With an objective of providing education to the underprivileged children, to those who want to study and achieve meaningful goal in life but are deprived of it, because of lack of resources we started Bhagat Foundation in the year 2014. We strongly believe that education is an integral part of a person’s life and everyone has a right to education- “Shiksha har ek ko”.
It gives me immense pleasure and pride in sharing the eventful journey of our baby project, “Hamara School” with you.
How it all started:
My friend and I were driving down a busy road in Gurugram, India, where we happened to stop for a red light which lasts for three minutes. As we talked to each other, we noticed four young children trying to read something on a poster, in vain. We watched them intently till the red light turned green. On our way back, we kept talking about those children. Children are the future of our nation but the future was being wasted before our eyes and we were just watching. This thought filled me with repulsion, and I promised myself to visit the same traffic light crossing the next day with some determination of doing something for these children.
As decided, I went there purposely the next day and as expected, found the same children selling flowers on the footpath. I started talking to them, I asked their names, family background, where they lived etc. They told me that they live in the nearby slum and have never gone to school, but they would really want to study and be able to talk in “angrezi” (English) like big people and do something in life. The innocence in their thoughts and the zeal to earn a name for themselves, shook me to the core. It reminded me of my childhood. Let me tell you something about my life. I was born normal, when I was an infant of about eight months, I was diagnosed with Polio on both legs. I couldn’t walk and I used to go from one place to another in the sitting position. However, I always looked at the other children playing in the ground and prayed to God, I wish I could only walk, if not run. Eventually, after a few successful surgeries and my mother’s hard work and determination, the day came when I stood on my own feet. After a few years, I was able to do all my works on my own including cooking, cleaning, washing clothes, travelling alone and everything you can think of. I got a respectable job in an MNC and started earning good. God has been very kind and today, I am the Co-Founder of Bhagat Foundation.
Thinking about my childhood struggles, I decided that I have to do something for these children. So many big dreams in those young little eyes had to be fulfilled. But how, was the biggest question in front of me. After some brain storming, I decided to meet their parents. The next day, I visited the same place again and asked the children to take me to their parents. At first, the parents were reluctant as their children were a source of earning for them. Not that they didn’t want their children to study or go to school but they were concerned about the expenses involved. I reassured them that they only have to trust me and send the children to a nearby ground; rest will be taken care of by me. They had a lot of rebuttals which I answered one by one. Eventually after much convincing, they agreed.
I went home and spoke to my friend about the event. He agreed to help me and we started making a strategy. In a couple of hours, we had a rough layout of our school in hand and that is how we started our journey to Bhagat Foundation, Hamara School. With no infrastructure, no place to sit, no table & chair and no study material; we only had our will power and the almighty’s blessings to start our school. The journey was difficult but not impossible. The first day was difficult as the children were very young and it is almost impossible to keep young children engaged for long. We had to engage them with some fun and attraction. So, we got some toffees and slates and chalk for them. We laid a carpet on the floor and kept a board on the table and turned it into a small classroom. Chocolates and toffees were a good source attraction for the kids; it made them happy; that too in lieu of just one hour. Yes, started our school with classes for just an hour.
As they say, every big thing starts small. With the passage of time, we went from one slum to the other, made other parents understand the importance of education. Because of the other children already studying in our small school, they understood and with dedication and hard work, the number kept increasing. I am proud to tell you that today; we have more than 100 children getting free education. The biggest achievement is that their parents trust us with their children’s future.
However, it would have been possible without our friend’s or people’s support. A fixed salary from a nine to six job was just not enough.
It was difficult to approach people and ask for help as they were not looking at these kids as a longtime association. It was difficult to ask for even minimal donations from people. But with continuous effort, time investment, dedication and with the pledge that we are not going to leave these children until they reach somewhere, we could do it.
Sitting on an uneven surface with only a carpet on it was a painful. With people’s help, we managed to get some tables and chairs for them to sit on.
Currently, we are looking for more helping hands so that we can give them a better place to study, to get quality education and personality grooming from trained teachers. Looking at these children’s patience, persistence and dedication towards their education, we are looking for people who can spend time with them to make them feel that we are here to help them to stand in society with self-respect and dignity. Importantly, we are looking for people who can give financial help so that we can get necessary study material and better resources for them.
To provide them better and quality education, we have hired teachers; who help us to gage the performance of these children and help them to promote from one class to another. We have divided them in different classes where we teach them, we also conduct examination to know their progress.
I, sadly, want to state that we are struggling to pay salary to our teachers because of lack of funds. That is why; I am making an earnest appeal. Please come forward and help these children in whatever way possible.
Our current requirements are:
-Teachers: People who can volunteer to teach different subjects. We need teachers throughout the year to ensure uninterrupted education for the children.
-Infrastructure: We need basic infrastructure, a decent place to sit and study, but this is a major requirement and a onetime investment.
-Proper dress to wear so that they can feel like actual students and live with dignity.
-Stationery and books are very basic and foremost requirement. It is needed throughout the year.
We are looking forward for your visit to Hamara School so that you can spend some time with these children and see how enthusiastic they are. A visit would help you in understanding our requirements also and it would give you a clear understanding of where we need your support. Please extend a helping hand towards these children and be a part of their journey to a respectable life.
I would also like to express my gratitude to all the members of ‘Bhagat Foundation’ who have been with us in this journey. The common goal of educating the children and creating a better future for them keeps us together and motivated. I would also like to welcome you to join us for the cause.
You can reach out to me at:
Amit Gupta (Co-Founder) Bhagat Foundation, Phone No: +919212151989
Email Address: bhagatfoundationhamaraschool.com
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