Vijayan is the sixth child in a family of eight children. They lived in poverty and his parents had to spend every waking hour trying to earn a living to support the whole family. There just wasn't any time to spend with their children.

Left on his own, Vijayan felt bored. He started mixing with bad company at the age of nine. He skipped school, smoked, gambled, shoplifted, got into gang fights and stole money from home. He lost interest in school and dropped out after Standard 6. As the years progressed, Vijayan and his friends even resorted to extortion to get extra money.

Deep inside, he was just a child crying out for help. He had hoped that his parents would notice his misdeeds and make him stop. When that did not happen, he started staying out more often and getting into more trouble.

His parents finally realised what their son had been up to when Vijayan was arrested for stabbing another boy in a gang fight. Unable to control him, they approached their priest who recommended that Vijayan be admitted to Shelter.

When Vijayan came to us at 14, he tried to run away. He detested attending English, Maths and Auto-Mechanics classes. However he soon made friends with the other boys and realised that he could earn an honest living when he grew up. Now, Vijayan is determined to become a good mechanic.