Salaam Baalak Trust first opened its doors in Mumbai on 3 October 1989.  It is with great joy that we look forward to celebrating our 20^th anniversary and so we have decided to make it a true celebration of the street children of Mumbai.  In the coming months we will be out at events to advocate and acknowledge the pressing needs of people of the street in Mumbai. In addition, the Trustees have developed an aggressive plan to increase, develop and improve the quality of the efforts made over the last twenty years so we can see an end to the cycle of endangered children living on our streets. We cannot stand by and watch the divide between the haves and have nots leave behind a whole generation of potentially productive and contributing citizens of Mumbai. For the Fiscal Year 2009-2010, we propose to:

 ·         Increase the Number of Children at our Centers

o       "Walking the Streets" – putting our social workers/volunteers on the streets talking to parents and children and identifying new children in need of support offered by SBT.

o       The anticipated passing of the Right to Education Bill is expected this fall. We are in the process of developing an implementation programme in conjunction with other NGOs, Civic Bodies and Police that would involve making a huge drive to enroll kids in BMC schools, work closely with guardians to ensure attendance and provide support to both the schools and children to improve the quality of education and ensure continued attendance.

·        Further Development of Kalyan Center

o        Starting in August 2009, we will begin a Boy’s Day Center within the same facility.

o       We have a Donor for the purchase of land in Kalyan to expand the center. In the next fiscal year, we expect the land to be purchased and start a building fund. We expect to be able to house up to 75-100 boys at the night shelter and 200-300 in the Day Center once completed.

·        Increase the Size and Scope of the Sholapur Project

o       We need to work more closely with Government Agencies responsible for allocated resources for Tribal Welfare to ensure that part of the funds allocated are used to help the children of the Pardhi Community. In addition, we need to expand the coordination with the Remand Home and Police to help place, in Sholapur, Pardhi children picked up for begging or are in danger. The importance of expansion, funding and closer work with specific Government Agencies will help to provide the safest and most stable environment for these tribal children to flourish.

·        Increase the Number of Trustees

o       We will increase the number of Trustees from three to five. This will allow more opportunity for the Trustees to oversee and increase the amount of community outreach, advocacy programs, implementation of growth projects and more developed fundraising efforts.

·        Increase the Number and Quality of Volunteers

o       Quality, committed Volunteers are an essential aspect for an NGO. We are reaching out to numerous organizations and through our own networking efforts to bring in committed individuals that will provide teachers and social workers support as well as interact with the children bringing in a broader range of experiences. 

·        Increase our Advocacy Efforts

o       Although SBT provides holistic care for a large number of street children, the problems will not end if we do not work to ensure Government Agencies, Police, and other NGOs are doing everything possible to help these children today and for the future. With SBT having spent 20 years working closely with these various agencies and organizations to promote the rights of children, we need now more than ever to strengthen these relationship and fight harder to bring about change. The cycle of children living on the streets needs to end and can only be done with cooperation and a united effort by City Management and NGOs working together.