September 2003: Today Bina (name changed for privacy), a confident sixteen year old, is ecstatic. So are her family and all her teachers. Her recent success in the School Final Examinations has made everyone proud. However, fate has not always been in her favour. Bina lives in a slum on Sarat Bose Road in Kolkata with her two younger siblings and parents. She grew up in an environment maligned by poverty, corruption and disease. Her father, who is the sole breadwinner of the family, works as a driver today. But years ago, when Bina was a toddler, he had a serious drinking problem.
Bina's potential may have never been realized if not for the helping hand extended by Tomorrow's Foundation (TF). TF is a 10-year-old NGO based in Kalighat, Kolkata that works with the local municipal corporation school to address educational, physical and emotional needs of about 200 street and slum children and the children of sex workers living in a high-risk social and physical environment. TF helped reunite Bina's family and opened opportunities to Bina and her siblings. Today they are considered a model family in the community; Bina's achievements have motivated her neighbors to send their children to TF with the hope that they too will follow her footsteps.
The Street to
School (STS) project is a joint venture between Tomorrow's Foundation
and Asha for Education. The
activities of the Foundation range from basic tutoring services and
schooling, to health care, psychological and career counseling, as well as
vocational training. All these services are offered to the children
completely free of cost. The novel aspects of the approach adopted by
Tomorrow's Foundation is close cooperation with the local and school
authorities to utilize available resources, as well as the holistic nature
of the education offered. The Foundation is widely recognized in the
community and by the government. They achieved a major milestone when
UNESCO accepted Tomorrow's Foundation as a model project worth replicating
elsewhere in the country and across the world.
Click here for
more information about 'Street to School'.
Asha for Education has been associated with Tomorrow's
Foundation since 1995 and has developed a strong bond with them over the
years. Asha has previously supported recurring expenses as well as
scholarships and computer purchases. Asha is really impressed with the
mission and objectives of STS and has received very heartening feedback
from site visits.
Tomorrow's Foundation's mission is to help children until they can help themselves. In addition to formal schooling, the Foundation seeks to provide a caring and supportive environment to these children and reintegrate them into mainstream schooling. They plan to build a 'Half Way Home' which will provide temporary accommodation for vulnerable children such as victims of abuse, sick children, and children who have nowhere to go during monsoons. The children will remain in the home for a maximum period of one year until a permanent shelter is found for them. The Half Way Home will provide the kids with education, cultural and vocational training, recreation and health care in a pleasing environment.
Work An Hour, popularly known as 'WAH', is Asha’s annual worldwide fundraising event, which runs from July 4th to September 5th 2003. Supporters are encouraged to fund this initiative by donating an hour's income to Asha's efforts. The Street to School has been selected as one of four project partners to receive WAH funding in 2003. During WAH 2003, Asha hopes to raise US $22,000 to support building construction of the 'Half Way Home'. Your contribution could help another Bina blossom in the free, secure and healthy environment that every child deserves. Contributions are accepted online at the ASHA website.
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