Vijay Karande rescues homeless, destitute children and gives them shelter at Dreamz Home in Khar

Deputy Chief Minister R R Patil should take a cue from Vijay Karande. While Patil has subjected homeless and destitute children to the inhuman conditions of the Dongri remand home, Karande gives them a chance to fulfill their dreams.

The 32-year-old has been running Dreamz Home, a home for beggar children, since 2004. The home in Khar Danda shelters 20 children between the ages of 4 and 11. "It makes me proud to care for these children who are so talented. Every child in the home dreams big and I hope they realise that dream," says Karande.

Karande with his wife Sangeeta and the project coordinator Carmel Louis take care of the children, who are sent to the Khar Danda municipal school or the Pali Chimbai municipal school. The home's terrace acts as a recreation ground as well as a study for the kids. "We have separate bedrooms and toilets for girls and boys," Karande adds. The home has nine computers for the students, who are encouraged to converse in English.

Karande adds that it costs him Rs 6 lakh annually to maintain the home and he depends on private trusts. "I would like to improve and provide more facilities for the kids. I would also like to rehabilitate the parents of these children by allotting them fruit stalls or paan shops," he said.

You can do your bit to help Dreamz Home. Contact Vijay Karande at dreamzhome@gmail.com or call him at 9892954019

Meet our future pilot, heroine and teacher

I want to become a pilot. Earlier I used to beg near Lucky Hotel in Bandra and sell empty beer bottles. My mom expired some years ago and my father is ill.
Aman (11)

I would love to be a heroine. I used to beg on Carter Road and Linking Road and earn around Rs 200 in a day. I gave the money to my father since he had asked me to beg. I don't know where my father is, my mother stays alone
Rajshree (11)

I want to be to be a teacher and my twin brother Shivam wants to become a caretaker, like Karande uncle.
Shivani (7)

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