A week that changed my life
Pratham
2:54:00 PM
By Sheiladitya Kumar, Volunteer
These are some
of the ways we can make their dreams come true:-
Around this time
last year, I was trekking on glaciers in Alaska, watching grizzlies feast on
salmons and cruising in the open oceans off the west coast of USA. I spent my
early childhood in India, but have lived and studies abroad for the last few
years and had begun to get used to my own perfect world.
This year, my
mother encouraged me to spend a week with the children at Pratham Learning
Centre, Trilokpuri in Mayur Vihar, Delhi and I am glad, that for once, I bowed
to her wishes and lived a week that helped me rediscover my roots and
appreciate, that for millions of children, life is full of imperfections, which
they are battling to attain a fraction of the education many of us take for
granted.
My objective was
to teach English and Math to children of the age group 8-14 with the help of
games and activities so that they could recall what they had learnt and put
them to practical use. A week is a drop in the ocean for these children who
have so much to catch up on, but their enthusiasm and eagerness is a panacea
for all doubts and for one week, I gave back to the world a small part of what
I have received over the past years. The children are extremely hardworking and
passionate about learning. It is a far cry from the comfortable environment
that many of us are used to, but when the y are in the class rooms, the sole intent of the children is to
focus on learning and despite the very basic infrastructure; they ensure they
make every minute count.
The teachers who engage daily with these children are
equally passionate and encourage the children to dream big about their future. Vikas
wants to become an army officer, Aman a cricketer, Sunny a police officer and others
want to grow up to become doctors or engineers. Together, they are slowly but
surely changing the face of India.
These are some
of the ways we can make their dreams come true:-
· Encourage others to visit and
volunteer to teach at some of the sites
· Start a local chapter and
through group activity find novel ways of supporting the cause
· Make a donation and encourage
others to do so
If, like me, you
hail from a privileged background, I would implore you to spend a small part of
your life and resources in giving back to the word and making a difference to
the lives of those who were not as fortunate as we are. The smile it brings to
their face is well worth the small sacrifice you will make.
