Pratham Education Foundation

My Question

by Jacob Stern

"How does Pratham make such a huge impact? I couldnt wrap my mind around the fact that Pratham help millions of children. I dont see how an organisation could be so spread out and still be effective."

Jacob Stern is an Intern with Pratham from Dartmouth College. He grew up in Dallas, Texas and had the opportunity to do something he had always wanted - come to India. He grabbed the opportunity and is currently working with Pratham in Mumbai. Read about his experience and the question he tries to answer throughout his journey with Pratham.  

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Hi my name is Jacob Stern and I'm an entering sophomore at Dartmouth College. I grew up  in Dallas, Texas with my mother, father, and two younger sisters. I had always wanted to come to India, and this summer I had the opportunity to come with my friend so I grabbed it! I'll be in India for six weeks.

I started working in the Pratham offices at the end of June. I enjoyed the work I was doing; helping with data analysis on a new program, editing project proposals, and doing whatever else I could to help out. Throughout the day, I would take time to do a little research on Pratham, its programs, and the impact it makes. During my first week, my superior at the office called me in to see if I had any questions. And I did. There was one question that had been stuck in my head as I read about the different programs and the vastness of the organization: How does Pratham make such a huge impact? I couldn’t wrap my mind around the fact that Pratham helps millions of children. The organization helps millions of children, and I didn’t understand how that could be. Wouldn’t it make more sense to focus in a certain area? I didn’t see how an organization could be so spread out and still be effective.

So I wanted to go to a classroom. I wanted to interact with the kids for my own enjoyment and experience, but I also wanted to see how a classroom worked. I wanted to see how Pratham could be so effective. About two weeks into my internship, I had the opportunity. I went to a see a class, but my escort only spoke a few words of English. Unable to speak or understand, I simply observed. On this first visit, one aspect stuck out to me: the diligence of the children. I enjoyed seeing how the children worked, but I really wanted to interact with the kids. Upon expressing this desire, Pratham offered me an exciting opportunity: the following week I would go to two more classes, accompanied by a translator, and we would interview and photograph each student so we could write short blurbs about them for pratham.seeyourimpact.org (check it out!) I had realized that what my question boiled down to was how a staff of only so many people, with only so much education, could help millions of children. By the end of my third visit, the answer to my question had become very clear.

The first class I went to was a door-less room nestled deep in a narrow slum alley. The second was in MHADA (Maharashtra Housing and Area Development Authority) housing, essentially a slum apartment building, in the one-room home of a student in the class. The third was in a school building. Despite the varying settings, the activity, spirit, and enthusiasm in each class was exactly the same. Students worked diligently, even with the distraction I provided. The looks of concentration on their faces showed how hard they were working, whether they were writing English letters, reading Marathi books, or recognizing English words written on the board. When the teacher pointed to an English word, the students would read the word out loudly and in unison – proud of their knowledge – filling the classroom with noise, excitement, and energy.

The diligence I noticed in the first class I visited was confirmed and explained by the interviews we conducted in the next two. The students’ responses were unbelievably mature. Most came to class because they wanted to, not because their parents forced them. Many found English very difficult, but it was still their favorite subject to learn because they knew it would open many doors for their future. One boy, an avid reader, had heard about libraries but never been to one, and wanted to make a first visit sometime soon because he was exhausting all the books in the classroom. A few students loved their teacher so much, that they wanted to be just like her when they grew up. Others wanted to be doctors, nurses, pilots, engineers, soccer players, and cricket players. The kids were energized by their studies – they liked the content, but more importantly, they understood that their education is a ticket. Therefore, they were happy to be in class learning, and wanted as much education as they could get.

The children are the answer to my question. It is not some mysterious administrative force or extraordinary teaching prowess that make Pratham what it is. Pratham provides resources, emphasis on education, individualized attention, and true investment in each child. All of these things seem simple and obviously necessary, but they are sorely lacking in government schools. That is why Pratham is so important. But the kids are why Pratham is so incredible. They take what Pratham provides and they run with it. Their eagerness to learn, and the determination, energy, and excitement they bring to class are truly incredible to see. And they helped me answer my question.