Orphanage School for Street Children
New Horizons, Pune, India

Over the past 6 years, FCF Project New Horizons has watched Wagholi School grow from a modest 43 students (in 2001) to the current 405 – an increase of 840%. Originally set up as an orphanage for street children aged 4 – 16, the Wagholi School now also caters to 47 deaf children, who are taught sign language, scholastics and even to speak!

While most of the orphans are children of nomadic herdsmen, others are runaways or street children brought to the school by the police. Wagholi School is directed by Mr. Shivlav Jadhav, who has been working with children for 20 years, and is himself from a nomadic family.

Inspired by Mr. Jadhav’s dedication, New Horizons committed to do all they could to help, and so regularly supply hundreds of kilos of food to the school, and have procured needed items such as furniture, desks, equipment, and audio-visual aids, In addition, New Horizons volunteers teach English at the school and take the orphans out regularly to enjoy excursions, picnics, and other fun activities!

The older boys learn trades such as welding, metal working, screen printing, box making, mechanics, and basic/advanced computer skills. The girls learn computer, as well as sewing, tailoring, baking, and pickle/chutney preserving. A grant from Family Care Foundation paid for the equipment and the refurbishing of two very run-down school rooms, making this vocational training possible.

Thanks to the visionary extra-curricular training at Wagholi School, Manakshi, a deaf mute student has become a state champion swimmer and an accomplished artist. To see this young girl now so filled with a vision for her life, and to experience what opportunity and determination can produce in a person, is envisioning for students and teachers alike.

For more information on this FCF project, please click on the following link: New Horizons