Changing childrens’ lives in India

At Travelsphere, we believe that with every tour we operate, it should leave a positive mark on the places we visit and the people we meet along the way. Not only does this help us open our eyes to other cultures, but it makes your journey more memorable, leaving a lasting imprint in your holiday memories.  

As we explore, connect and make a difference together – here’s one project in India that’s close to our hearts.  

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SALAAM BAALAK TRUST

Salaam Baalak Trust (SBT), which translates to ‘salute a child’ is dedicated to saluting the unwavering spirit of Delhi’s street children, offering them a secure space to sleep, play and dream, and escape the harsh underworld of what can be some of Delhi’s toughest streets to live.  

The trust is committed to providing these children with care, love, health, nutrition and education – all the basic needs to allow them to thrive and realise their full potential.  

You can learn more about SBT by booking one of their City Walk tours – hosted by guides who were living on the streets as children or facing difficult family circumstances. Today, they give up their time to support the trust and the children in their care.   

Recently, some of the Travelsphere team were fortunate to be shown around Delhi by 19-year-old, Kahal.   

  

 

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When she was 6 years old she came into the care of SBT as a result of members of her family being terminally ill and unable to care for her. As well as supporting her with those fundamental needs, the trust was able to help Kajal navigate the mental strain, anxiety and understandably negative thoughts and feelings brought about by such an incredibly painful situation.  

To see is to believe, and being in Kajal’s company, the group were reminded of the power of the human spirit, as well as the power of connection. In fact she’s an inspiration to us all; in overcoming these unfathomable adversities, she is currently studying for an English Honours, as well as an aviation course. Kajal is living testament to the SBT mission to helping children realise their potential – and we can’t think of a greater good than that.

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The work of SBT is never done, and after showing our group around some of the streets of Delhi, we returned to our coach, where a street child was nervously waiting to talk to Kajal.  

She told us that this child had been coming to see the SBT team for a while, as part of their outreach work in the community to raise awareness of SBT. It’s very much a soft approach to incentivise lasting change. This child, just like the thousands of others on Delhi’s streets, had to feel that he had come to the decision to ask for help entirely on his own terms.  

It makes sense when you think about it that living on the streets these children witness and are coerced into some of the most unimaginable things. It comes as no surprise that they learn not to trust anyone.   

It’s safe to say, it’s not an overnight success story. The incredible team as SBT have to be patient and keep reaching out and it would seem that it works.  

As our coach pulled off, we all watched Kajal heading back to the centre with this boy. He couldn’t have been older than 6 or 7, carrying a bundled up sleeping bag with his meagre belongings. Seeing him wave at us with a broad smile, we could see there was much more beneath his smile. It was hope.   

Hope for something better in life. And I think we can all agree he definitely does deserve that something better, and there’s no doubt that SBT will work tirelessly to give him it.  

To find out more about Salaam Balaak, please visit www.salaambaalaktrust.com

  

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