Hostels
Educational Hostels
Asha Hostel
After witnessing countless children being subjected to utter poverty, resulting in malnutrition, illiteracy and petty crimes, the Asha Hostel was founded in 2001 at Wadgaonsheri, to help prevent such social ills. The Harbour Society provides a real home for a maximum of 10-12 children per hostel who have suffered the loss of their primary care giver such as a father or a mother due to either illness, accidents, or abandonment. Through our hostels many families have received temporary assistance until they could reassume the responsibility as primary caregivers. In some cases, the child remains in the hostel to complete his/her formal education. So far, 100 such children have received temporary assistance and 11 of our youngsters have completed Higher Secondary Education and vocational training and are currently earning their livelihood. Some of the exceptionally bright students are pursuing their post-graduate degrees. Apart from academics, the children are also trained in music, singing and computers. One of the most exceptional characteristics of our home is that not a single child has run away due to adjustment problems. All credit goes to the homely atmosphere, love and care the children receive from the Hostel Wardens.
Hostels for Children
Samarth Hostel
Aadesh Hostel
Kripa Hostel
We have three other Educational Hostels namely Aadesh, Samarth, and Karuna. These hostels are set up for children of sex workers from Budhwar Peth. These hostels function separately for girls and boys. Each of these hostels is manned by trained hostel wardens (married couples) who are trained to care for these children. Most of them attend good English medium schools. Some are put in vernacular schools as they are unable to cope with the rigors of an English medium school. The children have designated time for play, study, meals, sleep etc. Time to time they enjoy outings and once a year they enjoy a 5-day combined boys and girls camp in the outskirts of Pune. This is one of the highlights of the year the children look forward to.
The hostel wardens undergo annual value education training to assist them on how to handle difficult children and also care for the development of these children in a holistic manner.
Currently, all except one hostel are in rented premises. Periodic shifting and rising rentals are causing some degree of discomfort and cost escalation. Hence, our future plans include building hostel facilities for these children in the Harbour House itself located off B.T. Kawade Road. We are in the process of obtaining permission to build additional space to relocate the Educational Hostels.