In 2009, I
started helping one project where they teach underprivileged kids and help them
with studies as well as extra-curricular activities. It was life changing
experience, everything was new for me rather strange. I studied 7 years in my
university and every time we had new technology for our betterment. My
classrooms were full of laptops, projector and air conditioned. But this
project was initiated for 32 kids and they were studying in 10x10 room which
was 1/6th of my classroom size. In addition to that they had no fan in the room
where you can smell garbage all the time as it was next to dumping zone.
I was
sitting there quietly checking messages on my cell phone then one kid around 12
years old came to me smiling and said you have nice cell phone, how much it
cost? I was taken aback as I didn't know what to say so I turned my back to
another volunteer for answer. My friend smiled and hinted me to give honest
answer. I told him the price of my cell phone and he said again with same smile
that price is equal to my family's total income for 8 months. That was the
moment when I thought change is needed here not in my university. Let's start
helping not with money but with our knowledge which is far more valuable. I
started working with them and teaching kids every day for two hours was part of
my life.
My projects
have been learning experience for me always, they teach me more then I teach my
kids. Every day I was facing new challenges which was making my work more
difficult, our kids from juvenile home and orphanage were shifted to another
place, some old students of mine with new enrolled kids. Most difficult situation
was to make understand 6 years old kid that why he is here without parents and
why there is mother in every picture of my book but not in my life? Educating
them in better way was my goal but their innocent questions were very difficult
for me to face. But it was my dream to help them and I started taking up
counseling myself and learned how to respond without hurting their emotions and
make them feel home. I was studying their books every night so that I can teach
them better way and tried to make learning process easy to learn faster and
remember it forever.
Their
unconditional love is my achievement and their dedication towards education is
my happiness. Tell me what you will feel when one of your kids will come to you
and say that, " One day I will be a big man like others and help needy
kids like I am today, I will provide them good education." What will you say?
I guess nothing. Tears will roll down and you can proudly stand in front of whole
world holding hand of your kid who became little more HUMAN..!!
