I am no great writer or composer and to put something which is extremely close to your heart and which you do, not really to please someone but yourself, it becomes difficult to pen down everything the way you would want to. Nonetheless I will try to share my experience about the Dream India Borivali classes.
It all started with a common dream in three individual hearts. A dream to make a difference! A dream to make this country a shade better than what he/she got! These individuals, sharing the same dream, then shook hands and the horizon expanded. And thus was formed –Dream India 2020! We now are strength of 150+ numerically. But truly, number doesn’t matter, what matters is the passion and determination which each one of us carry to make a difference.
In around March-April 2005, a close friend of mine, Vivek told me about this community/team called "Dream India 2020". After he explained about it, it seemed more like a dream waiting to become reality in the eyes of each of the founders. The concept of four people starting something like this as a group and taking it forward to yet another area was quite inspiring in itself. Knowing that despite the busy schedules, the project pressures, Mumbai commuting problems, there are willing hearts who want to make a difference in whatever way they can to the ones who were not blessed with the same situations or facilities, moved me. More so, as a dear friend was involved in the Borivali chapter, I immediately extended my hand towards this noble cause. Initially I wasn't actually a part of DI2020 and had just started to go to the Borivali class. Those were the days when Dream India itself was in the budding stage. There was no official site, no mailing group, not many people involved, and I wasn't even aware of the big picture. What I knew was, there exists a group of selfless hearts who have started this in Andheri and I wanted to be a part of the bunch.
I still remember the initial days when I had started going to the Kulupwadi basti, which is just next to my office, from my house which was in Borivali West. I was very keen to see how it all happens. My room-mate and I used to go every weekend to accompany Vivek. Vivek with Varun had already done the basic ground work of asking permissions, collecting names of the kids, arranging for a room to teach, etc. So for us it was just about going and spending a few hours with the kids. Being with children has always been a reason to make me extremely happy (the other being getting drenched in rainsJ). These kids were special in their own way. They already went to school, most of them that is. Most of them went to a Marathi or Hindi medium school, but there were some whose parents managed to put them in English medium too. The bunch was a blend of all kinds, shy, extremely naughty, eager to please us, very inquisitive and talkative as well. I was surprised to see around 40 -50 kids in the first class. They gathered in a hall on first floor of their basti. There were no fans and the heat was intense. But the enthusiasm in each kid's eyes was even more intense!
We made them sit like we do in a classroom, after dividing them into two groups. The way each one wanted to gain special attention and were way too eager to please us gave us a kick to teach them with an equal enthusiasm. We made them introduce themselves in front of the whole class and tell as to what they aspired to become in future and why. I was surprised to hear the varied answers from each one of them which consisted of policeman, doctor, engineer, pilot, army man, painter, actor et al. One even said he wants to be someone who can earn for his entire family and keep his parents happy, doesn’t really matter what degree he gets. When we questioned why they chose the respective professions, they had varied answers for that too which mostly comprised of achieving money, fame and secure future. But when we questioned them how would they go about becoming these, they had no clue. We realized that there is a lot to be talked about, to be discussed and heard from them. We would need to give our sincere efforts and time to really build up their confidence level as the passion to become something was already twinkling in their eyes. These were kids who despite the adverse situations were willing to make a future for themselves. We realized we need to support them morally and also tell them the facts and truths about the outside world. The kids went to Marathi or Hindi medium schools which were around 15-30 min walk from their place which of course they covered on feet. These are the BMC Schools which do not charge any admission fees, donation or for that matter, even the expenditure incurred on books and uniforms is provided by the school. But education in these schools comes at an even larger cost, and that being poor education structure. I saw that though the kids were in 5th class they did not know the basic spellings. English was limited to the alphabets and a word from each alphabet. They were not even remotely aware of the meanings of those words.
We needed some guidance or direction to ensure that we were following right strategies to teach these children. Initially Vivek and I went to various NGOs to get an overview. We did not want to associate it with corporate organizations or NGOs. We gradually spread the word amongst our friends and colleagues and got some more volunteers. We also maintained a log book for what was taught in the previous classes and an attendance sheet as well. Kids were very excited about having someone come to teach them and that too for free. Their parents could not provide for education fees and other miscellaneous expenses and so most of them went to BMC schools. We contributed from our pockets for books and stationary. For us it was hardly any amount while for them it made a world of a difference! We got personally attached to the kids. To break the ice between the ones who were not very comfortable we started playing games with them on alternate weekends or gave them drawing exercises which they looked forward to and also distributed chocolates to all the children who did their homework right. They use to talk their hearts out, discuss about their family situations, their aspirations, their queries regarding the outer world, how technology works, how my cell phone operated etc. On Diwali they gave me a hand made card which I would treasure for Lifetime. It gave great pleasure to hear from their parents how they waited for the classes and how they use to talk about us at home. We were the hopes for their future. A bond had started to build.
