It all started with a mail. From an organization by the name of “AID”.
It said they were offering internship in Community Work with certain NGOs spread across the entire nation. I got in touch with them and after a small period of time they offered me to work with Parichay: A Delhi based NGO set up in a community located in Tukhmirpur area of East Delhi.
The first day I went there to meet its founder: Mr. Vijay Bajpai, a sense of dismay swept over me looking at the conditions the people of that community live in. I did not know how to conduct myself, how to react and most importantly what to expect out of my first visit, but what met my eyes was something I would never forget.
Inside a room was Mr. Bajpai (or so I guessed him to be) with around fifteen kids in the age group of three to six years reciting a poem. I was pleasantly surprised with the “Namaste” with which I was greeted the instant I entered the room by those young kids.
Their smiles lit the room! Their enthusiasm to recite the poem along with their teacher was incomparable to anything sensed so far, and their excitement to see me doubled up mine to work with them.
That day, Mr. Bajpai briefed me and two other interns upon the history and background of Parichay. It was only when I got to know that this NGO was self-sustaining and that the community has undertaken activities like Spices and Handicrafts manufacture, did I actually understand the depth at which Mr. Bajpai was working to make this community a better place for its people.
It was decided that the next day we would be teaching children in the age group of nine to fourteen years. This would be done in two groups, divided on the basis of their age.
The next day was the first time when I came in direct contact with the children. The thing that touched me the most was their willingness to learn and confidence to clarify their doubts. That day went in simply understanding the children and the level at which they were studying at that moment.
A proper class was conducted in a room in which certain basic concepts of Mathematics and English were revisited. It started with simple addition, subtraction, the concepts of which were pretty clear to the children! Gradually the level of the class was increased so as to even enhance our understanding of their knowledge.
On my way back to home, it was the smile on those kids’ faces that kept coming back to me and I can’t help but look forward to the coming days!
It said they were offering internship in Community Work with certain NGOs spread across the entire nation. I got in touch with them and after a small period of time they offered me to work with Parichay: A Delhi based NGO set up in a community located in Tukhmirpur area of East Delhi.
The first day I went there to meet its founder: Mr. Vijay Bajpai, a sense of dismay swept over me looking at the conditions the people of that community live in. I did not know how to conduct myself, how to react and most importantly what to expect out of my first visit, but what met my eyes was something I would never forget.
Inside a room was Mr. Bajpai (or so I guessed him to be) with around fifteen kids in the age group of three to six years reciting a poem. I was pleasantly surprised with the “Namaste” with which I was greeted the instant I entered the room by those young kids.
Their smiles lit the room! Their enthusiasm to recite the poem along with their teacher was incomparable to anything sensed so far, and their excitement to see me doubled up mine to work with them.
That day, Mr. Bajpai briefed me and two other interns upon the history and background of Parichay. It was only when I got to know that this NGO was self-sustaining and that the community has undertaken activities like Spices and Handicrafts manufacture, did I actually understand the depth at which Mr. Bajpai was working to make this community a better place for its people.
It was decided that the next day we would be teaching children in the age group of nine to fourteen years. This would be done in two groups, divided on the basis of their age.
The next day was the first time when I came in direct contact with the children. The thing that touched me the most was their willingness to learn and confidence to clarify their doubts. That day went in simply understanding the children and the level at which they were studying at that moment.
A proper class was conducted in a room in which certain basic concepts of Mathematics and English were revisited. It started with simple addition, subtraction, the concepts of which were pretty clear to the children! Gradually the level of the class was increased so as to even enhance our understanding of their knowledge.
On my way back to home, it was the smile on those kids’ faces that kept coming back to me and I can’t help but look forward to the coming days!
:)
ReplyDeleteI'll look forward to hearing more stories from you.
Hope it goes well :)
Thank you Akanksha, I hope so too!
DeleteWonderful to hear about your experience. Half of me wants to sign up already! :D
ReplyDeleteIt is a truly wonderful experience!
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