Sunbeam - A Ray of Hope

MISSION

TO TRANSFORM THE LIVES OF UNDERPRIVILEGED INDIAN CHILDREN GIVING THEM AN OPPORTUNITY TO REALISE THEIR FULL POTENTIAL.

OBJECTIVES

1.       TO OVERSEE THE HOLISTIC DEVELOPMENT OF UNDERPRIVILEGED CHILDREN – THEIR PHYSICAL, PSYCHOLOGICAL AND EDUCATIONAL NEEDS.

2.       TO MOTIVATE AND EMPOWER THE COMMUNITY TO BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE OVERALL DEVELOPMENT OF THEIR CHILDREN.

TO MAKE SUNBEAM INTERVENTION A PROGRAMME OF TRANSFORMATION RATHER THAN SERVICE DELIVERY – WITH CLARITY ON WITHDRAWAL STRATEGY, SO THAT THE COMMUNITY CAN BECOME INDEPENDENT AND SELF-RELIANT.

ACTIVITIES UNDERTAKEN (IMPACT OF OUR INTERVENTION) 

EDUCATION 

(Non Formal and Formal)

More than just the ability to read and write, education gives them confidence in themselves.  With space generously donated by contractors at construction sites or by the Education Officer in BMC schools, we conduct Balwadis for pre-primary children (age-group 3 to 5) and Non Formal Education (NFE) classes for newcomers at our existing centres / new initiatives (age-group 6 and above). 

On a regular basis, we introduce sessions like songs, drama, drawing and poetry to enliven the atmosphere in the classroom so as to make studies more interesting.  Once the children have mastered the basics, they are made to join the mainstream, with the centre giving them the appropriate coaching even after they have joined formal schools.

Bridge courses are conducted for children who are of age-group 5 to 10 but those who have never had an opportunity to attend formal schools.  Appropriate training is imparted to enable them to join the mainstream by ensuring direct admissions to classes based on their age and aptitude.

Today, 80% of the children attending Sunbeam study classes are up to the desired levels in the academics and only 20% still attend bridge courses. By the beginning of the next academic year i.e. June – 05 we aim to bring them too up to the desired levels at the formal schools they study in.

1.      HEALTHCARE AND NUTRITION

This covers the aspects of nutrition, health awareness, and counseling.  When we started, healthcare was never a priority with the parents.  Now they are empowered enough to take the responsibility of their children’s healthcare.  These communities avail of the medical facilities available at the Government clinics / hospitals.  They also provide nutritive meals to their children.  Hence, our midday meals programme is limited only to the street children.

2.      COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT

Over a period of time we have realised that Sunbeam would have achieved little without the underlying support from the parents.  In order to understand the children, their motivation, and their behaviour, it is important for us to build a rapport with the parents.  Contrary to popular belief, they are very concerned about their children’s welfare and would like to give them the best opportunities.  They want to be a part of this positive change that is taking place in their children’s lives.  Therefore, we have introduced community meetings once a month to give them an opportunity to share their thoughts with us.  Here it must also be mentioned that they willingly contribute part of the expenditure incurred on each child.  There has been a steady decline of dependency levels on Sunbeam.

3.      RECREATION

Earlier on in the project we realized the importance of this aspect.  Homework would be completed doubly fast, with the brighter ones coaching, coaxing and even scolding those who had trouble catching up.  So, we regularly take the children on excursions to places of interest or parks.  Besides being a channel for entertainment, we believe that recreation can also be instructive.  So we arrange to take our children on exposure visits.  We have also been fortunate to have the services of NGOs such as Magic Bus as well as individual donors who have been sponsoring overnight outstation camps.  Thanks to Magic Bus, sports too has become a weekly activity for our children, thereby utilizing a child’s potential to its fullest.

ABOUT SUNBEAM                                                                                 

Sunbeam is a story written by many tiny hands - hands of street children, slum children, children of migrant construction workers. Children who very early on learn that dreams are not for them.

Sunbeam has befriended 650 such children in the city of Mumbai and through a comprehensive programme, which stresses education, recreation and community involvement, has sown the dream of a future within them.

Today, children like Rekha, Kishore, Tuljamma and Babu proudly attend classes at Sunbeam centres, go to a municipal school, compete with privileged counterparts in school and aspire for careers on the other side of the street, slum and construction site.

