Road To Learning

This year,the foundation has started a pick up and drop service for 120 children of construction workers and slum dwellers from Deokar Basti,Kalyani Nagar,Muliknagar and surrounding areas. Says Sangeeta Raut Shinde,programming officer,”These children have secured admission at the Lokmany Tilak Primary School and everyday we drop them and pick them in our bus. Our teacher Nisha Shinde always accompanies them. Prior to this,we used to conduct non-formal education classes for them. But after the Shikshan Mandal rule last year that children should attend school,we started the bus service.”

Parents of these children would not send their children to school because of safety reasons. “How could they ensure that their children would reach safely after negotiating through traffic and tending to their siblings? The schools are usually far and the kids had to walk a lot. So they would be unhappy to leave their homes unattended for so long in the fear that they would be broken down,” says Date. Now,with the bus service,the children rarely miss a day of school.

Pursuing their agenda of getting these children into mainstream education,the foundation also conducts support classes within the bus. “Our teachers teach the children of Stds 1-4. We also have a laptop system in both our buses wherein we play entertainment CDs for the kids and make them play puzzles and games. Even art and craft is a part of the class,” says Raut-Shinde.

Date describes the support classes and the non-formal education programme as a bridge that prepares the children for school. “Earlier,in 2003-2004,there were so many people living on pavements. Today the number has reduced. But we have tried our best to work with their children and show them what school is about band how it will benefit them,” she says,adding,”It’s very satisfying to know that some have remained in school. Others whose families have moved out of the city had to drop out.”

While the foundation is receiving support from some MNCs,they are hoping to secure help from Sarva Shikshan Abhiyan. “We want to expand our activities to other areas of the city as well,” says Date. “We collaborate with other NGOs and even give one of our buses for their use,” she adds.