Ashish’s parents have been migrating to Kanpur to work in brick kilns for few months every year, for the past seven years. Ashish who was enrolled in the village school had to discontinue his studies owing to his parents’ work schedule.

When he joined the Apna Skool conducted by Jagriti, he found a new ray of hope. Not only did he enjoy studying, and did well in his lessons, so after he completed his fifth grade, Jagriti got him enrolled in a local school in Kanpur. He is now in the eighth grade, and is doing very well academically. He regularly stands first in class, a fact which makes his parents very proud of him. He has a friendly disposition with all and is a responsible lad.

His interests include Computers and accounting. He stays at Apna Ghar, a residential hostel for migrant workers’ children in Kanpur. He also maintains the Apna Skool blog – http://mlpskool.blogspot.com/

Thank you, David, Craig, Trish, Elena and Shanen, Dennis (x2), Cindy, Nicholas, Gillian and Amit (x3), for donating a month of tuition each.

Thank you, Don, for donating a year of study materials for Ashish.

Your generosity would ensure that Ashish continues doing really well in his studies. And when you have the time, do check out the blog that Ashish maintains and leave a comment- he would love to hear from you!

Twelve year old, Maina is a student of grade 2 at the Apna Skool run by Jagriti Bal Vikas Samiti in Kanpur. Her parents, Mohammad Sahid and Marjeena Begum along with their children, migrated from Gwagasa village in Assam to Kanpur in search of a livelihood. They are engaged in ragpicking and earn not more than Rs. 2000 ($ 450) per month as they are paid very little by contractors engaged in waste recycling.  Maina joined the Apna skool network in 2008. Despite living in an environment with no access to basic sanitation, she is very particular about cleanliness. She is enthusiastic about spreading the importance of Cleanliness and literacy in her basti (neighbourhood).
She is interested in sewing and wants to become a good Tailor. She helps her mother in cooking. In her spare time, she likes to read out stories from the books available in the library for adults who cannot themselves read.

Thank you, Mahendra, for donating two sets of uniforms to Maina.

Thank you, Luciane, for donating a year of study materials to Maina.

Thank you, Cole, for donating an entire year of nutrition to Maina.

Thank you, Benjamin, for donating a year of medical check-ups to Maina.

You generosity, would enable Jagriti to ensure that Maina continues to attend school and spread happiness in her neighbourhood.

Pushpa Devi has been associated with Apna Skool as a teacher since the last nine years.

Read a first person account by the teacher:

”I have been teaching in Apna Skool since last nine years. I love teaching the children in Apna Skool. These children come from migrant worker’s families whose life is full of hardships. I feel contented that I am helping these families educate their children.

I come from Kannauj, UP where I completed my education and have also taught in a school there for 10 years. I was quite passionate about teaching since my child hood. I even used to teach children during my school years. I was a bit hesitant when I joined Apna Skool as a teacher, but I am happy today that my contribution as a teacher is helping the children learn and grow. I believe that the children will be a source of inspiration for their families and society, since most are first generation learners.

Apart from teaching, I like embroidery. I read newspaper every day to keep myself updated.. If I have some time, I watch TV.. My husband works in a soap factory..  Today I am earning for my family, my dream to be financially independent has come true. I have two daughters who go to school. My dream and goal is to provide them good education, so that they can be independent and prove to the society that there is no difference between a boy and a girl”.

Your generous donations of a week of salary each, Neil (x4), Subash, Nadia, Bill (x2), Akiko, Tom, Craig and George covers Pushpa Devi’s salary for three months making her an earning member in the family and encouraging her to continue teaching and imparting valuable knowledge.

Thanks so much Neil, Subash, Nadia, Bill, Akiko, Tom, Craig and George, for your support that directly impacts the lives of so many!

Twelve year old Manasi is currently studying in her fifth grade. Her father, Mool Chand does white-washing while her mother, Tarawati works as a cook in nearby houses. She assists her two sisters in household chores. Despite her humble background, she has taken life head-on and is very clear about what she want to do in life. She wants to become a nurse so that she can help the poor. She says that she wants to study because this will help her to become a good human being. Clearly, her subtle philosophical attitude is evident at such a tender age. According to her, society respects educated people and everybody should aspire to be one.

Manasi likes to study and her favorite subject is Mathematics. She likes to visit different places and tour around the historical and cultural sites. One day, she wishes to see the Taj Mahal at Agra (one of the seven modern wonders of the world, located in India). She is fond of making drawings and playing hockey. She recently saw the movie 3 Idiots and bets that she can watch it any number of times.

Amandeep,  Pooja and Molly, your donations would ensure that Manasi gets  nutritious lunches for a full year, and is able to study on a full stomach.

Chandan, your gift of a year of study materials ensures that Manasi can continue attending school.

Rob, your gift of two sets of uniforms would ensure Manasi doesn’t have to shiver in the winter months.

James, your gift of a year of medical check-ups will ensure that Manasi remains healthy and safe from illness!

Armed with the gifts you have made possible, Manasi  is now geared up to study and perform well in school and achieve her goal of becoming a nurse and serving the poor!

Your gifts means a lot to her. Thank you, Amandeep, Pooja, Molly, Rob, Chandan and James for your kind gesture!

Dear Pradeep, Rob, Ray and Lael and Brian,

Thirteen year old Manavi is currently studying in the fourth grade.

Her father, Mool Chand does white-washing while her mother, Tarawati works as a cook in nearby houses. While she has one brother and two sisters, she does the majority of household chores – washing clothes, bringing water from the government tap to the house and cleaning the house. In addition, she takes time out for self-study since she knows that so as to make her dream of becoming a teacher a reality, she would have to study hard.

