A discussion in class brought out the A discussion in class brought out the problem of illiteracy faced by problem of illiteracy faced by innumerable children, which by large, innumerable children, which by large, results in child labour and other related results in child labour and other related problems. This started us thinking about problems. This started us thinking about what we, as students, could do to what we, as students, could do to alleviate this major problem and came to alleviate this major problem and came to the decision that if each one of us taught the decision that if each one of us taught one, we could, in time, make a difference one, we could, in time, make a difference to many children.to many children.

IMAGINEIMAGINE

We are a new school with 33 students in We are a new school with 33 students in classes VI and VII combined. We imagined classes VI and VII combined. We imagined each one of us teaching one child in ones each one of us teaching one child in ones own time! We imagined every privileged own time! We imagined every privileged student doing the same! Very soon we will student doing the same! Very soon we will have no child who does not know his/her 3 have no child who does not know his/her 3 R’s (Reading, Writing and Arithmetic). R’s (Reading, Writing and Arithmetic). This thought of helping under privileged This thought of helping under privileged students and sharing what we learn in students and sharing what we learn in school got adrenalin pumping in us. What school got adrenalin pumping in us. What better gift could we give others of our better gift could we give others of our kind than the gift of the 3 R’s!kind than the gift of the 3 R’s!

Plan of Plan of ActionAction

Four of us formed a team and planned to teach a child each Four of us formed a team and planned to teach a child each on a daily basis from 26on a daily basis from 26thth September to 2 September to 2ndnd October. We October. We also decided to continue it twice a week for as long as it also decided to continue it twice a week for as long as it took to make a difference to that child. took to make a difference to that child.

Two of us knew of a child each we could help. The other two Two of us knew of a child each we could help. The other two visited an orphanage and with the blessing of the Mother visited an orphanage and with the blessing of the Mother Superior there, were given permission to help two girls.Superior there, were given permission to help two girls.

RevathiRevathi

• Ashmitha:I met Revathi, a 9 year old, in Ashmitha:I met Revathi, a 9 year old, in class III at Jeevadhanam Home. She could class III at Jeevadhanam Home. She could hardly read or write and barely write the hardly read or write and barely write the numbers. I started teaching her the letters numbers. I started teaching her the letters of the English alphabet and numbers. of the English alphabet and numbers.

• Revathi responded very well, in fact she Revathi responded very well, in fact she was very reluctant to let me go even after was very reluctant to let me go even after an hour and a half of studies.an hour and a half of studies.

My friend My friend RevathiRevathi

• I taught her to write her name and the names of I taught her to write her name and the names of her friends. This excited her. her friends. This excited her.

• I taught her phonics so that she could pronounce I taught her phonics so that she could pronounce and spell words correctly.and spell words correctly.

• We then moved on to numbers and basic addition, We then moved on to numbers and basic addition, subtraction and multiplication.subtraction and multiplication.

• Evaluation of what she had learnt was part of my Evaluation of what she had learnt was part of my strategy. This encouraged her to work faster.strategy. This encouraged her to work faster.

• I have never felt this good about myself before!I have never felt this good about myself before!

GauthaGauthamm

• Alagappan: I made friends with Gautham, Alagappan: I made friends with Gautham, a 7 year old boy who lives in a hutment a 7 year old boy who lives in a hutment close to my residence. Gautham could close to my residence. Gautham could speak in Tamil, but knew neither the speak in Tamil, but knew neither the letters of the alphabet nor numbers. Over letters of the alphabet nor numbers. Over the week I spent with him, I taught him the week I spent with him, I taught him the basics of reading and writing Tamil the basics of reading and writing Tamil and English and also simple addition and and English and also simple addition and subtraction.subtraction.

My little friend My little friend GauthamGautham

• Gautham was so very receptive to all Gautham was so very receptive to all that I taught him that I was sure that that I taught him that I was sure that he would have performed wonders had he would have performed wonders had been able to go to a regular school.been able to go to a regular school.

