DREAMZ: Home for Homeless Children

Smile has been supporting this project since: 2007-08 Direct beneficiaries: 20 Indirect beneficiaries: 200

FROM THE DIRECTOR’S DESK We appreciate the efforts taken up by SMILE FOUNDATION in the field of Education and Health of the underprivileged children in India. Our association with SMILE Foundation goes way back in the year 2007, when SMILE extended its support to sponsor the education expenses of 28 children (girls & boys) of DREAMZ Home, which was run in one accommodation in Goregaon (East). With SMILE’s sustained support over the years, DREAMZ Home, today, has 65 children (27 girls & 38 boys) residing in three different Centres. The girls reside in Malad (East) where as the boys reside at Malwani, & Erangal Centres at Malad (West). SMILE Foundation has been instrumental in the development & welfare of DREAMZ Home children We thank & value your partnership as we hope for your continued support towards the activities of D REAMZ Home, in the coming years. SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT CENTRE (DREAMZ HOME PROJECT) VIJAY KARANDE Founder Secretary & Director

Social Development Centre and Smile Foundation have collaborated on a project titled ‘Dreamz’ which aims to mainstream street children of Mumbai into civil society. Dreamz is a brainchild of Social Development Centre, Malad East, Mumbai.

About the project

DREAMZ started with the sole objective of mainstreaming street children into the civil society by giving the best possible education, healthcare, nutrition and grooming. DREAMZ is a rehabilitation cum recreational centre for the street children of the mega city.

The United Nations estimates that there are about 2.5 lakh street children in Mumbai. According to the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, India has the largest number of street children in the world — around 18 million.

Objectives:

Main objective behind the project is to provide destitute children a decent and healthy life, simultaneously making them as responsible members of the society. In other words, they are nurtured for living lives as other normal children do. The “DREAMZ” Home was started with the alternative aim to prove as a temporary accommodation to exploited, run-away and destitute children who land up in Mumbai city in search of their daily bread.

Activities:

The “DREAMZ” Home has 22 street children as inmates who had been into begging or rag picking. Around 200 street children are also children in contact with the centre getting various beneficiaries. Various child welfare activities include Non-Formal Education (NFE) school, Balwadi (pre-primary), Daily Nutrition, Play and Recreational classes.

Mr. Vijay Karande, Founder Secertary, Social Development Centre, Mumbai says, “Dreamz began with the objective of providing a safe living place to helpless and homeless street children so as to mainstream them into the civil society.”

Children under the project not only enjoy the comfort of a secure home but they are also taught essential values necessary for getting accepted in the society like reading, writing and speaking skills. Free nutritious meals are provided to all children. Healthcare needs of the children are met through regular health check-ups. The children are groomed to get mainstreamed into formal system of education through an environment which is conducive and supportive to their growth.

Children are also exposed to recreational activities like music, dance, excursions and picnics on a regular basis to ensure their holistic development. Once exploited and deprived, the children are provided with a platform to lead a secure and normal life through ‘Dreamz’.

About the partner

Social Development Centre is a registered non-profit organisation working for the betterment of homeless and street children. Launched in 1996, ‘DREAMZ’ Home a very rare and unique initiative. The street children of Mumbai need more such efforts from all of us!