She loves reading books, listening to songs and playing kho-kho Indian sport played by teams of twelve players who try to avoid being touched by members of the opposing team).

Thank you, Pradeep, for your generous donation of a year of study materials.

Thank you, Ray and Leal, for donating a full year of medical care for her.

Thank you, Rob, for donating two sets of school uniforms to her.

Thank you, Brian, for donation one full year of school lunches to her.

Your support and encouragement would Manavi focus on fulfilling her dream of becoming a teacher and teaching many more children like herself!

Thank you for your support!

Twelve year old Arjun belongs to the Musahar caste – the name literally means ‘rat eaters’ – who are among the most disadvantaged groups in India. His parents, Ram Sareekh and Chanchal Devi do not have any land in their village in Bihar (India) and hence the family migrated to Kanpur to find work at various brick-kilns of Kanpur. Due to the meagre income of the family, none of his brothers and sisters have had education. He has one brother and three sisters, all of whom work and are illiterate.

Arjun is the first person in the family to go to school. Five years ago, Arjun joined “Apna Skool”, a series of schools set up at various brick-kilns and construction sites in and around Kanpur (a city of the state of Uttar Pradesh) for the education of migrant children. Now, he is in the fifth grade. His grades have been consistently high in the five years that he has been in the school. He aspires to become a doctor so that he can heal his patients. In addition to studying, he also works for three to four hours everybody in the brick-kiln (where his parents and siblings work full-time). In spite of having a tough schedule, he still tries to take time out for playing his favorite sport – cricket.

Thank you, Aaron, for donating a full year of school lunches.

Thank you, Charlie, for donating a full year of medical care.

Thank you, Meena, for donating a year of study materials.

Thank you, Phyllis, for donating a set of two school uniforms.

Your support means more to Arjun than you may think. Now he is determined to work hard towards fulfilling his dream of becoming a doctor, so he can repay the trust you have placed in him!

Dear Neil, Shelly, Mahendra, Lee, Luke and Ani, and Ray and Lael,

Twelve year old Pinki belongs to the Musahar caste – the name literally means ‘rat eaters’ – who are among the most marginalized groups in India. Her parents Kailu Manjhi and Santo Devi are both brick kiln workers. But, since her father is literate, Pinki goes to school along with her five sisters at the ”Apna Skool” center at the brick-kiln where her parents work and stay. Besides going to school, she also cooks food for the family and works for three-four hours at the brick-kiln after school.

Currently studying in class four, mathematics is Pinki’s favorite subject. She also loves playing with skipping ropes. Pinki wants to study well so that she can go to her village in Bihar and teach every illiterate person.

Thank you, Neil, for gifting a year of study materials.

Thank you, Shelly, for gifting a set of two uniforms to Pinki.

Thank you, Ray and Lael, for gifting a year of medical check-ups for Pinki.

Thank you, Mahendra, Lee and Luke and Ani, for coming together to gift a year of nutritious lunches to Pinki.

Thanks to your encouragement, Pinki  can now focus on completing her studies and reaching out to more illiterate people back home in Bihar!

Fifteen year old Sarita started her initial schooling in an Apna skool education centre at a construction site in Panki, Kanpur, U.P. where she studied upto 5th grade. She is now enrolled in a mainstream local school studying in class VII in Kanpur.

Her parents, Naresh Verma and Laxmani are migrant construction workers from Chattisgarh going to Kanpur in search of work. Sarita was a heart patient (she suffered from Rheumatic Heart Disease) and Jagriti was able to support her for an expensive valve replacement operation at Narayana Hrudayalaya, Bangalore. She is still on medication and injections but has recovered very well.

She is a brilliant painter. She is serious about studies and although a quiet girl, is very understanding and mature. She has managed to stay calm and happy despite all the hardships and the trauma that she had to undergo during the pre-operative, operative as well as the current post-operative stage.

Your gift of a year of medical check-ups comes as a big relief to Sarita and her family who can be assured of their daughter’s speedy recovery with regular updates on her progress.

Thank you, Neil, for your gift of a year of medical care.

Thank you, Rob for donating a set of two uniforms.

Thank you, Anna, for your gift of study materials.

Thank you, Brian, for your gift of a full year of school lunches.

Your generous gifts have made it possible for Sarita to continue receiving a good education.

Twelve year old Gyan is a serious and mature student who is amicable with all. He is also a budding poet. Born to Shiv Kumari and Shri Ram Khilawan, Gyan is the fourth child among three sisters and two brothers.

His family hails from Hamirpur, about 80 km south of Kanpur, U.P. They migrated to Kanpur city where his father has been working in Naharkothi brick field as a laborer .The family goes back to their native place during monsoons, while his father and elder brother continue to work in Kanpur, working as a construction labourer. His father has studied up to class X. His brother and two sisters are also part of the Apna Skool network of schools are and are currently enrolled in a regular school. The whole family, while working together, can make about 3-4 thousand bricks in a day earning Rs.120 ($2.7) per thousand bricks.

Gyan was studying in class 4 in the village school. It was in Gera Apna Skool education centre where he learnt to read and write properly. He studied till class III there and is now studying in class VII in Ramkrishna Mission Higher Secondary School, Kanpur. He resides at Apna Ghar, residential hostel for migrant children.

Thanks to your generous donations, Neil (x3), Anmol, Nate, Pavnee (x5), Adam and Keshav, Gyan’s school tuition for an entire year has been taken care of allowing him to attend school for an entire year.

Thank you, Anna, for your gift of a year of study materials for Gyan.

Thank you all, for coming together to support Gyan, thereby helping him continue his studies!