Aditya* was only six years old when his life took a difficult turn. After both his parents passed away, his uncle, who was already struggling financially, was unable to care for him. He made the tough decision to hand Aditya over to a government remand home. Later, Aditya was shifted to Chembur Children’s Home (CCH), where he began a new journey—one that would slowly transform his life.
At CCH, Aditya was quiet and withdrawn. He had trouble focusing and didn’t show much interest in schoolwork. Though he was placed in Grade 4, he couldn’t read simple words in English or Marathi. He would often fall asleep during class and refused to write. His handwriting was messy, and he had trouble writing on the lines. He would mix up letters, forget how to form them, and was unsure when to use upper or lowercase. Teachers noticed he was easily distracted and rarely completed tasks.
When Sahaara staff began working with Aditya through their education and life skills programme, they observed his struggles carefully. They identified signs of dysgraphia—a learning challenge that affects writing skills—and immediately adjusted their approach. Sahaara’s trained teachers designed special activities to help him. They used visual aids, games, and hands-on tools to engage him in learning. Instructions were broken into small steps, and teachers sat with him one-on-one, sometimes holding his hand to help him write on the lines.
With this continuous support, Aditya slowly began to improve. He started enjoying the games and activities and began to stay awake and alert during lessons. “I enjoy being a part of the activities and games during class,” he shared cheerfully. He became more confident and was soon able to read small words and short sentences by himself. He also started writing more neatly and was better at staying focused.
Sahaara’s support has not only helped Aditya in academics but also in emotional and social development. His concentration and behaviour have improved. He now interacts more with others, participates in classroom discussions, and looks forward to learning new things.
Aditya is still on his learning journey, but the change is remarkable. He now dreams of becoming a dancer and enjoys practising his moves during his free time. With continued support from Sahaara’s team, he will receive both academic help and life skills training to keep growing.
Aditya may have started in difficult circumstances, but with care, guidance, and consistent encouragement, he is writing a hopeful new chapter in his life.
(Names changed to protect identities.)