Discarded cigarette butts to big dreams: Education brings hope to Malad's Ambujwadi slums

When the Covid19 pandemic brought life to a standstill and exposed deeprooted inequalities across Mumbai 51yearold Suifya Abdul Wahid Khan chose to see the crisis as an opportunity to bring a changeFor Khan a former teacher at a BMC school in Malad what began as a simple act of charity during the lockdown became a mission to rescue children from the harsh realities of life through educationKhan who had been living a comfortable life after marriage was like many others watching the pandemic unfold from the safety of her home However everything changed when she visited the Ambujwadi slums in Malad to distribute food and essentials to struggling familiesWhat she witnessed there shattered herSufiya started in a small rented place at Ambujwadi PicTarun VermaAmong the narrow lanes and roads made of trash she saw children picking up halfburnt cigarette butts from the ground and smoking themlsquoEducation is the only way outrsquoWhat she saw was disheartening Determined to bring about a change Khan a teacher herself believed that education was the only sustainable way to bring about a change in the lives of these childrenOn further enquiry she discovered that Ambujwadi had no proper school in the locality and most families could not afford to send their children elsewhere for quality education That was when she decided to actIn 2021 with little more than determination she opened Indian Glory School with just 20 childrenFrom books to medicines she arranged it allShe arranged books for them medicines when they fell ill and nutritious food when they came hungry She became not just a teacher but a guardian a mentor and for many the first person who truly believed in their futureSufiya Khan with children at school in 2022 PicSpecial arrangementThanks to her endeavour hope gradually began spreading through the lanes of AmbujwadiParents who had once accepted hardship as destiny started believing in possibilities Through word of mouth more children arrived at the schoolrsquos doorstepWhat began as a small initiative gradually transformed into a movement Word spread quickly across Ambujwadi and more parents began sending their children to the schoolToday Indian Glory School educates nearly 345 children from the slum at a nominal annual fee of Rs 300Parents speakNazmin Ansari 37 a daily wage worker who lives in the Ambujwadi slums said ldquoInitially I had doubts that she would charge thousands of rupees for education because quality education is usually beyond our reachNazmin Ansari PicTarun VermaldquoHowever when I approached her and asked whether she could teach my children she welcomed us with an open heartrdquo Ansari addedAnsari further said that her 10yearold son and 12yearold daughter are now students at Khanrsquos learning centreldquoMy children now look forward to studying every day Before this education felt impossible for families like oursrdquoKhan said financial constraints should never become a barrier to educationldquoFinances should not stop any child from getting a good education If any parent tells me they cannot pay at one go I always consider their situation and make monetary matters as easy as possible for themrdquo she saidGiving wings to young dreamsChildren in the Ambujwadi slums who once spent their days loitering aimlessly and falling into habits such as betting smoking and substance abuse are now finding a new direction through educationWith regular classes and guidance many of them have started attending the school and focusing on their futureTalking to MidDay students who were once going in the wrong direction said that the transformation has brought hope and discipline in their livesTenyearold Mohd Asjad Raza who aspires to be a highranking Indian Army officer said ldquoWhen I joined the Indian Glory School I never knew what great power education holdsrdquoMohd Asjad Raza PicTarun VermaSpeaking in fluent English Asjad further stated ldquoI aspire to serve my country on the border as a highranking Indian Army officer The only way to make it through the ranks is educationrdquolsquoWithout my family this dream would have remained just a thoughtKhan credited her familyrsquos unwavering support in helping her realise the dreamldquoThe biggest reason this became possible is my familyrdquo Khan Sufiya told MidDay adding that they stood behind her like a pillar of strengthldquoThe role of my family in this noble cause has been the biggest reason I could bring change to peoplersquos lives My husband who lives in a Gulf country supported me not only emotionally but financially Support from my other family members helped me secure a place in the slum where education could be providedrdquo she saidRay of hope in slumsDespite operating in a locality that still struggles with poor roads inadequate food access and irregular clean water supply the school has created a safe and dignified learning environment It is equipped with a water filter and separate hygienic lavatories for boys and girls mdash facilities often absent in many underprivileged settlementsBabu Khan 32 a parent who works as a gig worker in the slums while expressing the hardships that people face said ldquoIn a slum where people continue to struggle with the lack of proper water supply medical facilities roads and hygiene starting a school for underprivileged children is nothing short of revolutionarySuifya Khan started the initiative in 2021 PicTarun VermaldquoIn places like ours survival itself is difficult but ensuring that children receive education gives families hope for a better futurerdquo he saidBabu Khan with hope in his eyes said ldquoWe believe that if our children study and become educated they can help the country move forward and ensure that such dire situations disappear from every slum in India one dayrdquoFor the children of Ambujwadi Indian Glory School is more than an educational institutemdash it is a gateway to a better future And for Sufiya Khan it is proof that even amid a global crisis one personrsquos determination can light the path for hundreds