II TOTAL OUTREACH – CENTERWISE NUMBER OF CHILDREN –   OCT’04

III  IMPACT OF OUR INTERVENTION – 685CHILDREN.                                                           

ACADEMIC YEAR – 04 – 05

SUNBEAM HISTORY                        

Sunbeam started out as an unusual friendship in 1996. Between six children at a construction site and Khurshid Dabdi and her colleagues, who worked in the adjacent CRY office. Soon, a collection bag went around and money was pooled in to start the ‘Neighbourhood Project’. The contributions took care of their immediate needs - a nutritious meal and colouring books!

The construction ended in two years time, but not without setting the foundation for something bigger. The Neighbourhood Project crystallised into Sunbeam and the first centre was set up at Arthur Road with 18 children. On 10 December 1999, Khurshid Dabdi, along with two colleagues, and with encouragement from the CRY management, registered Sunbeam as a charitable trust.

Today, the Sunbeam family includes 650 children in 5 centres, 18 teachers and hundreds of volunteers and donors. All of who believe that childhood is a time to be happy and carefree. And that no child should be deprived of this right.

ACHIEVEMENTS

Academic Reports:

To learn about the impact of our intervention at an organizational level let us take you through a few touching case stories of our children.

I  Never-say-die Ganesh

What do you do when your parents move to another construction site and your school report hasn’t reached you? And what do you do if that means you can’t be admitted to a private school?

If you’re Ganesh, age 11, you don’t complain that life is unkind. You don’t wait for your teacher to figure out what to do. You take charge. You march into the nearest post office, have a word with the postmaster and return to the centre within an hour - report card in hand.

Proactivity like this is unique. But then, so is Ganesh. In the 5 years that he’s been with Sunbeam, his parents have moved sites as many times. But come rain or shine, by bus, train or on foot, he’s turned up at the nearest Sunbeam centre. And not just that, he’s ensured that he’s among the top in his class.

Because of his sterling performance, Ganesh was one of the 25 students who was selected for admission to a private school. But before Ganesh could step into a private school, there was one final test. The teachers reported that they couldn’t find a good private school in the vicinity of Ganesh’s home. Was Ganesh disappointed?

If you’ve gotten to know Ganesh a bit by now, you’ll have guessed what he did next.

That’s right! He personally scoured the area and came up with the names of a few private schools. Today he’s gained admission in a good private school in Wadala.

II  Bhurjamma and the new centre

Bhurjamma was in the Phoenix Mills centre for a brief period before her parents moved to a construction site at Dadar. She was disappointed of course, but that didn’t stop her from canvassing for Sunbeam among the 40 children and their parents at Dadar. Next, she confronted the contractor and got 2 tiny rooms where classes could be conducted. “Now you have to start a centre at Dadar,” she said with a winning smile.

The centre was started in Jan 2002. Unfortunately for Bhurjamma, her father passed away and her mother contracted a bad case of tuberculosis. Bhurjamma went to work to support her family until her mother recovered. It’s a sad irony that Bhurjamma who helped set up the centre never got the opportunity to study there herself. But thanks to her proactivity, 40 children went to school

III A star pupil called Tara

When we faced a staff crunch at Kamala Mills, unlikely help came from 9 year old Tara. She took it upon herself to coach 15 children for 2 hours every morning. And completed her own studies in the evening. Thanks to her efforts, all 15 children were promoted to Std. II, while she went to Std. III.

IV Arjun the builder

WHAT SUNBEAM DOES FOR A CHILD BENEFICIARY

I.  Education and Community Development

The history at all of our 5 education centers has been the same. Sunbeam reaches out to slum children, construction workers children and children living on the pavements of Mumbai. Ours is a secular organization where all children are welcome, with no discrimination whatsoever between children from different religions, castes, etc. Given the right opportunities and an environment that’s conducive to learning, our children are capable of achieving good results.

Year 1

The first 3 months are the most challenging. At the time of entry into Sunbeam, the children are completely illiterate and fall into the age group between 2 to 12 years [which means that they should be between pre-primary and std.5 levels]. We not only have to work towards winning the children and their parents’ trust, but also have to ensure that activities at Sunbeam are interesting enough to keep steady attendance levels in the class-rooms. So at least for the first 3 months we have our Non Formal Education [NFE] classes where studies is mostly through games, drawing and other related activities.

