Aasara - Introduction

In the year 1991, through the church, a need based assessment survey was carried out in the city of Thane and it was realized that there were many to be addressed like illiteracy, women issues, the prison, medical, communal harmony, rag pickers, shoe-shine boys, etc.

To tackle such above mentioned issues, like minded people came together. Groups were formed to tend to the different needs like Sakya from the Nirmala Niketan College of Social Work to tend to the women's harassment and other issues; then the Sarva Dharm Maitri Sangh was formed for inter faith dialogue; then the Sodality of Immaculate Conception was asked to tend to the mental asylum; the prison/jail ministry was tended by the Charismatic group; then a group of volunteers were sent to Fr. Britto for training in homeopathy/naturopathy and after the training the volunteers gave medicines at cost price. whilst all the other needs were tended, there was no one available for the street children and child labourers.

Hence it was up to Fr. Joe to take up the responsibility and he did so. A second survey was conducted by the group to actually find out how many street children were existing, in number, at the Thane Railway Station their problems etc.

It was realized when Father started working with the first batch of shoe-shine boys that the street children were the most exploited lot and were suffering from various other hazards, including occupational and health. Soon it was felt that a place was needed as the station being crowded, started to be unsuitable because public used to crowd around and the children used to feel 'shy' to study. So in 1993, the first 'contact' center was inaugurated on 30th November at the Nav Yuvak Mitra Mandal, Chaneani Koliwada, one year from the gestation period and the name suggested to it was Aasara.

Now withthe first contact center running, Fr. Joe and the others felt that there were skilled people required. Among others Father approached the Nirmala Niketan College of Social Work and they deputed Vatsalya, their field project who were working for street children. Vatsalya took up Aasara as an extension of their work in Thane. Their workers used to visit the center and conducted activities and guide the volunteer group formed for the street children as mentioned above. Aasara too became a part of the Nirmala Niketan College of Scoial Work field project.
But sometime in 1994-95, Vatsalya was told to be on their own by the College of Social Work and inturn Vatslaya staff conveyed that they will not be in a position to visit Aasara. so Aasara had to be independent seeking its own resources.

In the meantime Fr. Joe's team started to raise funds through theSt. John's Youth Movement for its day to day activities as he was the Director. Simulteanously, Young Christian Workers (they were involved with Child Labour issues as Fr. Joe was their Director.). when people saw the good work that Aasara was rehabilitating street kids and Child labourers of Thane, they supported Fr. Joe to raise funds through various other means and even encouraged that Aasara should be registered as a separate trust since the St. John the Baptist Chruch Parish Priest and sole trustee, was not interested in running Aasara as they felt it would be a big strain on their meager budget and also the felt they were not specialized t run it.

Hence Aasara was officially separated from the Church trust and Fr. Joe got together some specialized people like Ms. Patsy Khan of Nirmala Niketan College of Social Work, Sr. Sandhya was included as a member because of her 20 years expeience in social work and presently working in Aasara as a para-professional, Fr. Dominic Pereira was taken on the Board as Aasara's office & contact center existed in the church premises and also in order to register Aasara as an organization with the Asst. Charity Commissioner. Fr. Dominic Pereira being on the board of trustees was very important. The Trust was formed in December 1995 and was legally registered on 02.4.1996.

VISION
To have a city free of street children.

MISSION
To give a meaning in the lives of street children and not only sustain but make them self reliant by conducting various need based services.

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