Digital literacy to empower urban slum children

We would like to share with you, the story of Prerna, in her own words. My name is Prerna and I live with my parents and four siblings. My father works as a cleaner and his monthly income is hardly enough to support the family. To help my father and contribute to the family income, my mother works in a thread making factory.

My brother and I used to attend the local public school in Jagatpura but the teachers there used to beat and punish the students regularly for trivial reasons. That is why our parents made us both drop out of school. When my father was looking for a new school to enroll us, he heard about the program run by HPPI from his sister whose children study there. My cousins told me about the AWC program where the focus is not only on theoretical studies but gaining practical knowledge and skill development in dance, sports, computers, etc. After hearing about the program, my father got us enrolled at the AWC in Jagatpura.

When I first joined, I did not know and understand much of what was being taught. However, after time, both my knowledge and confidence grew.With the help and support from the teachers at the center, not only did I learn new topics and concepts but also learnt new skills like using a computer. I as well learned to dance and even participated in the cultural program organized. All the teachers are very friendly and patiently help you solve difficulties and understand challenging topics with ease. Whenever I miss school for a couple of days, the teachers visit my home and encourage me to come back to the center. This door-to-door follow up on the students to motivate them to attend classes regularly is done by teachers from no other school.

Studying at the center, I have realized the goals for my future. When I grow, up I too wish to be a teacher and help other children learn. When I told my teachers about my goal, they were happy and supportive, which made me confident about achieving it one day in the future.

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We share with you the story of Ankit, a student at AWC, to share a story with you of one of children that benfits from this project. 

“Life is not a bed of roses” says Ankit. Poverty and hopeless circumstances, the odds against him were quite high. However, his determination helped him to reach must extend beyond his obstacles. He grabbed all the opportunities that came his way. He is exerting every sinew, every nerve to achieve his dream without cursing his destiny. He feels that his journey is as sweet as the destination would be.

Ankit is an intelligent and hard working 13 years-old boy. His father Ashok, works as a daily wager. His arduous labour could only fetch a low wage and the family of four members struggles to make the ends meet.

Ankit was studying at 3^rd grade in Academy for Working Children (AWC), located in Jagatpura area of Jaipur; but his mother’s death has brought out the worst in his family. Unfortunately, he had to discontinue his studies as his father failed to come out of the trauma and his condition worsens with each passing day. Moreover, Ankit was also unable to cop up with the situation. The situation curled up in an inconceivable pain. It took him a couple of months to resolve the loss.

But then, one fine day, something happened that changed his whole world. It made him look at things with a different perspective and vision. Two Academy for Working Children (AWC) teachers came for a follow-up visit, and they enquired about the reason behind his in absentia. He then broke down in tears, the teachers consoled him and encouraged him to again join his studies. Thereafter, they approached his father and provided sufficient moral support in resolving his condition. Eventually, he was convinced to send his son back to school.

The very next day, he started going to his school. Life gifted him another opportunity to reshape his skills by gaining education. First few days, he hardly used to take part in activities and was unconfident. He rarely interacted with other students and seldom participated in extra-curricular activities. However, over the years, he has become participative, confident and takes initiative in class. Support from his friends and teachers has made him acquainted with the education approach and he was able to catch up with his peers. Gradually, his teachers were able to notice his obtrusive improvement in academics as well as in oratory skills.

At present, he is in 7^th grade and will be completing his journey at Academy for Working Children (AWC) within a year. He wishes that if the academy had classes up to 12^th grade, he could continue his studies. With the support of teachers, he has realized his dreams and has decided to achieve his aim of becoming a teacher to help all those children who are deprived of education, which has affected their innocent childhood that further hinders in their overall development. He also wants to work hard to support his younger brothers and sister to achieve his dreams.

Ankit say’s“After my mother died, I tried many a time to push away my grief and to live a new life, but I was unable to move out of the situation. With the support of my teachers and friends, the grief has become more bearable overtime. Now, I have found the reasons to smile again. I thank Humana People to People India for helping me in resolving my loss and gifting me an opportunity to find joy again. Now, I live like my mother would want me to live”.