But the volunteers were not consistent due to which the class strength also dwindled. Vivek was handling it single-handedly at one point. I tried to manage it as much as I could. Then I had to leave for onsite for 5 months, after which I was hardly a regular. By then Rahul had taken over a great deal. It was not until Vivek had to leave for onsite too and Varun happened to take interests in Borivali classes as he moved to a near by location, that I realized what I had been missing all the while. The joy which I got when the kids greeted me, the smile on their faces when I marked their books with ‘very good’s, the competition in their eyes to prove themselves better than the others, the experiences they shared, the innocent questions their minds were filled with! How I was missing it all as I got busy with my other silly weekend activities like watching movies, lazing around at home, meeting friends et al. Not that I did not enjoy all of them, but to take out four hours from entire week wasn’t a big deal! Moreover the satisfaction which I got was tremendous.
Also when I went back to these classes I realized most of the kids remembered me very well. They were happy to see me back. I shared some of my onsite experiences with them, about how the aero plane formalities work, how is USA different from India in terms of traffic rules, what is Internet all about. I realized that to explain any of these to them was so difficult where as these have become an integral part of our lives. I am happy to be back with these little angels. Amongst them some of them are really very sharp and have a tremendous grasping power. There is a 7yr old boy, Ajay who comes regularly and knows quite a lot given the fact that he did not ever attend school. His parents once sent him to school for 20 days or so but he quit saying that BMC schools do not teach and he would rather prefer studying on his own. When we talked to his parents, we realized they were short of money and did not really realize the potential which their child had. After few talks with Ajay’s mom and dad, we convinced them to admit him to school ASAP. We went to enquire about this schools and made them realized how important his education was. As of now they have agreed to send him to school this year. Hope that a bright future of a talented child is not wasted due to lack of facilities or awareness.
Apart from that I have started taking classes of some of these children on weekdays too. When I asked them about their school timings, I was surprised that the ones who came back from school at 1pm were eager to come to classes at 2pm. I now teach them everyday from 2pm to 3pm whenever I can manage from my office. It gives a lot of satisfaction to start the day with receiving genuine smiles of gratitude and the feeling of doing something beyond your coding. I still am thankful that I joined Dream India which made me realize my own dream in-turn.
Off late an official website of Dream India is formed, we now have a yahoo group which has made it easier to communicate and keep everyone in a single loop. There was a media coverage few weeks back and was telecast on CNBC. We have a community on Orkut, a social networking site, which gives the update about various activities in different cities of India. The ideas are shared across various locations to make this effort a better one at each place.
No contribution is ever less or negligible. As we all agree, even the smallest step counts in our journey to achieve something in life! We have already started off with our journey and we know we have a long way to tread together.
It’s this devotion towards the work and the purpose, the patriotism towards India and the passion to make a difference, which would help us bring smile on all the faces that are deprived of it.
I would like to quote a few lines of my favorite article by Rudyard Kipling,
‘..If you can make one heap of all your winnings
and risk it on one turn of pitch-and-toss,
and lose, and start again at your beginnings
and never breathe a word about your loss;
if you can force your heart and nerve and sinew
to serve your turn long after they are gone,
and so hold on when there is nothing in you
Except the Will which says to them: "Hold on!"..’
I am sure we all would hold on and pursue our dreams till the end.
Jai Hind!
It all started with a common dream in three individual hearts. A dream to make a difference! A dream to make this country a shade better than what he/she got! These individuals, sharing the same dream, then shook hands and the horizon expanded. And thus was formed –Dream India 2020! We now are strength of 150+ numerically. But truly, number doesn’t matter, what matters is the passion and determination which each one of us carry to make a difference.
