A group of young students have volunteered to impart education to poor & underprivileged kids to help build a better society
|| HAKEEM ROUF
In neglected hamlet of Wussan in Ganderbal district, 16-year old Suhail Mehraj, encircled by a group of smiling children in an open lush green field, is deeply engrossed in helping a small kid to write a few English alphabets. Suhail is not a teacher by profession but the plight of these kids and government’s indifferent attitude towards them motivated him to turn into a voluntary teacher. As government fails to bring a considerable change in the rural education Suhail is rendering a ray of hope to the underprivileged and economically backward rural children of his area. He has started a novel initiative to voluntarily educate and mentor neglected kids of this village for their better future. Though these kids are enrolled in local government school but owing to alleged lack of accountability, poor educational standards in government schools coupled with poor parental care, the learning levels of these kids are “very pathetic”. The idea to take up the initiative came to Suhail’s mind the day he had an interaction with one such neglected child. “I actually never believed that children enrolled in any school will be so weak in their studies but one fine day I luckily had a brief interaction with one of these kids. I asked him some basics questions and I was startled to see his pathetic performance,” recalled Suhail.
According to him the child couldn’t write even few English alphabets properly. “This saddening interaction left me thinking and I realized that there must be hundreds like these kids who still don’t have access to quality basic education especially kids belonging to economically weaker section in our rural areas,” said Suhail. It was at this very moment that Suhail made his mind and vowed to teach/educate and mentor the underprivileged children. “I always wished to render a helping hand to the destitute. My happiness knew no bounds when my long cherished wish came true” says an enthusiastic Suhail a 12th standard student. The very next day Suhail went to the village along with some books and a small white board and a marker which he had brought out of his own pocket money. He managed to assemble a group of children and their parents and took his first introductory class under a tree. The kids were filled with joy to see such an affectionate teacher. “Initially I was doubtful and shy to organize the children and parents as I myself am a student. But I was happy to see the overwhelming response from the kids. They cooperated and responded well and it boosted my confidence and gave an impetus to my initiative. I fixed the board to the trunk of the tree and took my first class under its shade and it gave me a proud feeling,” Suhail remembered. At present Suhail is not alone in his noble mission. His classmates have also joined him in his mission after Suhail narrated this story to them in his school. There are seven students from his school who have volunteered to teach these kids.
Though these kids are enrolled in local government school but owing to alleged lack of accountability, poor educational standards in government schools coupled with poor parental care, the learning levels of these kids are “very pathetic”.
They hold classes in open fields on Sunday’s and holiday’s, help the kids in doing homework, teach them basic sums and help them write English and Urdu alphabets and also help them to converse in English. The group has ordered quality study material from Delhi out of their own contribution and then distributed the same among these needy students. “I was very much glad to learn about the initiative from my friend. I felt eager to join this noble cause. I am glad to be a part of this initiative as I always wanted to make a difference in someone’s life and this is what motivated me to volunteer with Suhail. Interacting with and educating these students gives me immense satisfaction and there can be no greater feeling than the one I get whenever I bring a smile on someone’s faces,” said Rafia Reshi. “Education is the best gift you can give to someone. I wish to take this initiative to every nook and corner of the state.” Besides teaching formal education, this group of young students is creating awareness about importance of education, environmental issues and human health and hygiene among the kids.
“Awareness is of paramount importance because these kids are very vulnerable to the menace of child labor due to poor guidance and lack of parental care and that is evident from the high dropout rates in the neglected village,” argued Rafia adding she often recalls her childhood memories when she uses some techniques her mother would use while teaching her. With an aim to utilize their time in more constructive way and contribute their bit towards the empowerment of the neglected students, the group is planning to register an NGO so as to promote the cause in every nook and corner of Kashmir for the educational uplift of poor and to improve the overall literacy rate of the state. “Education is the only tool of empowerment. When we can’t provide education to a large section of neglected how we can expect a prosperous future ahead.
The quality rural education is still a distant dream despite government spending huge sums on rural education,” said Rafia. “It is our obligation to offer a helping hand to these kids. Therefore our message to people is to wake up and educate yourselves and don’t forget to educate others, especially the needy. We understand that there is much more work to be done and there is a long way to go. We have to change today to see a better tomorrow.” “Teaching these kids gives me immense satisfaction as I have the power to influence and empower young minds with education. I think this is the best thing I can do for my society. I hope our efforts will inspire many energetic students like us to help brighten the future of the underprivileged kids,” said another volunteer Athar Rashid.