The next 6 to 8 months is the crucial period when our teachers have to complete 3 to 4 years portion in order to bring these children up to the required academic levels. [The emphasis is on the Language and Mathematics.]  We keep 2 teachers for an approximate 50 children, with 5 to 8 children per batch.

Keeping in mind their age and aptitude, the children are coached to seek admission into formal schools at the beginning of the following academic year. For instance, a child who is 8 years old will be coached for direct admission into std. 4 in the formal school because Sunbeam has managed to bring him up to the level of the class to which he has to be admitted. This is known as Bridge Course whereby those children who were totally ignorant and uneducated have managed to ‘bridge’ the gap between illiteracy and education and are now on their way to making a career for themselves.

Year 2

Once the children begin with formal school [which is either in the morning or afternoon], they continue to attend Sunbeam for the other half of the day. It’s a matter of pride for Sunbeam that every child who gains admission into formal school, does so on merit. This is largely due to the teachers’ efforts in preparing the children and bringing them to the desired academic levels.

The parents too are made to understand the importance of education in their children’s lives, notwithstanding the temporary setbacks they may have to face in the event of their child not being available to complete the house work, look after the younger siblings, etc.

Despite our best intentions and efforts, we found that our teachers faced an uphill task. They usually encountered a problem even though there were only 5-10 children per batch because they had around 4-5 batches of different classes simultaneously. But naturally, it became difficult for them to give quality time to each batch of children, a factor that largely contributed to the progress & results not being up to the mark.

Year 3

Every one learns from experiences and so did Sunbeam. From the unfortunate occurrences in the 2^nd year, we decided to introduce a change in the system. From the 3rd year onwards, the teachers and the community workers started convincing the parents to send their children to a Sunbeam center where the same class [as their child studied in] was being conducted. This was because there happened to be the maximum number of children from that class at that particular center.  Most of the parents were agreeable, even though it involved traveling fairly long distances. This arrangement benefited the teacher as well as the students and progress levels started to improve. Quality education truly became a reality.

Year 4

From the 4th year onwards, the process was systemized. Every teacher has 20 children on an average with 3 batches a day of different stds., and 2 hours committed for every batch, congruent to the subject-wise syllabus followed in formal schools. Sunbeam thus became a proper coaching class, with the teachers being able to give undivided attention and the personal touch.

The community is further empowered by active participation in their children’s welfare. With the exception of the pavement dwellers’ children for whom Sunbeam provides school items such as uniforms and footwear, the parents from the construction sites and slums take on the full responsibility and purchase the material on their own. Moreover, all the parents make it a point to attend the community meetings that are held at the respective centers on a quarterly basis. Almost all of them have given the commitment that their children will continue with their studies until the 10^th std. and 50% of the parents have expressed their desire to see their children through college and further studies.

Health and nutrition no longer remain issues that need to be tackled because by now the parents are aware of the benefits of sound health that result from wholesome nourishment [that is also affordable] provided to their offspring.

Child labour and child marriage that earlier were issues needing constant intervention and monitoring on the part of our community workers, are now matters belonging to the past.

Year 5

From this academic year i.e. 2004-2005, Sunbeam has decided to recruit English teachers – one for each center. Up until now, we relied mostly on volunteers to fill the gap since we were unable to attract the right talent at the pay scales we had to offer. Lack of knowledge of the English language [being vernacular medium students] could well prove to be one of the major handicaps our children are likely to face once they move to S.S.C. and beyond. Volunteers still remain major partners in our effort to induct English in our curriculum. Most of them take care of conversational English while the teachers follow the formal school syllabus.

At each center we have 2 to 3 vernacular medium teachers which translates into 6 to 9 batches of students per center being handled every day. For all these batches we’ve appointed 1 English teacher, allotting 1 hour to each batch of children. In the formal schools, English starts from std. 5. The children, though they may have reached the7^th or 8^th stds.,  do not know the language at all. Hence, our all-out efforts at initiating English at all our centers on a war footing.

Another indicator of success is the equal ratio of girls vs. boys in the 8^th and 9^th stds.

Moreover, for those children who have reached the higher secondary section, we have admitted them into professional coaching classes such as Chate and Aman Classes. [While Chate classes have offered a 30% discount, Aman classes have charged only the registration fees, the coaching being completely free.]

We are also planning to have sessions on career counseling and vocational guidance, which, we believe, will open up a variety of options for our children to choose from once they complete their 10th std. or graduation.

