Day 7: Salaam Balak Trust

For our last site visit in Delhi, our group met with Salaam Balak Trust, an organization that works with both young boys and girls that are runaways. Rickshaws dropped us off and two tour guides, Salaam Balak alums, met us to give an introduction to the organization as well as a tour around the area. We walked around the community as well as heard our guide’s childhood story of how he found his way to Salaam Balak. The most resonating aspect of his story was how, after years of abuse from his father and stepmother, he felt suicidal. To be so young and feel like there is no other way out of your circumstances aside from death was extremely hard to handle.

Our guide also informed us of the high amount of drug use amongst runaway children in order to numb the pain from the frequent beatings they receive from law enforcement. The substance abuse issue is also very apparent in the eyes of the youth in the area. I couldn’t help but think of the extreme importance of mental health in these situations. These children grew up without a familial support system and most lack any relationship with their parents. They’ve grown up facing the challenges of survival every day and Salaam Balak provides a solid network for children with similar backgrounds. I couldn’t help but think of the importance of mental health in these situations as well. Salaam Balak provides a great opportunity for these children but I might incorporate an additional mental health service/substance abuse rehabilitation program.

At the end of our tour we had the chance to sit in with a group of the young boys staying at Salaam Balak. They sang and danced for us and it was incredible to see the similarities of children across cultures and backgrounds. It was also interesting to witness how the young boys interacted with one another and the brotherly relationships within the group. You could sense the trust within the group of young boys, which is so important for childhood development. I was extremely impressed with our tour guide’s English speaking skills and charisma as he guided us through the community. He captivated us with his story as well as generated some profit for the Salaam Balak through the cost of the tour. He was able to cultivate his skills during his time at the organization and now has the ambition to further his education. Spending time with the young men of Salaam Balak Trust was a fantastic way to end our long journey through India and to really see the potential for street children to improve their lives through organizations like Salaam Balak.