Impact stories
Poonam
Poonam was sitting near a huge garbage pile studying when we first entered in the community with scientific community survey. The inspiration led us to guide, mentor, support her in every way possible. The impact is Poonam became first 10th standard SSC pass in the community with whopping 67%. She hails from Bhill Indigenous community, has no paternal figure and mother is a daily wage labourer prey to addiction.
Pallavi
Pallavi was deaf and mute when her labourer parents started dropping her off at GharShala along with her other siblings. She was placed in multiple shelter homes and orphanages and was seemingly prone to abuse before joining GharShala. She used to be irritated, agonised, anxious and cry loudly at the beginning unable to sit without her mother. Eventually with our skilled intervention under the mental health initiative specifically designed for children at risk ‘I Heal’ she slowly and steadily started sitting quietly, without crying and eventually graduating to learn and master all basic Devanagari Hindi, Marathi, English letters and numerics. She excelled to the degree her social skills improved and joined our exposure trip to garden and was seen happily singing and dancing with peers.
Dnyaneshwar
Dnyaneshwar was rag picking the day we saw him. He was 2nd standard drop out and remained secluded. He joined GharShala initiative with art and craft and slowly and steadily picked up studying. He re-enrolled himself in the school with gained confidence and is now in 5th standard. Dnyaneshwar hails from Bhill Indigenous community.
From the horse’s mouth! Parents and community feedback.
Rajeshwar
Rajeshwar had no documents to be enrolled in school as he had lost his birth certificate in house fire. Under our other ‘Community Connect’ program we got his birth certificate, meanwhile he had joined GharShala and was enrolled directly in 3rd standard without prior formal school experience due to his all foundation being studied at GharShala. We helped him with school kits, new clothes and he was ready for school. Rajeshwar hails from Bhill Indigenous community.
Sonal and Meenal
Sonal was dropped out in 5th standard as her teachers humiliated her for not knowing Hindi, English alphabets and basic numeric. At GharShala not only she mastered Devanagari, Hindi, Marathi, and English but learned Multiples in Mathematics up to 30. Sonal re-enrolled herself in school and cleared 8th standard. Her sister Meenal is a school drop-out and works as a domestic helper, attended GharShala occasionally and learned Hindi, English and basic numeric to use in basic accounting.
Rishika
Rishika is school drop-out due to her financial family background. She attended formal school until 1st standard back in Nepal and was helpless as a migrant family labourer. Rishika has completed her learnings up to standard 3rd now and can be re enrolled in any formal school as and when her family is ready as she had an opportunity to learn and not miss out on education at GharShala.
Aaradhya
Aaradhya was in senior montesary in government school when started attending GharShala. With focus on Mathematics and English she outclassed and witnessing her progress, her parent enrolled her in private school. Aradhya tops her class now due to additional supplementary classes at GharShala.
Aasma
Aasma was a quite led back reclused kid when joined GharShala. She had dropped out of her English school as her father abandoned her family and her mother had to drop her education due to financial strain. This personal tragedy had severe impact on Aasma’s confidence, social skills, attention span, and interest in studies. She struggled to adjust from being an English school goer to a drop out overnight. Slowly Aasma gained her confidence at GharShala, excelled in her studies and also became a favourite peer singing and dancing in festivals. She had finally found her tribe to belong to without shame and burdens of personal family issues.
Upasana
Upasana was 1st standard drop-out as her family migrated for work. She couldn’t read, write or speak in any language except Bhojpuri. This automatically put a strain on her confidence, social skills and social inclusion. She mostly came across as a bully due to her frustration of being an older student with no basics clear in any subject. Eventually with practice Upasana mastered Devanagari, Hindi, Marathi, and English along with clearing her basic numeric and counting in Mathematics.
Mohammad
Mohammad hailed from Jharkhand daily wage labourer family migrating for work. He had never gone to school so he was blank when started attending GharShala. By the time he left the community, he could recite basic Devanagari, Hindi, Marathi and English alphabets, words, sentences, and fluent in numeric and basic counting.
Manisha
Manisha was dropped out of school in 5th standard. She lacked basic knowledge of Devanagari, Hindi, English alphabets and numeric. Manisha cleared her 7th standard recently and entered 8th standard who can read, write and speak in basic Devanagari, knowns all multiples in Maths and basic mathematics up to 7th standard.
Gagan
Gagan like majority of his peer 1-3-year-old extra siblings being carried at GharShala by elder siblings having to look after younger ones started his learning early. He can draw pictures, English alphabets and Devanagari with basic numeric now.
Volunteer engagement and awards
GharShala was visited by multiple volunteer teachers, and guests, some dedicated regular STEM teachers while other occasional festival volunteers extending extra hand to handle kids. We have had volunteers teaching English, Hindi, German, Mathematics, Science, Geography, singing, dancing, drawing, meditation, and Art & craft. One volunteer was awarded volunteer of the Year for his committed Saturday teaching consecutive 40 plus weeks annually.