II. EVENTS

a.    Sunbeam Events 04-05

As per the Sunbeam event calendar for our 650 + children, we have planned out different types of trips for the entire year. These include exposure visits, fun-filled day trips, trekking trips as well as overnight camps.

The exposure trips are for std.5 and above. These include visits to the Parle - G Factory, Nehru Science Center and Planetarium, Worli Dairy, Bank visits, visits to the Fire Brigade, Post Office and Police station.

For the children of std. 2^nd to 4^th we have had visits to the zoo & parks.  

Sunbeam Annual Day Event

This year for the first time in the history of Sunbeam we had our Annual Day Function on the11^th of December at the Sahitya Sangam Mandir Hall at Charni Road – and it was a grand success.  It provided a novel platform to see the children’s inherent talents on the stage.

We look forward to meeting all of you at our Annual Day function.

      Other Events

Every year we take our children to the Children’s Orthopedic Hospital for a fun fair where our children not only enjoy playing different games but also get a chance to interact with handicapped children. We’re also planning to celebrate Teachers Day, Children’s Day, Independence Day and Republic Day.

Magic Bus Events 04-05  

Magic Bus covers 250 children under their Mentorship Program. They plan out their yearly event calendar that includes 5 one-day trips / exposure visits and a yearly overnight camp per batch of 40 + children [separate for the older and younger lots of children].

III. VOLUNTEERS

SOSVA, CRY, Xaviers College & IVOL send volunteers who are placed at our different centers – need based.

Some of our volunteers not only teach as per organizational requirements, but also go beyond their role and attend the community meetings. They take it upon themselves to explain to the parents the importance of education for their children and why it is necessary for them to study beyond the 10^th std., and with Sunbeam intervention, making promising careers for themselves.

Education, we believe, is the most valuable legacy we can gift to our children. Our achievements, though modest, indicate the tremendous efforts that have gone into planning and executing the minutest of details that have made Sunbeam an exemplary grass-root level NGO working in the fields of child development and social welfare. We owe our success to the many like-minded individuals who’ve supported us in the past and continue to partner us in this challenging assignment for the betterment in the lives of our child beneficiaries.

Collaboration Possibilities:

ON SATURDAY MORNINGS (EXCEPT ON 1^ST SATURDAYS WHEN THE CENTERS ARE CLOSED) ANYONE WHO IS INTERESTED MAY VISIT THE STUDY CLASSES. IN THE AFTERNOONS, THEY MAY FEEL FREE TO JOIN US IN OUR MONTHLY MEETINGS WITH THE COMMUNITY (i.e. PARENTS / TEACHERS MEETINGS.)

OUR STUDY CENTERS ARE AT CHANDANWADI – MARINELINES, GOL DEVAL – NEAR GRANTROAD, AMBEDKAR SCHOOL – WORLI, KAMALA MILLS – LOWER PAREL AND AT KHERWADI SCHOOL – BANDRA EAST.

SUNBEAM IS ALL ABOUT AND HOW YOU CAN PARTNER US IN OUR CAUSE IN REACHING OUT TO OUR 650+ CHILD BENEFICIARIES.

ANY KIND OF AUDIENCE WILL DO – COLLEGE STUDENTS, HOUSEWIVES, WORKING PEOPLE, PEOPLE WHO ARE INTERESTED IN SUPPORTING US BY GIVING OFF THEIR TIME, TALENT, SKILLS, ETC.

Yearly budget (in Rs. Lacs)  (APPROXIMATELY RS. 32 LAKHS)

SOURCES OF REVENUE             

OUR ANNUAL FUNDING NEED FOR F.Y.05-06 IS AS MENTIONED ABOVE I.E. (APPROXIMATELY RS.32 LAKHS)

YOU’D NOTICE THAT WE HAVE A DIVERSIFIED FUND BASE. THESE CORPORATES, MAHINDRAS (THROUGH THEIR NANHI KALI PROJECT) INDIVIDUALS OR ROTARIES HAVE BEEN FUNDING US SINCE THE PAST FEW YEARS AND WE’D CONSIDER IT OUR PRIVILEGE TO HAVE THEM CONTINUE TO PARTNER US IN OUR EFFORT. 

