When Mumbai and UK kids joined hands to set fire on stage for a cause

Mumbai's iconic Royal Opera House witnessed a concert that stood out for the difference it made to the lives of hundreds. Young artistes from as many as 17 of the city's best schools including a UK-based school performed at the sixth edition of the charity music concert, 'WE' on Saturday.

WE Concert is a platform where students perform and raise funds to support underprivileged children from the city's slums trained by the Salaam Bombay Foundation's Academy of the Arts.

WE started with a humble beginning in 2013 by Mrinalini Somani, then a seventh-grader from Cathedral and John Connon School. Somani, now a student at Sherborne Girls, UK, was elated at the response. 

"Since inception, WE has funded over 1,000 annual scholarships for students at Salaam Bombay Academy of the Arts. This year, many more schools joined us and I am so happy that my friends from the UK also volunteered for the concert," he said.

Last year, the concert raised a whopping Rs 44 lakh. This year the concert raised more than Rs 56 lakhs, facilitating training of more than 370 talented underprivileged children.

From rock to pop to jazz western pieces and the very popular Bollywood section, WE sent out a message of unity as children from different sections of the society came together on a common stage for a common cause.