Under the bridge – hope: school in India gives slum children a chance for the future

The school, organized by Samarth Bharat Vyaspeeth, a non-profit organization, is housed in cargo containers under the bridge and provides children with not only knowledge, but also care, support and adequate nutrition.

Every morning, about a dozen children cross a busy road, accompanied by adults, to start their school day. A warm welcome awaits them at school: they bathe, change into their school uniforms and have breakfast with tea and porridge. Then they go to lessons in air-conditioned cargo containers.

The training program includes learning Marathi (the local language) and English, working with computers and conducting simple scientific experiments. During recess, children play soccer and traditional Indian games such as kabaddi.

The school, which has been operating since 2016, provides its students with a day shelter, providing them with a safe environment, three meals a day and everything necessary for development. Many of these children live in extremely cramped conditions, in makeshift houses built from improvised materials.

The main purpose of the school is to prepare children for the official exams conducted by the State Board of Education. Today, the school has 57 students, and its mission is to help slum children adapt to life in society, meeting not only their educational needs, but also taking care of their health and emotional well-being. This initiative demonstrates how caring people and organizations can create real change in the lives of those in dire need of support and care.