Anstrengung United: A journey from NOTHING to SOMETHING!!!

Blog NO: 08

It’s been long 3 years when we establish our organisation Anstrengung United. Anstrengung is a German name which means Efforts. When we started this organisation we never knew that we would come so far with very huge number of kids which we have today. When we started this we had only 4 kids coming to us and now we have 45 kids who come to us daily. There were times when had situations that we wont go far enough, but our efforts made it possible and kept our hope alive and now today we complete our 3 years and now it will continue forever :-)

When we were in Khalsa college, Matunga we have always seen this kids begging around for food, money, toys or some or the other things. They wanted to learn but they never went to schools, they wanted to play but they never got time to play, they wanted to dance in every festival without any fear but they just couldn’t do all these because they always thought they don’t deserve and always keep begging instead of learning, playing and celebrating. Whoever enters into this world do they know what they deserve and what they don’t? The answer is NO. This difference is created by the people around us. When they used to beg at Matunga rich people always abused them, kicked them and sometimes they beat them. Even college students never gave smile or talk to them or gave them happiness for little moment, they always made fun of them or doing time pass because they hardly had other things to do in their life. They only deserved pain and sadness each and every day from such kind of people. Even some middle class people behaved this way.

We always observe these kids around and even knew them, talked to them and always made them smile and they were also very fond of us. Their parents never thought of sending them to schools or educate them; they just believed that they are born only for begging. These kids caught every people near our college begging for money or food but they never asked us for anything. My friends always helped them with books, chocolates, played with them and even fight with those people whoever abused or kicked them. At that time we never taught them how to stay, behave or manners, we just talked to these kids and shared happiness with them.

When we started our organisation we never expected that we would come so far. We started teaching them alphabets, numbers, drawings and crafts. We started sending them to schools, made them to play; we stopped them from begging and gave them everything what you and we deserve in this world. It almost took 2 years for us to stop them from begging ;-) We started self- defence (karate) for girls which was must because you can’t even imagine in what type of environment they stay. We have taken them to natural parks, museums, picnics, movies, Nehru planetarium, for a day out at most of the places in Mumbai, Monorail, for watching international matches of hockey and lot more. We celebrate with them each and every festivals and days through the year. We celebrate diwali, holi, children’s day, Christmas, new year, Independence day, Republic day etc. We take them to every sports event of football, hockey, athletics in Mumbai and try to explore them in whichever way it is possible so that people come to know that they are also like us and deserve everything whatever is there in this world. We shifted 6 students to private school who are good at studying and in coming we will transfer more students in that school. For small kids we have admitted them in English medium and teaching them is always fun. We always have medical camp and regular check up is done.

When we are with kids we educate them, play with them, always try to make them happy and serve them with whatever we have. Its ok we teach them, but they are real Guru’s of us, we get to know lot of things from, how they stay, what they think, what are their dreams, their problems, what are they going through, etc. They are not street kids they are just under privileged, always try to talk to them not with money but with words, share happiness, make them laugh and make it a memorable moment for you. Just do it once and you won’t stop. I know the blog is getting big but I wanted to write more and surely will write in the coming blogs :-) Today is our 3rd Anniversary and we, every volunteer feels like we have our BIRTHday on every 7th July. Happy Birthday everyone!!! Thank you for all your support, love and people who have helped us in our 3 years of journey. It couldn't have been possible without you all. Thank you.

You can meet us at every evening from Monday to Saturday from 6.30 to 8.30 pm at Family park, near Naturals Ice-cream, Maheshwari Udyan, Matunga. Lankdmark: G.N Khalsa College.

Contact on: 9819957666/9769165063

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Thanks.