‘We Are The Champions'- 15 Inspiring tales by Save the Children
Co-authored by best selling writer Rashmi Bansal and Devendra Tak, book features 15 children from underprivileged backgrounds who are fighting against all odds and injustice
Mumbai: In a time when the whole country is under lockdown while combating a mutual enemy COVID-19 or the Coronavirus, it is hard to make children stay at home and come to terms with the havoc played by COVID-19. Parents are coming up with ways to keep the children occupied like storytelling, reading books, etc. What better way to spend time reading inspirational stories of children from underprivileged backgrounds across the country. It is with this idea noted child rights NGO Save the Children has launched ‘We are the Champions’, a book celebrating stories of 15 inspiring Indian children. The book is penned by authors Rashmi Bansal and Devendra Tak who are telling stories of children from underprivileged backgrounds who are fighting against all odds and injustice. The book is in the Top 100 best selling ebooks on Amazon Kindle.
By questioning age-old practices such as child marriage, child labour, dowry, trafficking and inequality of gender, the children featured here have brought real and lasting change in their communities. This book contains valuable lessons for students, teachers, social workers, NGOs and all citizens who care about a better, more inclusive India.
“It takes a child to raise a village,” said Author Rashmi Bansal, “I discovered this truth when I met with several inspiring children from across India who have helped to improve the lives of other children and brought positive change to the communities and nation.” This is her 11th book with total sales exceeding 12 lakhs in multiple languages for her previous works.
Devendra Tak, who works with Save the Children, has met amazing people during his career when he was on assignments in India and abroad. “COVID-19 has bought tough times on everyone. Children are the hardest hit as they find it difficult to comprehend why there is lockdown and why they cannot go anywhere. This book is bringing stories which will inspire and help the children to cope with stress of lockdown and tell tales of underprivileged children who are fighting against all odds to change the society. And since the e-book is available, these inspirational stories are available at the click of the button” he says.
The book’s stories are divided into three sections: Ladenge means fight - we will fight (for child rights). Padhenge means study. Completing one’s education is seen as a major step in the realisation of child rights. It also helps families break through the vicious cycle of poverty in the long run. Badhenge means to grow, move ahead. Every child has a right to grow and achieve his or her full potential.
Child changemakers behind the stories shared their thoughts, like Anoyara Khatun who is one of India’s most prominent children’s voices, has represented India in two United Nations General Assembly meetings in New York and is a recipient of the President’s Nari Shakti award. She continues to inspire many children in West Bengal and beyond. She resides in the Sundarbans area south of Kolkata where she led 1000s of children to eliminate child trafficking. Khatun’s wish: “I look forward to an Earth where every girl will have a pair of wings with the help of which she will be able to fly freely under the open sky.” Saraswati Dhanuk further added, “Living in a slum gave me a whole different perspective towards bring a positive change and to help other children like me to find their way through life.”
“I am prepared to fight till no kid is deprived of his or her childhood. I don’t care if it takes all my life to achieve this,” said Shailendra from Rajasthan. "Through my acting skills, from street plays to movies, I know that I can bring attention to these underprivileged children,” says Salman Khan who grew up on the streets of Delhi but is making a mark in Mumbai’s Bollywood. “If children move away from child labour into school, their lives will be taking flight," says Anju Verma, who has launched her own NGO called Bulland Udaanwhich works in Haryana. “If we can bring about an improvement in living conditions for our family, friends and neighbours, isn’t that priceless?” added Saleha Khan, who is a resident of Govandi slum in Mumbai. "I will continue to work against trafficking, child marriage and to connect my village and the community with the rest of the state, nation and society." Rumi who hails from Jharkhand.
The book aims to highlight the sheer grit of these child champions and support their will to change their current circumstances, so that they can have a better tomorrow.
Free access to the complete book is available on Kindle Premium.
Save the Children, India’s leading independent child rights organization, engages and empowers young people as advocates and change makers and the book salutes the power of children to effect change. It works across 20 states of India. It focuses on issues related to education, health, protection of children and humanitarian work -- especially for the most deprived and marginalized children.
