like others at his age, dreamt of a better life, a happier one, and to realize his dreams he left home and landed on to the roads, but soon realized that life on streets was not a piece of cake, he says “I left my home for good but, it was literally a struggle for survival. Many times, I thought of going back home but, was afraid that my parents might beat me and hence, continued on the streets”. He travelled endlessly, he did odd jobs like picking rags, shoe shining, sweeping train bogies, cleaning tea cups and worked as a cleaner in DCM van and Lorries. Finally at
Hyderabad, to his delight he was spotted by HCHW’s street educator, who had joined him at the CDC-Hyderabad and thus began his journey on to the right ”MARG”. At CDC, Irfan was regular to the Non- formal education classes; he later joined the screenprinting unit to under go the six months training. Also efforts were made to make Irfan realize that he should be back with his family, he was positive about it but he expressed “If I go home now, my parents will ask me what did you do all these days and what are you doing now. So, I want to get the full training and then, a good job. Then, I can go home proudly and say that I am working in so and so place and earning so much of money”. Irfan had planned to go home on Bakrid festival, by then he would complete his training and expected to acquire a job also. With the help of the Social Workers, he did indeed get a good job, earning Rs.1500/- per month. As planned, Irfan went home, along with the Social Worker. Irfan’s parents couldn’t believe what they were seeing! “We searched for him in many places. We spent lot of money in travelling from place to place for him. Many times we thought that he might not be alive since, it is too long that he had left home. We lost all our hopes that he will come back home. This is the real festival for us that Irfan came back; we really want to celebrate this” Irfan’s father said in a choked voice.

“I thought my life would end working in the garage just like my brothers, i had never imagined that i would go back to school” says Shabbir, who has come a long way today from working at a garage for Rs.10/- a day at the age of eight, having scored first class marks with distinction in the ssc. He dreams of becoming an engineer. We wish him good luck

The twist that unfold the trauma

Master Syed Mohammed is a ten year child, hails from Charminar, Hyderabad. His mother who got remarried after his father’s death and left him with grandparents. He used to work in a hotel. His elder sister used to harass him on petty issues. Thus, he left home and landed on the streets. He was traced by one of our street educators and referred to Child Development Centre-Secunderabad. After constant counseling, the child agreed to go back to his aunty.

The real twist in story is… after reaching the address and meeting guardians, our caretaker came to know that the boy was not a boy !!! But to his astonishment a girl !!! In an interactive counseling, the girl revealed with dripping tears in her eyes “since, i am not able to withstand the ill treatment at my house, i came on the street. But, i know as a girl it is very difficult to survive on street, facing other people. So, in disguise of boy, I wanted to protect myself. I even changed my name from tasleem to syed mohammed. All that I need in my life is love and care.” Hence, the guardians were counselled and suggested to give attention towards her emotional needs.