The main characters were the children, and it was they who set the direction and spirit of the meeting, accompanied by adults, of course. Each group presented the situation and problems of children in their region, enthusiastically explaining to the rest how they would solve them and how outraged they felt about child exploitation.
The children talked about the importance of education and of being heard. It was very moving to see their vitality and how aware they were of the responsibility they had to keep working and fighting for their country’s children. Some were too young to realize the scope of their actions, but older children were worth watching and listening to - a lesson for adults, educators and companions, whose task was to act as a bridge between the different languages spoken there - Hindi, English, Kannada and Marathi - and to support, listen and respect the children.
The children talked about the importance of education and of being heard. It was very moving to see their vitality and how aware they were of the responsibility they had to keep working and fighting for their country’s children. Some were too young to realize the scope of their actions, but older children were worth watching and listening to - a lesson for adults, educators and companions, whose task was to act as a bridge between the different languages spoken there - Hindi, English, Kannada and Marathi - and to support, listen and respect the children. 
On the last day, groups were formed to decide where the next edition and its contents would be. The children representing Asha-Kiran proposed Pune as the venue for next year, saying that despite the work and responsibility this would entail, they could not remain silent given the number of children living on the streets.
During the three day event, participation was strong and the organizers took care of all the details to make the children and their companions feel welcome. The organizers planned a short trip so that those coming from outside Mumbai could get to know the city. Inside the bus, singing songs in all languages, they traveled through the center of town, which they loved. At the end of the event, the children were very grateful to have shared their experiences and made many new friends. Of course they want to do it again!Eshana – Live-in Volunteer at Yashodhara Shelter Home
