Our Children’s Journeys

Tahira attends school as a 5-year-old first-generation student who comes from a family where no one has attended school before. When she enrolled at the Cathy O’Shaughnessy Crèche, she had no writing or reading skills, and her communication and personal hygiene were also underdeveloped. Tahira received little academic help at home because her parents did not have any formal education. During the rise of COVID-19 cases, when most children could not attend the crèche, Tahira wa

Soham is a 3-year-old boy whose teachers at the Cathy O’Shaughnessy Crèche noticed was underweight and appeared very weak. His family faced great hardship when his father lost his job due to the pandemic, making it difficult for them to provide proper care for Soham. Soham started his crèche enrollment in April 2021 and the teachers dedicated their efforts to protecting his health. They worked closely with his parents, encouraging them to take Soham for a medical check-up and

Afsana was born blind and she is now three years old. She originates from a low-income household because her father has neurological issues which prevent him from working. Her mother supports the family by breaking glass for recycling but cannot afford the medical treatment Afsana needs. Afsana experienced fear during her initial visit to the crèche because she preferred to remain close to her mother at their residence. She struggled to adapt to her new surroundings because s

Afsana is a 3-year-old girl who has been blind since birth. She hails from a low-income family because her father has neurological issues which prevent him from earning a living. Her mother supports the family by breaking glass for recycling but cannot afford the medical treatment Afsana needs. Afsana experienced fear during her initial visit to the crèche because she preferred to stay close to her mother in their residential area. The new environment proved difficult for her

Anamika was enrolled in the Cathy O’Shaughnessy Crèche in 2017. Her parents had separated and her father stopped providing financial support to the family. Despite these challenges, Anamika’s mother and grandmother stepped in to care for her and her siblings, making sure the children continued their education. Anamika struggled to adapt to the new environment of the crèche during her initial period. She learned to appreciate the colorful educational resources and interactive

Ayan currently resides with his family in a Chitpur community temporary shelter at the age of four. The structure of their home consists of bamboo poles and plastic sheets which provide no effective defense against weather conditions. He has two brothers and a sister. His mother works every day to support their family because his father suffers from a neurological condition that prevents him from getting stable work. When Ayan first enrolled in the Cathy O’Shaughnessy Crèche,

Amirah is one of the newest children at the crèche. I encountered her during my previous year's visit to the facility where I observed her remarkable advancement. Amirah was born with visual impairment at birth and she is now three years old. Her father is unable to work due to health issues, and her mother supports the family by breaking glass for recycling in the local community. Amirah showed comfort only when she was with her mother during her first days at the crèche. Sh

Samirul is a 3-year-old boy from an underprivileged family in the Chitpur community. He lives with his grandmother and sister. His father, who struggles with alcoholism, was abusive towards his mother, prompting her to leave the family. Though she now lives apart, she continues to support her children by sending money to their grandmother. Samirul showed initial hesitation when his parents sent him to the crèche. He deeply missed his mother and often carried her scarf with hi

Manisha is a young girl enrolled in the crèche. Her mother performs glass-breaking work which requires dangerous physical labor and her father works as a daily laborer with unpredictable work hours. The family faces financial difficulties because her grandmother needs constant care since she lost all motor function in her body. Manisha demonstrated first interest in the crèche but she remained silent during all rhyming activities and group activities. She showed few facial ex

Mina resides with her family in a bamboo and plastic structure which serves as their home at the age of four. Her mother works tirelessly as a daily labourer, cleaning glass bottles to support the family, while her father is currently unemployed. The family struggles with financial difficulties because they have three children while their single income source does not meet their needs. Mina experienced difficulties with social interaction at the crèche because she frequently

Ansur resides with his parents and grandmother and brother in the Chitpur community as a 4-year-old boy. He was enrolled in the crèche in 2023. Both of his parents work as daily labourers, and most of their earnings go toward providing food and covering his grandmother’s healthcare needs. Ansur showed hesitation when he entered the crèche because he remained silent while avoiding contact with the other children. The teachers noticed his withdrawal so they began using colorful

Aparna is a 5-year-old child with a visual impairment. She was enrolled in the crèche three years ago. She discovered peace through spending time with her mother at the crèche but she failed to adjust to her new surroundings. The loud noises from everyday activities such as children reciting poems and playing made her extremely sensitive to noise. The teachers gave Aparna support and care which created feelings of safety and love within her. The crèche’s special educator prov