Priceless experience

I am pursuing an undergraduate degree in Social Sciences at the University of Toronto in Mississauga, Canada. I was born in Bombay and went to Canada when I was five years old. Every time I came to India I always saw poverty, especially with women and children. My parents would always take us to some NGO (nongovernmental organization) to see life from another perspective. Living in Canada, we take everything for granted but when I come to India I really feel fortunate to have food on the table, a roof over my head, clothing and just basic survival necessities.
Last summer, I spent four months in India doing internships with four different NGOs: CRY (Child Rights and You), Salaam Baalak Trust, Vinimay Trust, and PremDan Garden School.

Tanya Bharda with underprivileged children

My six weeks with CRY were amazing. I did a study on child marriage where I became aware of the issues that women face when they get married at a young age. I come from a developed country like Canada where women are treated equally, whereas in India there are always some issues between men and women. I talked to about 13 women on their experiences as a child wife and what they want for their children in future. Aside from this project, I was also part of an anti-child labor campaign which supported children getting an education and not being made to work.
At Salaam Baalak Trust I taught children English in Dongri (a predominantly low income area in Bombay) where youngsters would come before or after school for help in their homework and to eat lunch. I also did home visits where I had to inform the parents that if they have not had their children enrolled in school, and needed help to do so, Salaam Baalak Trust can get them admission and also pay for any other costs.
I volunteered with Vinimay Trust, which is an organization that helps underprivileged children who live in institutions such as Chembur Children’s Home, Bal Kalyan Nagar (BKN) Home, and two other institutions in Ulhasnagar and Worli. I attended a camp with these boys in Khandala to show them the outside world so they can prepare for the future.
The last place I worked at was PremDan Garden School, which is a center run by nuns where I taught children aged from three to six years the alphabet, numbers and communicating in English.
I had raised about $ 2,500 from friends and family in the Zoroastrian community in Toronto which was spent on uniforms, books, stationery, food, a sweet dessert and other things.
Overall, my experience in Bombay was priceless and I feel fortunate for everything that I have in life. I am back in Bombay this year to spend another four months working with other NGOs and focusing more on women rights.
I hope my contribution and time has made a difference in the lives of these children. In future I would like to fight for the rights of these street children and women because I believe everyone deserves a voice.

TANYA BHARDA
Mississauga, Canada
tbharda@hotmail.com