YET, WE’D LIKE TO STATE THAT COMMITMENT FOR 05-06 FROM ALL OF THESE DONORS PUT TOGETHER WOULD BE IN THE RANGE OF 50 % TO 60 % OF OUR NEXT YEAR’S BUDGET. HENCE, WE ARE CERTAINLY LOOKING FOR MORE SOURCES OF REVENUE. WE WOULD SEND OFFICIAL FUNDING PROPOSALS WITH ALL THE NECESSARY DETAILS TO ANY CORPORATE WHO’D LIKE TO OFFER THEIR SUPPORT TO SUNBEAM.

Organisation Structure

CLOTHES AND TOYS ARE NOT REQUIRED AS OTHER NGOS ARE TAKING CARE OF OUR NEED FOR THE SAME. RATNA NIDHI & LIFE – RAJKOT, SEND US CLOTHES IN BULK FOR OUR 650+ CHILDREN ONCE A YEAR.

BUT WHAT WE DO NEED ON A REGULAR BASIS ARE STATIONERY ITEMS LIKE NOTEBOOKS, PENCILS, ERASERS, COMPASS BOXES.

ALSO OTHER EDUCATIONAL ITEMS LIKE SCHOOL BAGS.
FOR OUR CHILDREN LIVING ON THE PAVEMENTS OF MUMBAI (200 CHILDREN IN ALL) WE ALSO REQUIRE OTHER SCHOOL ITEMS SUCH AS UNIFORMS, FOOTWEAR & RAINCOATS. ALSO SOME BASIC NECESSITIES FOR THEM SUCH AS MATS, BED SHEETS, SWEATERS, ETC. TO MAKE SURVIVAL ON THE STREETS EASIER.
ANYONE WHO’D LIKE TO SPONSOR A LUNCH PARTY FOR THEM WOULD ALSO BE WELCOME AND APPRECIATED.

JOBS AVAILABLE:

Organization Contact Details:

309, ZAVERI BUILDING
2^ND FLOOR, NO. 14 /15
OPP. ALBLESS BAUG
GIRGAUM
MUMBAI – 400004
Phone - 23867796
Fax -     23867796 

Email – sunbeamtrust@hotmail.com

Contact Person’s Details:

Name:  Ms. Aban Bharucha

Work phone: 23867796    Best times to call: 10am to 6pm.

Names of Trustees (with age of the most active one):

Ms. Khurshid Dabdi  Age- 40 years
Ms. Sangeeta Kapila
Mr. Sameer Koticha
Mr. Asit Koticha
URL of any interview or write – up:  

SUNBEAM TESTIMONIAL                         

I have known Sunbeam since its inception, when a small core group of people from the CRY office decided to do something for the children of construction workers in a nearby building.  What started out as a voluntary effort with about 6 children has grown into an amazing organization called Sunbeam transforming the lives of hundreds of children in Mumbai.

What’s been extraordinary about the Sunbeam journey is that it was not started by experts / professionals to address an issue, rather it was started by a few ordinary people with an extraordinary capacity to love and the courage to offer themselves fully to the children they were drawn to work with.

What makes Sunbeam special is the fact that its learning and development has happened with the active participation of their children.  At every point the children’s voices have been paramount, often challenging the current wisdom on an issue.  I have rarely come across an organization that is truly as child centered as Sunbeam.  When we talk of the ‘right to participation’ Sunbeam has made that right one of its core principles.

At the heart of Sunbeam is Khurshid Dabdi - its soul, conscience keeper, energy and founder.  Nothing in all her previous years of work as an Executive Secretary and then H.R. Executive at CRY indicated what her real purpose would be in life.  And yet when the calling came, she responded with a courage and faith I have rarely seen.  And she has nurtured this dream and filled Sunbeam, each volunteer, staff member, well wisher and board member with a new vision for children.  A vision that starts by simply respecting each child as a special gift and  unique individual, with a voice that not just needs to be heard, but valued and acted upon.  To see the children with Khurshid is to understand the essence of Sunbeam. 

Recognizing that Sunbeam is a living entity that would need to outlive us all in the service of children, Khurshid is in the process of ensuring this vision is institutionalized as a way of life in Sunbeam. 

Most people have been transformed by their involvement with Sunbeam, but the most profound transformation has been brought about in the lives of the hundreds of little children.  Every story is another affirmation that no matter what the situation, children will find healing and self confidence and expression, when loved unconditionally and given the opportunity to discover and realize their dreams.

I count my association with Sunbeam as one of the blessings of my life.

Pervin Varma
Ex-CEO – CRY – Child Relief & You