Education for 600 Vulnerable Children in Kolkata

Farid, a 17-year-old student currently enrolled in Class XI at Adi Ballygunge High School, lives in a small jhuggi beside the railway line on Tiljala Road, Kolkata. Growing up amid constant noise, uncertainty, and poverty, Farid’s childhood has been shaped by daily struggles that many children never have to face. Yet, despite these hardships, he carries a quiet determination to continue his education and build a different future.

Farid belongs to a highly marginalized rag picker family living near the Park Circus railway tracks. His father, Shabuddin, works as a daily labourer and also suffers from a hearing problem, which further limits stable employment opportunities. His mother, Babri, was earlier a rag picker and now works as a domestic helper. The family’s total monthly income is approximately 6,500 (~USD 80), which is barely sufficient to meet basic needs for a household of five members. Farid also has two younger brothers, Irfan and Rizwan, who are still dependent on the family.

Due to extreme financial instability, education has never been a priority for Farid’s parents, whose primary concern has always been daily survival. Farid himself spends much of his time around the railway tracks and supports his family by doing part-time work alongside his studies. At one point, his mother had decided that if Farid failed to pass his board examinations, he would be sent for full-time daily wage work to support the family income.

Farid was enrolled at the Park Circus Centre of Tiljala SHED from Class II, as part of the very first batch of evening classes started in 2018. Academically, Farid has been a slow learner with weak writing skills and has failed in a few classes in the past. However, what sets him apart is his focus and resilience. He refused to give up, even when failure seemed inevitable.

In 2025, Farid appeared for the West Bengal Board of Secondary Education (WBBSE) examination and successfully passed in his first attempt. For Farid, this achievement was life-changing. It meant not repeating a year, not dropping out, and not being forced into full-time labour at a young age. More importantly, he became the first child in his family and a first-generation learner to clear a state board examination, creating a new path not just for himself, but for his younger brothers as well.

Encouraged by this success, Farid has now enrolled in Class XI with great enthusiasm and hope. He dreams of continuing his education despite financial pressure and limited family support. His two younger brothers are also enrolled at the Park Circus Centre, making Farid a role model within his own family and community.

Farid’s journey reflects the powerful impact of sustained educational support for children from extremely vulnerable backgrounds. With consistent guidance, academic support, and encouragement from Tiljala SHED, he was able to overcome learning difficulties, poverty, and the constant risk of child labour. His story is a reminder that when given the right opportunity, even the most disadvantaged children can succeed.

 Continued donor support can ensure that students like Farid do not drop out after secondary education due to financial pressure. Assistance for higher secondary education, learning support for slow learners, and family counselling on the importance of education can help break the intergenerational cycle of poverty. Supporting first-generation learners like Farid is not just an investment in one child—it is an investment in an entire family’s future.

Your support can help Farid stay in school, dream bigger, and rewrite his story.