I am Nitesh, I am 4 years old. I live with my little brother, sister and my mum in Bangalore. My family comes from the countryside but because they couldn't find work there, my parents took us to the city. My mum works on the building sites, she carries stones. My dad is unemployed, but he is often away. My house is 6m2, we sleep on the floor but we have a television.

When my mum is at work, I was in the street, taking care of my brother and with the other children. But now I've started going to school. I am there all morning. I've been given a uniform, I learn English, form objects with play dough, how to recognize and name fruits and vegetables. We also do crafts, songs and dance to illustrate our religions, our customs or to imitate our teachers. For lunch, I eat a meal at school with my classmates. There I learn to wash my hands before the meal and to say thank you. Same time, the bigger schoolchildren arrive, they help with the meals but eat after us. My mum comes to pick me up with her scooter in the early afternoon, while they have extra-teaching.  

I go to school every day except Sunday. When visitors come to Shanti Foundation, I like to show my house and my brothers and sisters. I know how to speak a few words with them, even if I am quite shy. This distinguishes me from other children in the slum. I love to pose for photos and also to see them on my visitors' mobile phones.