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From the streets, to a new life

By C. Maya

THIRUVANANTHPURAM, JUNE 5. At six, Mikhael is unlike other children of his age who have the comfort and security of a home. Fending for himself on the streets has made him tough. Abandoned by his mother and his father dead, Mikhael was adopted by the city-based Don Bosco Society, which runs an emergency shelter for street boys.

Now, the boy's enthusiasm has prompted the Don Bosco authorities to send him to school. Mikhael would soon be joining Class I at Sneha Bhavan, Ernakulam. Joining him in school would be nine-year-old Sambasivan and 12-year-old Soorya, who were also taken off the streets by Don Bosco.

Three other street boys who are also being rehabilitated by Don Bosco are Raja (16), who is handicapped, and Nandesh (17) and Akhil (18), who are mentally challenged. All six of them boarded the train to Ernakulam today, where they are to be rehabilitated in various centres.

The director of Don Bosco, Philip Parekkat, said the children had been receiving occupational and recreational therapy after they were picked up from the streets. This was aimed at making their attitude towards life more positive so that they started thinking about their future.

The children are being rehabilitated after assessing their individual needs and aptitude, with the help of NGOs. Sambasivan, Mikhael and Soorya, who showed an interest in studying, will go to Sneha Bhavan. Raja is going to a vocational training centre for the handicapped at Aluva. Nandesh and Akhil, who are mentally challenged, will be going to Evangel ashram at Ernakulam.

They all had reached Don Bosco at various periods through Childline, a national helpline for children in distress. The first attempt is to trace their families and to rehabilitate them in their homes, but some of the children are often back on the streets.

"At Don Bosco, we are running a shelter and the children are given the freedom to come and go as they like. Our experience has been that after a while they come back to us and are willing to be rehabilitated," says Fr.Parekkat.

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