Varanasi, May 27 : About 40 Japanese have come together to construct a school for destitute children in Varanasi.

A Japanese journalist met Salim, a rickshaw puller, during his visit to India and over a period of time, they became friends.

Salim, who nurtured a dream for opening a school for poor and destitute children, shared this with Shin Ekeda.

Ekeda supported Salim and mobilizing his friends in Japan to join the cause.

On his return to Japan, Ekeda succeeded in collecting funds for the project and came back to India to fulfill Salim's dream in Ratta Pur Village.

"I met Salim. He has a family and dreamt of making a school for poor children. I spoke to him, and thought we could do something. I went back to Japan and spoke to my friends. Around 20 to30 people have come forth and contributed towards the construction of the school. We bought land in this village," Ekeda said.

Salim's dream project has taken shape in the form of the 'Mother Baby Kindergarden School'. The construction of the school is now in full swing.

A group of Japanese are also engaged in the dream project.

"I am used to working with foreign countries to help poor people and also the handicapped. I heard from one Japanese about this and came here to build a house for street children," said Myco Kukomutp, a Japanese.

Salim has been treating them like his family, as the group has also shown immense trust in his family.

"We treat them like family and they have shown a lot of trust in us. They have come here and are building an English medium school for poor children and the education is free of cost," said Salim. (ANI)