In around March-April 2005, a close friend of mine, Vivek told me about this community/team called "Dream India 2020". After he explained about it, it seemed more like a dream waiting to become reality in the eyes of each of the founders. The concept of four people starting something like this as a group and taking it forward to yet another area was quite inspiring in itself. Knowing that despite the busy schedules, the project pressures, Mumbai commuting problems, there are willing hearts who want to make a difference in whatever way they can to the ones who were not blessed with the same situations or facilities, moved me. More so, as a dear friend was involved in the Borivali chapter, I immediately extended my hand towards this noble cause. Initially I wasn't actually a part of DI2020 and had just started to go to the Borivali class. Those were the days when Dream India itself was in the budding stage. There was no official site, no mailing group, not many people involved, and I wasn't even aware of the big picture. What I knew was, there exists a group of selfless hearts who have started this in Andheri and I wanted to be a part of the bunch.
I still remember the initial days when I had started going to the Kulupwadi basti, which is just next to my office, from my house which was in Borivali West. I was very keen to see how it all happens. My room-mate and I used to go every weekend to accompany Vivek. Vivek with Varun had already done the basic ground work of asking permissions, collecting names of the kids, arranging for a room to teach, etc. So for us it was just about going and spending a few hours with the kids. Being with children has always been a reason to make me extremely happy (the other being getting drenched in rainsJ). These kids were special in their own way. They already went to school, most of them that is. Most of them went to a Marathi or Hindi medium school, but there were some whose parents managed to put them in English medium too. The bunch was a blend of all kinds, shy, extremely naughty, eager to please us, very inquisitive and talkative as well. I was surprised to see around 40 -50 kids in the first class. They gathered in a hall on first floor of their basti. There were no fans and the heat was intense. But the enthusiasm in each kid's eyes was even more intense!
We made them sit like we do in a classroom, after dividing them into two groups. The way each one wanted to gain special attention and were way too eager to please us gave us a kick to teach them with an equal enthusiasm. We made them introduce themselves in front of the whole class and tell as to what they aspired to become in future and why. I was surprised to hear the varied answers from each one of them which consisted of policeman, doctor, engineer, pilot, army man, painter, actor et al. One even said he wants to be someone who can earn for his entire family and keep his parents happy, doesn’t really matter what degree he gets. When we questioned why they chose the respective professions, they had varied answers for that too which mostly comprised of achieving money, fame and secure future. But when we questioned them how would they go about becoming these, they had no clue. We realized that there is a lot to be talked about, to be discussed and heard from them. We would need to give our sincere efforts and time to really build up their confidence level as the passion to become something was already twinkling in their eyes. These were kids who despite the adverse situations were willing to make a future for themselves. We realized we need to support them morally and also tell them the facts and truths about the outside world. The kids went to Marathi or Hindi medium schools which were around 15-30 min walk from their place which of course they covered on feet. These are the BMC Schools which do not charge any admission fees, donation or for that matter, even the expenditure incurred on books and uniforms is provided by the school. But education in these schools comes at an even larger cost, and that being poor education structure. I saw that though the kids were in 5th class they did not know the basic spellings. English was limited to the alphabets and a word from each alphabet. They were not even remotely aware of the meanings of those words.
We needed some guidance or direction to ensure that we were following right strategies to teach these children. Initially Vivek and I went to various NGOs to get an overview. We did not want to associate it with corporate organizations or NGOs. We gradually spread the word amongst our friends and colleagues and got some more volunteers. We also maintained a log book for what was taught in the previous classes and an attendance sheet as well. Kids were very excited about having someone come to teach them and that too for free. Their parents could not provide for education fees and other miscellaneous expenses and so most of them went to BMC schools. We contributed from our pockets for books and stationary. For us it was hardly any amount while for them it made a world of a difference! We got personally attached to the kids. To break the ice between the ones who were not very comfortable we started playing games with them on alternate weekends or gave them drawing exercises which they looked forward to and also distributed chocolates to all the children who did their homework right. They use to talk their hearts out, discuss about their family situations, their aspirations, their queries regarding the outer world, how technology works, how my cell phone operated etc. On Diwali they gave me a hand made card which I would treasure for Lifetime. It gave great pleasure to hear from their parents how they waited for the classes and how they use to talk about us at home. We were the hopes for their future. A bond had started to build.