• I plan to meet Gautham every Sunday. I I plan to meet Gautham every Sunday. I presented him the shirts he is wearing presented him the shirts he is wearing in these pictures.in these pictures.

My Student My Student DeivaniDeivani

• Tarun:I met 9 year old Deivani at the Tarun:I met 9 year old Deivani at the Jeevadanam orphanage. She was so shy Jeevadanam orphanage. She was so shy that it took me time to establish a rapport that it took me time to establish a rapport with her. Deivani hardly spoke to me but with her. Deivani hardly spoke to me but was, to an extent, a willing learner. was, to an extent, a willing learner.

• My first step was to help her with her My first step was to help her with her alphabet and her hand writing.alphabet and her hand writing.

• Helping her with math was a good choice Helping her with math was a good choice as she seemed more receptive when as she seemed more receptive when discussing numbers.discussing numbers.

DeivaniDeivani

• I taught her a few physical exercises I taught her a few physical exercises hoping that it would help her relax. hoping that it would help her relax.

• In addition, I taught her the need for good In addition, I taught her the need for good manners, hygiene and physical exercises. manners, hygiene and physical exercises.

• I plan to continue meeting her and hope to I plan to continue meeting her and hope to win her trust and make friends with her .win her trust and make friends with her .

GunaGuna

• Antony Darshan: It was a pleasure to meet Guna, Antony Darshan: It was a pleasure to meet Guna, a sprightly 7 year old who lives close to my a sprightly 7 year old who lives close to my residence. residence.

• I interacted with his family and got their I interacted with his family and got their permission to teach him to read and write. permission to teach him to read and write.

My Friend GunaMy Friend Guna

• He is receptive to everything I tell him. I He is receptive to everything I tell him. I took this opportunity to teach him not just took this opportunity to teach him not just to read , write and count, but also to read , write and count, but also etiquette, table manners and first aid. etiquette, table manners and first aid.

• My rapport with Guna is such that I enjoy My rapport with Guna is such that I enjoy every minute I spend with him.every minute I spend with him.

• I continue to teach him as I find great joy I continue to teach him as I find great joy in doing so.in doing so.

• I look forward to helping many more such I look forward to helping many more such Gunas.Gunas.

A NOTE FROM OUR A NOTE FROM OUR PRINCIPALPRINCIPAL

• ““KNOWLEDGE IS STRUCTURED IN KNOWLEDGE IS STRUCTURED IN CONSCIOUSNESS”-CONSCIOUSNESS”- our consciousness our consciousness has initiated us to motivate our has initiated us to motivate our students to share their knowledge students to share their knowledge with the most underprivileged with the most underprivileged children of our society with utmost children of our society with utmost care. Our student realize and feel care. Our student realize and feel that many children of their that many children of their generation lack education while they generation lack education while they are blessed to enjoy its bliss.are blessed to enjoy its bliss.

Parent’s ViewsParent’s Views• We are extremely happy that GTAVM has encouraged We are extremely happy that GTAVM has encouraged

our children to take on this project and use their our children to take on this project and use their vacation time productively.vacation time productively.

• This value based project not only helped other children, This value based project not only helped other children, it helped our children understand the importance of it helped our children understand the importance of education.education.

• Our children are now aware what the world around Our children are now aware what the world around them is like and feel sincerely that they have to give them is like and feel sincerely that they have to give back to society, at least in part, what they have gained back to society, at least in part, what they have gained from it.from it.

• They have learned to empathize with the less privileged They have learned to empathize with the less privileged children, recognized their right to a decent education children, recognized their right to a decent education and have put in their best to share what they have and have put in their best to share what they have learnt so far.learnt so far.

• Hats off to the organizers of this mega event and to the Hats off to the organizers of this mega event and to the school that promotes such value based programs and school that promotes such value based programs and encourages the idea of giving in ones so young!encourages the idea of giving in ones so young!