Dispatches: Slumdog Street Children of Mumbai

Thank you for watching the film, Dispatches on Channel 4 and logging onto the Railway Children website

Some of us might have felt overwhelmed or felt helpless. Some of us might have felt angry at the injustice of the situation or felt that the situation is hopeless. Many of us might have been inspired by the resilience of the children while some may have felt hopeful.

We have felt all this and much more while working with street children and children at risk. At Railway Children, we engage and respond to these realities everyday. We build on children‘s strengths and engage with communities and duty bearers to ensure that children have optimum care and opportunities.

Like the twin brothers in the film or Salaam or Deepa, all of the stories focused on ‘What they can do rather than what they cannot do’, and by hearing and seeing their stories, this is what they are urging us : Focus on what you can do rather than what you cannot….

The Government of India is trying to improve the living conditions in the slums as more and more slums are burgeoning in India. Clearly the response is not enough as some of the children living in slums continue to be invisible and remain outside the mandate of the many schemes and responses of the Government. Dispatches depicted realities of these invisible kids.

Santosh, the outreach worker in the film who helped Salaam, is testimony to the fact that there is hope. From being a recipient of development aid and intensive engagement, he is now a contributor to society.

All of us who have watched the film have now developed a strong emotional connection with the kids in the film and are wondering how best they can be helped. An uncomfortable fact is that there are hundreds of children like Salaam and Deepa who need your care, support and intervention. Railway Children gets to street kids before the streets get to them. Our 3 step change agenda is to meet the immediate needs of children at risk through local charities and engaged partnerships, help change local perception of various stakeholders in the community enabling them to provide the necessary care and to work closely with government for long term and lasting change. This takes time, perseverance and patience. We have stood the test and are in the work of creating long term change for children

As Salaam in the film says, “One day even the small will become big.” Help us to make them big!