Prayagraj: Non-profit organization Shuruaat on Sunday celebrated ten years of empowering slum youth. What started as a small journey with just five children has now spanned a decade, providing free, quality education to over 300 children. Interestingly, all slum kids living in the narrow lanes of Hari Nagar slum and Chungi Parade area, have not only excelled in various competitive exams but also exhibited their talent in sports and athletics.Kids from slum dwellers, who once worked as rag pickers and waiters in restaurants to arrange their meals, made their parents proud after securing jobs in MNCs, private & public sectors, and other institutions. However, these successful kids shared their views, experiences and journey under the banner of Shuruaat : Ek Jyoti Shiksha Ki in city on Sunday.Dheeraj has completed B.Tech in Computer Science, while Karan transitioned from studying at a roadside cart to becoming a quality engineer at SEDEMAC. Abhishek has progressed to postgraduate studies while preparing for the NET-JRF exam. Many other seniors are also turning to mentor younger generations.Not only in academics, many other kids also achieved athletic milestones. Launched in 2022, Shuruaat’s sports programme also produced three national-level kayaking athletes—Nandini, Anchal Sonkar, and Bhoomi Sonkar—who had won 36 national and state medals for Uttar Pradesh and competed at the Khelo India Youth Games.“Education builds character and sports build confidence,” says Abhishek Shukla, founder Shuruaat : Ek Jyoti Shiksha. Shukla said, “Founded in 2016, Shuruaat has grown into a volunteer-driven movement operating multiple learning centres”..
