News & pics:  Rons Bantwal
Daijiworld Media Network – Mumbai (RD/VA)
 
Mumbai, Apr 15: Sarva Seva Sangha (SSS), a social work initiative of Divine Word Missionaries, celebrated annual day at St Arnold’s School Hall, Gyan Ashram campus, Andheri (East), here recently. 

The theme of the day was ‘Add smile and smile along.’  As many as 500 people attended the function. The street and slum children were the major attraction of the event who staged variety of cultural events on the occasion. 

During the function 40 street children of SSS Balwadis (pre-school centers) received their Kindergarten Certificates.  These children would be enrolled in schools from next year. A major part of SSS work with the children is sponsored by B-Braun Medical Private Limited, as a part of its corporate social responsibility initiative.
 
During the function many women from waste picking communities staged a meaningful and symbolic drama as to how they came into the city looking for a better life and how they live at present. It was their way to show that with their association with SSS , they have regained a bit of their dignity that was identified from the smiles on their faces. 
 
It was also heartening to see the work of SSS with the school drop out youth who received diplomas for having completed the Customer Relations and Sales Course. SSS Mumbai activities include projects with waste pickers, substance abusers, school-dropout-youth (Community College), street and working children and alternative medicine through Acupressure Clinic.
 
SSS Mumbai is dynamically led by Fr Donald D’Souza SVD.  The social initiative has taken giant steps during the last two years of his presence.
 
Fr Lazar T Stanislaus SVD, the Provincial of Mumbai Province and the personnel from B-Braun were present on the occasion and they lauded the SSS team for their wonderful service.
 
SSS, Mumbai can be contacted at sssmumbaiinm@gmail.com or donaldsvd@hotmail.com