MY EXPEREINCE OF SNEHASADNA AS A HOUSE PARENT

 RAJ SAKHDEV SAKAT AND SANTOSH SAKHDEV SAKAT

MY LIFE IS ON THE FORU WHEEL

Raj writes....

I am a student of "NIVARA" contact centre. It is a project by Snehasadan in Borival East, near BEST Bust stop. 
I stay there in a tiny shade with my mother and borhter. My younger brother is placed with Snehasadan House No. 6. We have admitted him in the shelter home of Snehasadan because here there is no safe place for him. 

In order to make living for me and my mother, after school I worked at tea stalls and I continue to serve as waiter in parties and marriages. That is my earning to take care of my family. My mother works as a ragpicker. 

Right from my Balwadi days I am in touch with NIVARA Social Workers. They take good care of us here. They come to visit our places, interact with our parents and make them understand why enrolling a child in the formal school is important. Then, they also convince them to send us to NIVARA centre so that we can avail study classes. 

NIVARA centre gave us snacks, gifts, study material and arranged study classes as well. NIVARA is our second home, where we feel safe and cared for. 

This year I have cleared SSC examination and I will be getting enrolled into a Jurnior College for my further studies. 

Santosh through the help of Snehasadan  has taken admission for Four Wheel Mechanic course in Don Basco Borivali. 

My family is thankful to Don Basco Technical for giving Santosh this opportunity and Snehasadan-Nivara to be with us and continue to support us and our family. 

We feel proud to be part of NIVARA. 

 Mr. Francis Aranha and Mrs. Jacinta Aranha are the House Parent of Snehasadan House No.4.

I, Jacintha Aranha, along with my husband Francis, daughter Renita, and son Rylan have been a part of Snehasadan for the past 15 years and continuing. It’s been a journey full of laughter and tears, hope and fear, uncertainty and clarity. This journey looks very long, yet it feels like ‘yesterday’, when I began working in Snehasadan, on May 1st, 2007, in a house filled with the confused yet welcoming eyes of 17 boys, whose numbers soon increased to 24. Since then, it’s been a roller-coaster ride, since my husband had his job and my children were in school, especially my son who was in class 2 then, it was difficult for me to manage everything. The boys of the home were very accommodating, especially the bigger boys who were very helpful. Vijay, the oldest of them all, who had just given his SSC exam and was on vacation then, provided me most of the assistance. To be a houseparent is a challenging job. It is a big responsibility, to guide the boys to achieve a better future, and to give them a sense of security. Back then, we did not have tuition teachers, so I used to teach them, take their lessons, cook, take them to the doctor, and to school. It was heart-breaking when some of the new boys would run away, as they were used to the freedom that street-life offered; but Fr. Placido reassured me that if I prayed, they would return if they wanted to. The boys did return in a day or two, being apologetic and wanting to stay back. It was with Fr Placido’s guidance that I was able to fulfil my commitment. One of the many things he told me was, to wait for the boys at the door when they would return from school, as they would want to share about their day.

I have been stern with regard to studies, and wanted them to excel in academics. Badal was the first of our boys who went to college. There were other boys too who followed later. Sending them to college brought other challenges, such as, changes in dressing, hairstyle, wanting a mobile phone, etc. 2019 was a year when my boys made me proud, as they got 82% and above marks at their SSC examination.

A few of the older boys are now married and have their own small families. They are working in India as well as abroad. The boys who stay in Mumbai and neighbouring towns, do come to visit and spend time with the present children. During Christmas, these come along with their spouses and children.  It a delight to see them all doing well professionally and personally. So far, I have been blessed in being able to nurture boys who came to Snehasadan, House No.4. 

It is my constant prayer that wherever these boys may go, they may live a happy and healthy life.

SNEHASADAN MY HOME

 SNEHASADAN MY HOME

                    Lonavala Camp Senior Girls' Drawing Competition - Second Prize, Rajshree (House 9)

                It was 5^th August 2013, and dark clouds were hovering over Mumbai City. It was pouring heavily on that day and I was drenched in the rain. With my life shattered due to the death of my parents, my brother and I were brought to the children’s home run by Snehasadan. Entry into the institution didn’t scare me as there were sweet Didis (social workers) to welcome me but I was anxious because it was a totally new world for me. I was admitted into Snehasadan House No. 9, while my brother was sent to one of the boys’ homes.