But the volunteers were not consistent due to which the class strength also dwindled. Vivek was handling it single-handedly at one point. I tried to manage it as much as I could. Then I had to leave for onsite for 5 months, after which I was hardly a regular. By then Rahul had taken over a great deal. It was not until Vivek had to leave for onsite too and Varun happened to take interests in Borivali classes as he moved to a near by location, that I realized what I had been missing all the while. The joy which I got when the kids greeted me, the smile on their faces when I marked their books with ‘very good’s, the competition in their eyes to prove themselves better than the others, the experiences they shared, the innocent questions their minds were filled with! How I was missing it all as I got busy with my other silly weekend activities like watching movies, lazing around at home, meeting friends et al. Not that I did not enjoy all of them, but to take out four hours from entire week wasn’t a big deal! Moreover the satisfaction which I got was tremendous.
Also when I went back to these classes I realized most of the kids remembered me very well. They were happy to see me back. I shared some of my onsite experiences with them, about how the aero plane formalities work, how is USA different from India in terms of traffic rules, what is Internet all about. I realized that to explain any of these to them was so difficult where as these have become an integral part of our lives. I am happy to be back with these little angels. Amongst them some of them are really very sharp and have a tremendous grasping power. There is a 7yr old boy, Ajay who comes regularly and knows quite a lot given the fact that he did not ever attend school. His parents once sent him to school for 20 days or so but he quit saying that BMC schools do not teach and he would rather prefer studying on his own. When we talked to his parents, we realized they were short of money and did not really realize the potential which their child had. After few talks with Ajay’s mom and dad, we convinced them to admit him to school ASAP. We went to enquire about this schools and made them realized how important his education was. As of now they have agreed to send him to school this year. Hope that a bright future of a talented child is not wasted due to lack of facilities or awareness.
Apart from that I have started taking classes of some of these children on weekdays too. When I asked them about their school timings, I was surprised that the ones who came back from school at 1pm were eager to come to classes at 2pm. I now teach them everyday from 2pm to 3pm whenever I can manage from my office. It gives a lot of satisfaction to start the day with receiving genuine smiles of gratitude and the feeling of doing something beyond your coding. I still am thankful that I joined Dream India which made me realize my own dream in-turn.
Off late an official website of Dream India is formed, we now have a yahoo group which has made it easier to communicate and keep everyone in a single loop. There was a media coverage few weeks back and was telecast on CNBC. We have a community on Orkut, a social networking site, which gives the update about various activities in different cities of India. The ideas are shared across various locations to make this effort a better one at each place.
No contribution is ever less or negligible. As we all agree, even the smallest step counts in our journey to achieve something in life! We have already started off with our journey and we know we have a long way to tread together.
It’s this devotion towards the work and the purpose, the patriotism towards India and the passion to make a difference, which would help us bring smile on all the faces that are deprived of it.
I would like to quote a few lines of my favorite article by Rudyard Kipling,
‘..If you can make one heap of all your winnings
and risk it on one turn of pitch-and-toss,
and lose, and start again at your beginnings
and never breathe a word about your loss;
if you can force your heart and nerve and sinew
to serve your turn long after they are gone,
and so hold on when there is nothing in you
Except the Will which says to them: "Hold on!"..’
I am sure we all would hold on and pursue our dreams till the end.
Jai Hind!
7 comments:
Amazing! You have poured out your heart in this one blog. If only everyone could share their experiences in a common forum like this. Esp the part about sharing your onsite experiences...that would have thrilled the children no end! They would have had stars in thieir eyes...no doubt about it! All the very best! DreamIndia2020 would thrive no doubt when in the good company of people like you, who despite not being involved in the middle, had it in you to see what you were missing and understood that this is a 'duty' and not a 'service' to the Indian society.
Jai Hind!
Hii :) Read the latest post...it was so touching, straight from the heart, so beautifully written, feelings captured in words so well....very inspiring !
Feeling so so proud of you and happy ! I'm sure your passion will prove very contagious...the effect has already begun :) !
Nehaji, simply amazing. You are just too good. You and your team is working like angels to make the lives of these children better... Infact, you'll ARE angels! hats off to you, sao and the entire dream india team.
-Anon
p.s. - Am purposely leaving a comment as 'Anon', but don't break your head too figure out who am I. :-)
No one can express it better that this.. I can feel every moment, even single step that we took to achive our dream ..and I know with you , Rahul , Varun , and other enthusiastic people ..we can make a diffrence ..
I must say , I am proud to have you as my friend.
Perfect is the word I can say about this Neha... We are very proud of you dear...
Prasanna
Very nice to read this....glad to know that you have started teaching the kids on weekdays too...
All the best!
Regards,
Natarajan
Hey..so ncie to share some of the experiences u guys had that time...surely can relate to those !!!
Guess the mission has come a long way since !!!
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