Meet The Man Who Is Helping Mumbai Street Kids Enrol In Schools

Meet The Man Who Is Helping Mumbai Street Kids Enrol In Schools

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Prince, who runs an NGO in Kandivali, Mumbai has enrolled 49 street children in English Medium Schools.

Under the Western Express Highway at Kandivali, Mumbai, live street children, on an uneven ground scattered with pebbles, feathers and trash, horns blaring from all directions. Despite this chaotic environment, these kids are merry. This scene never caught the attention of passersby, but it left one person stunned. This individual was Prince Kumar Tiwari.

Prince, a student at Thakur College of Science and Commerce Mumbai, was on his way to catch a train when few kids drenching in the rain caught his attention. Intrigued by the view, Prince approached the children to know more about them. Even the kids were curious to talk to him. In the course of the talk, they told him that they loved going to school and to learn. He appreciated their interest and asked them some simple questions. But the kids could not answer them. He realised that the quality of education they were receiving was not the best.

Moved by their living conditions and their unproductive education, Prince decided to help them. He and his friend Payal started teaching the kids every day before they went to their college. Initially, the kids would come and sit with them. But, eventually, they would disappear. They would all run away from the class to a nearby temple to beg for food. Seeing this, Prince and Priya decided to get the food for the kids themselves.

This became a routine for them. They would gather at a place and start their day by learning Math, English and Science. Prince continued teaching till it was time for him to graduate from college. That is when he decided to take a step ahead. He approached few private schools and requested them to admit the street children he’d been teaching. The school authorities denied admission. They said the parents would take objection to enrolling street kids to the school.

Though dejected, Prince didn’t want to give up. He then approached his college trustees and requested them for financial assistance for the children’s education. The faculty suggested for him to register an organisation, and then enrol kids in the school run by the college trustees.

Prince started Teresa, The Ocean of Humanity Foundation. He used the money he earned from his internships and sponsored the education of 24 children initially. The kids who joined for pre-primary were enrolled in English medium schools, while primary and secondary school students were enrolled in semi-English schools. The kids would spend their days in school and the remaining half in a room rented by Prince to give them tuitions. Many people and corporates approached to help him after seeing the effort he made.

With the funds he received from the sponsors, almost all the kids living under that flyover can now go to a good school, which immensely satisfies Prince.

When government workers wanted to evacuate the children living under the flyover for the Swachh Bharat (Clean India) mission, Prince requested them to wait until the end of the academic year. Though initially hesitant, after seeing the progress of the students, the concerned authorities heeded his request and halted their plans.

Prince is on a quest to give these kids a better life. To raise funds and spread awareness, he is organising a walkathon. His hard work and sheer determination made his dream to help the students successful. You can follow his initiative here.

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Editor : Koshika Mira Saxena Mira Saxena

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