In 1996, Sunbeam started out as an unusual friendship between a few CRY (Child Rights and You) staff members and 5 to 6 children whose parents worked on an adjacent construction site. Familiarity bred fervent commitment. And on December 10, 1999, the sun came out from behind the clouds in the form of Sunbeam. We began by reaching out to construction workers’ children at the Arthur Road, Phoenix Mills and Kamla Mills construction sites in Mumbai. Thereafter, we spread our wings to the pavement dwellers’ children in Bhuleshwar and Chandanwadi.

However, within a few years, we realised that if we wished to continue with the same children right from the age of 5 to 7 till they graduated from college, we needed to tap the slum pockets for the sustainability of our education programs. That’s when we took under our fold hundreds of children from the Worli BDD Chawls, as well as the slums of Bandra East and Khar East. Students always attended our daily coaching classes before or after school hours and thoroughly enjoyed the time that they spent there.

Starting with 6 children, by now Sunbeam has reached out to over 2000 children in the city of Mumbai. By fulfilling their emotional and educational aspirations, giving them that one chance to enjoy their childhood, to learn, to grow, and to hope. We give them love and a sense of security. Value education being an integral part of our programs, we mentor the children to become value driven, independent, contributing members of society.

Looking back to the formative years of Sunbeam in the late 1990’s and the difficult conditions that were prevalent, both in terms of infrastructure for running the classes and the support we received from parents, we have really come a long way. Every time a child experiences a sense of belonging within the society, we have achieved our goal. Because with this assurance, there are no hurdles to stop them from realising their potential.

It has been 26 years since the inception of Sunbeam. However, the lessons continue unabated. Each day at Sunbeam brings us new learning about the unique world they inhabit. In order to make a difference in their lives, it is we who have to align ourselves to their perspectives.

Sunbeam’s primary focus has always been children. And rightly so. From literacy to recreation, health care to child counselling, encouraging the girl child to community empowerment, formal schooling and college to career counselling; our single-minded attempt has been to reshape the lives of our child beneficiaries. To reshape the perceptions of these children who have seen the tough, unyielding side of life; who’ve faced neglect, deprivation, and lack of opportunity.

Our task has been challenging, occasionally frustrating. But what has made the journey so rewarding is not just the smile on the faces of hundreds of children but more so their academic success. Year after year, we have seen the lives of our children transform and change irrevocably when they have gone to school and college. Not only do they grow in confidence, not only does their self-image change, but the path to their future is also filled with hopes, dreams, and a steely purpose.

Over 800 students of vernacular medium have completed schooling and graduated from colleges with professional degrees of their choice and aptitude. Out of our current 1250 students, 340 have now reached higher secondary schools with the remaining students being in Junior College or Degree College – marching on their way to success.

Our biggest allies in our work are the parents of our children. Despite the deprivation and hardship that they undergo, they make sure that their children get the opportunities that they lack. With their support, our task becomes so much easier.

If a Sunbeam team member were to be asked what our indicators of success are, the answer would be, let the children speak for us.

“I wish Sunday was not a holiday at Sunbeam.” This spontaneous outburst by a 6-year-old captures the general feeling of our children, for whom coming to Sunbeam isn’t just about studies and hard work but also excitement and enjoyment.

Now, let’s share a few quotes from our 7th-standard students of the academic year 2017-2018:

– “The teachers over here treat us like their own children.” – Purva Jangle
– “Prior to joining Sunbeam, I was an average performer. But now I get good grades in school.” – Shreya Solkar
– “After joining Sunbeam, I’ve learnt to become kind, helpful, respectful, truthful and obedient.” – Rashi Jaiswal
– “At Sunbeam, I get the feeling that I am in a place of worship.” – Amir Khan

These sentiments, and many more, expressed by children, reaffirm our belief that we have indeed succeeded in making Sunbeam ‘A home away from home’ for our child beneficiaries who attend our daily classes.

Today, when hundreds of our children are able to compete with their privileged counterparts in schools and colleges, and, moreover, complete graduation with professional degrees of their choice and aptitude, it is with pride that we witness our budding talent moving on to the corporate world in diverse fields – medical, engineering, management, and many more.

In our long, eventful, and enjoyable journey, what holds us in good stead is our belief that change is possible when we together make it happen. The strong partnership between the staff, volunteers, and the parents, along with our donors’ steady financial support, helps us to create a brighter and more ‘just’ world for the children. Collectively, these key components symbolise the edifice called Sunbeam; individually, each of them has played a decisive role in the organisation’s development, progress, and eventual success.

The Sunbeam journey continues – a very fulfilling, rewarding, and inspiring journey. In the near future, we once again plan to spread our wings – this time in the far suburbs of Mumbai and reach out to many more children in need, giving them wings to fly.