Roshan, a smart and cheerful boy from Ratnagiri, faced rejection early in life. His parents separated after a fight, and his mother never returned. His father later remarried, and Roshan was left without the care of either parent. He was eventually sent to live with relatives, but none were willing to support him for long. At just eight years old, he began working in a flower shop in Mumbai. During a police raid, Roshan was caught and treated as a case of child labour. With no one in his family willing to help, he was brought to the Chembur Children’s Home (CCH) in 2019.
It was here that Sahaara first came into contact with Roshan through Project Pragati. At the time, Roshan was rebellious and disinterested in studies—his past experiences had left him emotionally bruised and mistrustful. But Sahaara saw potential in him and began walking alongside him in his journey toward healing and growth.
After learning basic literacy at the Home, Roshan was admitted to Class 7, and Sahaara began to support him more deeply. He received regular tuitions in subjects like English, Marathi, Maths, and Science. He also participated in life skills and socio-emotional sessions designed to help him manage fear, build confidence, improve communication, and understand basic financial literacy.
Initially, he struggled with discipline and focus. But the Sahaara team encouraged him every step of the way, rewarding small wins and offering patient mentorship through every difficulty. Slowly, Roshan began to change. He started taking interest in his studies and responded well to the support given. His behaviour improved, and he began to express himself better in class.
By the time he reached Class 10, Roshan had become more serious about his education. With guidance from Sahaara’s teachers and access to extra coaching, materials, and consistent support, he completed his board exams and scored 67%. This was a proud moment not just for Roshan, but also for the team that had stood by him.
Today, Roshan has applied for admission in an Industrial Training Institute (ITI) to pursue a course in electronics. His dream is to become an electronics engineer. Speaking about his journey, he says, “I love my teachers. I enjoy the classes. I can express myself now because of them.”
(Name changed to protect identity.)