Dear Sawan, Laurent and Mahendra,

Neha’s family migrated from Fatehpur district in UP to work in the brick kilns in Kanpur, UP. Her father, Santosh, and mother, Somvati, leave early to work in the brick kilns. Neha, along with her brother and two sisters, used to assist her parents in making bricks, thereby helping supplement the family income.

Three years back, when Jagriti opened an Apna Skool centre  near the brick kiln where she lives, Neha got herself enrolled as a student. She is currently in grade 3. She likes to study and wants to become a doctor. She also loves reading and playing the board games that are available at her education center. In this photo, Neha is seen engrossed reading a book. She also loves skipping.

Your generous donation, Sawan, has enabled Jagriti to provide a full year of study materials to Neha, thereby ensuring she can study well.

Your generous donation, Laurent, has enabled Jagriti to provide two sets of school uniforms to Neha. With your help, she may someday achieve her dream of becoming a doctor.

Your generous donation, Mahendra, will enable Jagriti to provide a year of medical care to Neha, thereby ensuring that she stays safe and healthy from illness and can attend school regularly.

Your generous donation, Laurent, has enabled Jagriti to provide a year of nutritious lunches to Neha. This may be her only wholesome meal, in a day!

Thank you so much, Laurent and Mahendra for this kind gesture!

Dear TESU, Kunal, Amit, Susan and James, Rao and Sarah,

Maya has been a part of the Apna Skool network for the past 4 years  and is currently studying in grade four. Her father, Lavkush, works as a painter and her mother, Parvati, is  a domestic worker.  Maya’s younger brother is also a part of the Apna Skool network.

Maya is a very responsible child, who assists her brother in his studies and also lends a helping hand to her mother in household chores. Apna Skool has introduced her to a number of vocational training activities like tailoring and jewelry-making, which she takes a great interest in. Maya is also a budding musician.

Thank you, Kunal, Amit, Susan & James, for gifting a full school year of lunches to Maya.

Thank you, TESU, for gifting a year of school supplies to Maya.

Thank you, Rao, for gifting a set of two uniforms to Maya.

Thank you, Sarah, for gifting a full year of medical care to Maya.

Thanks to your encouragement, Maya can now focus on completing her studies and pursue a successful career in her field of interest.

Dear Kyley,

Your donation has been used to support Haridas Srivastav, a teacher at Apna Skool, for three months.

Here is a first person account from him on why he started teaching at Apna Skool, and what it means to him-

“I have been associated with Apna Skool for the last 13 years, and I now regard it as my second home.  Despite not being inclined to the profession, I decided on becoming a teacher since I was weak physically and thought the occupation would place fewer demands on me physically. However, when I started interacting with the children at Apna Skool, my lack of inclination turned to positive liking.

I started my stint in Apna Skool in one of the brick kilns where I used to teach the children of migrant workers. Now, I am working at an Apna Skool education centre where most of the children belong to rag picker families from Assam.

It is a pleasure to teach all these children, more so because the children love me. The association also gives me a lot to learn and reflect upon. I live with my wife and an 11 year old son. I own a small house and do not own any land. I make my living with the job at Apna school.  I am fond of writing and like to write and sing poems for the children.“

Your generous donation, Kyley, will ensure that Haridas continues to bring literacy into the lives of children who were previously untouched by education. Thank you.

Abid Ali’s parents Ali Hussain and Mamta migrated from Assam in search of a livelihood. They are engaged in ragpicking and are paid not more than Rs 2000 ($45) per month by contractors engaged in waste recycling. They live in small clusters wherever they find a vacant piece of public land in makeshift dwellings, made up with waste polythene sheets and other waste material. Abid is also engaged in rag collecting, sifting for recyclable things in the morning and attends Apna Skool centre which starts from 2:00pm , the school timings being shifted especially to accommodate children like Abid.

Ten year old Abid wants to study well and help his parents. He joined Apna Skool education centre in Panki Padav, Kanpur, UP in the year 2009.  He is serious about classes in the Apna Skool and wants to do well so that he can quit ‘ragpicking’ and get a better job when he grows up. He likes to play “Hide and Seek” and loves eating ‘Kheer'( rice pudding) and ‘Kichadi'( lentils and vegetables) served at his Apna Skool centre.

Thank you, Stephanie, for donating a year of study materials for Abid.

Thank you, Laurent, for providing a set of two school uniforms for Abid, that will last him a whole academic year.

Thank you, Laurent, for providing a year of nutritious lunches to Abid, thereby ensuring that he remains healthy and can concentrate on his studies.

Thank you, Laurent, for providing a year of medical check-ups for Abid that will ensure that he remains healthy and safe from illness.

Your donation will ensure that Abid continues attending the Apna Skool centre and will motivate him to work towards his goal.

Mohit teaching in his Apna Skool centre at Avon brick kiln, Kanpur, UP

Dear Anand, Greg and Monica, Sarah, Tom, Dean and Julie, Eddie, Eileen, Gillian, George, Richard, and Rick and Beth,

Twenty three old Mohit Kumar Dixit joined Apna Skool as a teacher in 2008. He teaches at the Apna Skool education centre at Avon brick kiln in Kanpur. He was previously employed in a private mainstream school, and joined Apna Skool because he wanted to work with children from disadvantaged backgrounds. He likes teaching in his centre where there are currently 33 students, all children of brick kiln workers. He says that it’s been a very good learning experience for him ever since he joined Apna Skool, especially the new and innovative teaching methodology that these schools have adopted.

Mohit’s family is from a village in Kanpur district. He attended a local primary school in his village and is now a  graduate. His father is employed as a security guard and his family also owns a little piece of land. In his spare time, Mohit likes listening to old Hindi film songs.

Mohit’s greatest challenge in teaching at Apna Skools is to motivate the parents of the children who study in his centre to take in interest in the education of their children. Since most parents are uneducated, he also spends some of his time and effort to increase the awareness of education amongst them. He says that it is situations like these that make Apna Skools a unique place to work in and has also given him a different perspective in his life.

Your donations, Eddie, Sarah (x2), Greg and Monica, Tom, Eileen, George, Rick and Beth, Dean and Julie, Anand, Gillian and Richard would ensure that Mohit’s salary is paid for three months. Thank you for enabling Jagriti to continue to retain committed people like Mohit.