Mumbai's Resource-Challenged Adolescents Lead Health Revolution at Community Health Mela

In today's world, health is no longer a luxury but a necessity. Mumbai's hardworking residents, especially those from resource-challenged backgrounds, often overlook their physical and mental well-being in their pursuit of a better life. The challenge now is striking a balance: How can we nourish our bodies and minds while managing the demands of daily life from easily available items? To address this question Salaam Bombay Foundation has created a stage for the future change makers under the name Community Health Mela which was recently held at IDUBS School, Bhandup West.

Prominent government officials, Smt. Manisha Pawar (Deputy Director, Regional Academic Authority - Education Department of Maharashtra) and Shri. Santosh Kanthe (Deputy Education Inspector), flagged off the Community Health Mela. Salaam Bombay Foundation’s student Health Monitors walked them through various stalls as they explained concepts of driving social impact within their respective communities. Salaam Bombay Foundation’s Health Monitors had dedicated stalls where they explained the attendees about the benefits of the initiative that were highlighting. The officials were impressed by the concepts made by the students such as the Magic jar which helps to reduce anxiety. Through this initiative the students associated with the Foundation had a wider stage to showcase their initiatives to a massive audience of 1,900+ people who attended the event across two days of its running. The Community Health Mela welcomed students from 15 schools and 1 junior college as visitors. Additionally, 24 schools participated actively, with 60 health monitors sharing their knowledge and initiatives with attendees.

The Health Monitors at the Microgreen-zone explained how can anyone cultivate microgreens in their homes and the benefits of having them in each meal, while the students in the Calm Corner showed various methods of handling stress. Apart from this, Salaam Bombay Foundation’s proactive Health Monitors educated the audience on the ill-effects of tobacco consumption, promoted awareness about benefits of eating healthy foods and measures to develop a better self-image. The Health Monitors showcased their expertise at the event, raising insightful questions on unhealthy lifestyle habits. Their inquiries covered tobacco-free policies in schools and public spaces, COTPA regulations, nutrition, and mental well-being. This demonstrated the impact of Salaam Bombay Foundation's community outreach programmes in empowering the young change makers. Various schools across Mumbai participated in the Community Health Mela and delivered Nukkad Nataks, Songs on topics such as eradicating the use of tobacco from the society.

Tshering D. Bhutia, Chief Innovation Officer & Senior VP – Preventive Health, Salaam Bombay Foundation said “We are very grateful to the government schools for their continued collaboration and allowing us to implement our experiential learning methodology in alignment with the New Education Policy. Our focus on the holistic development through our 'Preventive Health Education Programme' of each child has yielded incredible results, as evident through this platform today. These students have showcased remarkable talent and possess the potential to drive meaningful change within their communities. Platforms like these not only foster the growth of participating students but also inspire other young minds to follow in their footsteps.”

The Community Health Mela was a delightful showcase of how students' enthusiasm for health has blossomed at home. The 4 food stalls were testament of the students’ eagerness to share what they've learned through our programmes with their families. They encouraged their parents to whip up nutritious lip-smacking twists to their favourite snacks. It was heart-warming to watch knowledge passed from classroom to kitchen to the community. Adding to the friendly atmosphere, the Health Camp teamed up with caring professionals from Navkaar Hospital, Bhalanetra Eye Hospital and several seasoned dentists who offered free health check-ups. 

Manisha Pawar (Deputy Director, Regional Academic Authority) said, “Salaam Bombay Foundation's programmes exemplify the core principles of the New Education Policy 2020. Their School Kitchen Garden initiative is a prime example of experiential learning, seamlessly blending theory with practice. Such innovative approaches are crucial in nurturing well-rounded, health-conscious citizens of tomorrow.”

Santosh Kanthe (Deputy Education Officer) said, “The Government of Maharashtra has implemented several programmes to curb tobacco usage among students, with 'Tobacco-Free Schools' being a key initiative. These efforts underscore our commitment to creating healthier learning environments. By collaborating with organizations like Salaam Bombay Foundation, we're strengthening our resolve to nurture a tobacco-free generation.”

Salaam Bombay Foundation is on quest to provide such platforms for budding change makers who genuinely want to contribute their communities and bring a positive change their mindset.


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About Salaam Bombay Foundation:

A CHILD IN SCHOOL HAS A FUTURE

Salaam Bombay Foundation started in 2002 to work with 12- to 17-year-old adolescent children growing up in Mumbai’s slums. These children live in extreme poverty and in “at risk” environments. The municipal schools they go to do not have the resources to give them individual attention, career guidance or access to activities that stimulate the mind. Many are undernourished and face the risk

of substance abuse. They come from financially challenged homes and are pressured to drop out of secondary school and seek jobs to support their families. Given these ground realities, Salaam Bombay Foundation has harnessed the ability of child-friendly, innovative education tools to develop life skills and coping skills necessary to ensure that these adolescents develop into well rounded personalities, able to meet the challenges they face and take on leadership roles within their communities.

The Foundation keeps children in school by empowering them to make the right choices about their health, education and livelihood thereby ensuring that they can thrive with a bright future. In-school leadership and advocacy programmes equip "at-risk" adolescents with the life skills they need to lead change. The Sports, Arts and Media academies encourage them to express themselves and provide performance opportunities that build self-esteem. The skills@school programme broadens their career horizons and empowers them with vocational skills for sustainable careers. Through its DreamLab initiative, SBF, has provided for a continuum of skills training and market-based internships to youngsters in the age group of 14 and 18 years. Launched in July 2019, DreamLab, has been able to furnish stipend-based internships to 163 skills@school alumni across nine job sectors. DreamLab also creates a talent pool of grassroot entrepreneurial adolescents. Salaam Bombay initiatives increase confidence, give vulnerable adolescents the means to earn part-time and stay in school, and provide the tools to explore their full potential. For more information, please visit www.salaambombay.org