Vijay* is a 14-year-old boy from Solapur, Maharashtra, who used to live with his mother and three sisters. His family has faced significant challenges, particularly after the death of his father when Vijay was just 9 years old. This loss left Vijay and his family struggling both emotionally and financially. His mother worked hard as a sweeper to provide for the family, but the responsibility of helping to care for his sisters and support his mother weighed heavily on Vijay at a young age.
In 2022, family issues prompted a police officer to recommend that Vijay’s mother send him to a government home in Mumbai for better care and support. Vijay was moved to a home called Chembur Children’s Home, but adjusting to this new environment was extremely difficult for him. He felt mentally disturbed and often expressed his anger through aggression and abusive language. He was disruptive in class and showed little interest in his studies, which made it hard for him to make progress.
For several months, Vijay’s attitude remained unchanged, and he continued to struggle with mood swings and irregular school attendance. However, things began to improve when Sahaara’s staff took the time to interact with him on a more personal level. They offered him counselling and helped him understand how to manage his emotions. Through months of guidance and support, Vijay slowly opened up, becoming more cooperative and engaged.
As Vijay started to feel more supported, his behaviour began to change. He grew friendlier with his teachers and classmates and began participating in the activities and lessons offered by Sahaara. His attendance improved, and he started to show interest in his studies. The anger and abusive language that once characterised his behaviour disappeared, and Vijay started to acknowledge his mistakes and work on correcting them.
Today, Vijay’s academic performance reflects the positive changes in his life. He now has an overall percentage of 62% in subjects such as English, Marathi, Science, and Maths. Thanks to Sahaara’s Pragati project, he is receiving not only educational support but also life skills training, which is helping him develop in a holistic way.
Vijay enjoys the classes provided by Sahaara, saying that they are fun and full of activities. He appreciates the care and love shown by his teachers, and he now dreams of becoming a cricketer in the future.
* Names changed to protect identities.
