This Teacher Is Shaping The Future Of Slum Kids In Mumbai Through Hardwork & Determination

“I grew up in a small village in Jalgaon and despite hardships, I was always surrounded by loving family members who took care of me. I had warm meals and got a proper education and finally was able to get a good job. But since my childhood, I have seen so many underprivileged and malnourished children in my village who were forced to live a life of struggles. I had always wanted to give back to society, but back then, I never understood how…,” - Shashikant Patil, Founder, Ahirani May Marathi Pratishthan. 

Over the years, Shashikant moved to Mumbai and started working as an English teacher in a school. He was still working closely with children and shaping their future but it was in 2016, during a survey, he saw the conditions in which children in Mumbai’s slums live. This served as an eye-opener for him and that’s when he resolved to do something for these children. 

Their parents can’t afford to feed them every day - going to school is nothing short of a luxury for these kids 

Even after the survey was over, Shashikant continued visiting these children and tried to understand their problems. It took him a lot of time to gain their confidence but slowly he became a part of their families. 

“The parents started confiding in me about their worries - they were scared that their kids would go astray because they weren’t able to send them to good schools or would fall sick without proper food. A single mother was in tears as she requested me to take care of her three kids. With a meagre salary of a few thousand rupees, she was in no condition to look after them. I finally found my calling and started Ahirani May Marathi Pratishthan.” 

Shashikant talks about families who were too poor to afford even a single meal and about orphans who have lost both their parents to diseases like HIV/AIDS. 

“Even family members refuse to take care of such kids, especially if they’re sick. I wanted to work for children like these. I believe that with love and care, they can live much better lives than their parents did. After all, these children are our country’s future.” 

The Pratishthan is now home to 100+ kids from very poor families. For years, they have known the streets to be their home and had eaten rotten food from the garbage when they were hungry. They had almost given up on life when Shashikant Teacher gave them new hope. In this shelter home, they get proper meals, education, and even medical care - all free of cost. These children have finally got back their childhood but Shashikant worries that without the support he might have to shut down this organization. 

He has been using his savings until now but it’s not enough 

Talking about his challenges, Shashikant says that it is very difficult to get consistent donors. He requests people; often begs them to help him take care of his kids. But the support he gets is not enough. 

“I have been using my salary and my savings until now but things are getting difficult. Many more kids are in need of help and I am unable to do that because I don’t have the means. I request you to help us with groceries, medicines, and hygiene kits - it would mean a lot for these children who have only known pain at this tender age.”  

Even a small contribution will make a big difference for these children who have been abandoned and have never known a life of happiness and comfort. 

About the NGO: Founded by Shashikant Patil, Ahirani May Marathi Pratishthan is a Mumbai-based NGO that looks after 100+ children from underprivileged backgrounds. An English teacher, Patil has always wanted to work for the betterment of children. Through his organization, he is feeding and educating hundreds of kids who have been struggling to survive until now. A man with a big heart, Patil has been using his own savings to give these children a better life.