Snehasadan House No. 9 was a big building and there were many other girls. Probably, there were 25 to 30 girls. I was not used to staying with so many people around. Mine was a small family; Mom, Dad, my brother and me. Adjusting with so many girls was a difficult task for me. For the first few days, I used to sit alone in a corner and just cry. I was also missing my brother because we had never stayed away from each other.

The presence of older girls in the house brought much needed consolations, as they cared for me and made me understand the ups and downs of life. Gradually, I developed friendship with the other girls in the house and happy days began for me in Snehasadan House No. 9. It became for me a ‘Home’ of love and care.

The next challenge that I had to face was getting ready to go to school. ‘School’ ‘education’ and ‘study’, these words had become a big worry for me as I had missed schooling for a long time.  One day, Sr. Goretti asked me about school and till which class I had studied. I had no answer to these questions. The Sister, the social workers and the Fathers understood the plight of this little Cinderella and arranged for me an admission in St. Catherine’s Primary School, Jogeshwari West. I was enrolled in class 4, as per my age which was 11years. For the first time, I entered a big and beautiful school building.  Sisters in the House started giving me tuitions and in no time, I made quite good progress in my studies. I began to like reading story-books and developed a keen interest in studies.

My experience tells me that Snehasadan is not just an institution but a home for me and children like me. It has nurtured my life and the lives of many other boys and girls. This year, I completed the HSC and began moving forward in life by taking admission for GNM Nursing in Holy Spirit Hospital, Andheri. Snehasadan has supported me and continues to support me and accompany me in my life. I am grateful to Snehasadan, to all the Sisters who enriched my life, all the social workers who helped me and all the Fathers for helping me at every stage of my life. 

- Sadhana Vaghoskar (House No.9)

MY JOURNEY IN SNEHASADAN

Lonavala Camp Senior Girls' Drawing Competition - First Prize, Bhagyarathi Swami (House 9)

 My Journey in Snehasadan 

I was happy at home till some issues erupted and I had to come to Snehasadan Home No. 9, on 21^st January 2021. Within 2 days I got tired of staying here. I was very sad the whole day and frustrated because I was not getting the happiness of having my family and friends. Sometimes, I thought of running away from here but at the same time, I was also afraid of going out alone. Gradually, I started thinking positively as I observed other girls living happily in House No.9. Many of them became my good friends.

           As the months passed, I was joyful and happy to stay here because of the love and care of the sisters and the other girls. I also realized that happiness is not found only in the family or friends and the phone; it is also about nurturing my own life by utilizing given opportunities. Snehasadan was one such opportunity. As I started interacting with everyone my world in Snehasadan changed. The girls are very caring and helpful. They took good care of me, whenever I was sick or injured. And from the start till now, I am very safe here and protected from all dangers. All the Fathers and Sisters pay special attention into each child in Snehasadan. Now, I feel that I am very lucky that I came to Snehasadan and got everything that I could not get at home.

          In the beginning, I thought that staying here I cannot do anything, but now I know that here I can fulfill all my dreams. I can achieve my goals with the help of Fathers, Sisters and social workers. They got me admitted to Sunflower Secondary English Medium School for my 10^th standard. They made available a separate coaching teacher for my difficult subjects. I have successfully completed my SSC with 79%.

      Fathers, Sisters and social workers are very caring, loving, and sweet. Fr. Noel, Fr. Welington and Fr. Lenoy are very loving and gentle. They always showed me the right path and give me love and blessings.

We also got to go to Lonavala for holiday camp. There, all girls of Snehasadan, Fathers, Sisters come togethr to enjoy the vacation. Now, I don’t want to go away from Snehasadan. I am really very happy to stay here. Snehasadan has been a blessing in my life.

I love Snehasadan.

- Karishma Verma (House No.9)