Forced To Drop Out Of School At 15, This Tea Seller Is Now Empowering Countless Poor Kids

A beautiful slogan adorns the wall of the Malik Tea Stall - ‘Aap Ki Ek Chai Badal Sakti In Bachhon Ki Bhavishya’ (Your one cup of tea can change the future for these kids). Located in Kanpur’s busy Kaka Deo area known for its famous IIT-JEE coaching centres, this tea stall run by Mohammed Mehboob Malik is a testament to his determination, hard work, and desire to build a better tomorrow for countless slum kids in the area. 

How, you ask? For the last 10 years, Malik has been running his humble tea stall and using 80% of his income to educate thousands of poor and underprivileged children from the slums. For these kids, he is nothing short of a godsend. This is his story. 

At 15, Malik had to drop out of school but he never gave up on his dream of serving his community 

Malik comes from humble beginnings - growing up he had always seen his father and mother struggle to put food on the table. Malik recalls there have been days when he had to sleep on an empty stomach. 

“But my mother always encouraged me to study hard. She has been my biggest inspiration. Even when we could not pay the school fees and I had to drop out, she reminded me that it was important to grow up to be a good human being and serve those in need,” - Mehboob Malik, Founder, Maa Tujhe Salaam. 

Malik started working as a tiffin delivery boy and did several other odd jobs before he finally opened his tea stall. He says he is indebted to his friends for helping him set up his stall. 

“They lent me Rs 365, the most precious 365 rupees in my whole life. It is because of their kindness and generosity that I can do all this today.” 

As he worked hard to expand his business, Malik noticed many well-dressed school-going kids during the morning hours. Along with them, he also saw the sad faces of slum children who had nothing but dirty rags on them - they used to pick up garbage in return for some money. Malik’s heart broke when he saw them suffer so much. He was reminded of his childhood and thus began his journey to educate these children and give them a better life. 

It wasn’t an easy task. From visiting the slums and convincing their parents, to arranging books and copies, to facing criticisms from all those who thought that he was working on a whim - Malik braved it all. He woke up at 4 AM and worked ungodly hours till late at night so that he could buy more stationery and reach out to more children. 

“These children have seen the worst. Some come from broken homes, some have alcoholic and abusive fathers, and others have been starving for days because their mothers didn’t have the money to feed them. Going to school was not something that they dreamt of. I started breaking the ice by giving them chocolates along with the free stationery. Soon children started coming in and I realised that this is what I want to do.” 

In 2017, he established his NGO, Maa Tujhe Salaam in a rented space and currently, they’re educating 80 children till Class 4, completely free of cost. He feeds them nutritious food, gives them new uniforms, teaches them the necessity of hygiene and cleanliness, and encourages them to chase their dreams. Along with other teachers, Malik teaches them, too. Over the years, he has transformed the lives of 1500+ kids.  

Malik is an inspiration to us all - join his mission and help him uplift many more slum children 

Despite receiving several awards and accolades, Malik is the happiest when he sees these children smiling and shining bright in their school uniforms. While friends, family, strangers, and even celebrities like famous cricketer VVS Laxman have appreciated his job, Malik’s humility is what keeps him going. 

He still wakes up at 4 AM every morning - his mission is far from accomplished. He wants to educate countless other kids and give them a bright future. But he needs your support to make that a reality. Donate groceries and stationery to this hardworking tea seller from Kanpur and help him touch thousands of lives. Together, let us spread smiles on the faces of these unfortunate children. 

About the NGO: Founded by Mohammed Mehboob Malik in 2017, Maa Tujhe Salaam is a Kanpur-based NGO that has been working tirelessly to educate slum children over the years. Malik, a tea seller from Kanpur, is a man on a mission. A school dropout himself, he now used 80% of his income to educate slum kids completely free of cost. He dreams of giving them the life they deserve and encourages them to follow their dreams.