Amit Kumar
Amit’s family originally belonged to Uttar Pradesh but lived in Himachal Pradesh, where Amit was born. His parents were both government employees.
Amit completed his school education in 1998. He got married in 2002 at the age of 23 years He then went to complete his graduation by 2003. His father passed away soon after.
In 2012, Amit family decided to shift to Delhi in 2012 for better earning purposes and being close to relatives. Amit has two girls and one boy. He got a job at a call center in 2013 however, he lost the job in 2015. His mother then became the only source of income for the family. He needed to find a job fast as he had to meet the expenses of his children’s school. For one-year Amit looked for a stable job, but with no luck. He came to know about Project WHY from his neighbour, who at that time, was working as a teacher at Project WHY Khader.
“I applied for a teaching position at Project WHY, knowing that I would be rejected as I did not have any experience of teaching children (apart from my own). I was surprised that they appointed me as a secondary teacher at the Khader center.” Amit joined Project WHY in 2016 teaching class 6 students. In 2017, he was made Khader center in-charge.
“Project WHY supported me in my time of need. They took a chance on my abilities. This motivated me to be the best teacher, not only for the organization but especially for the children I taught”.
“I have grown in Project WHY and it seems like I have found my calling. I love teaching at Project WHY. A teacher’s job is not just completing the lesson or curriculum. At Project WHY we have to see that each and every child has understood their class work. This has made me think outside standard methods of teaching and simplifying lessons. I had to dig deep, bring out stories of my past, use props, drawings and even films to ensure that each child learns.
Amit opted to teach at our Yamuna center and continues to use his new found experience to teach the bright young agriculture labourer’s children.
Anita – The Power to Say ‘NO’
Anita’s relationship with Project WHY started in 2001, when she started studying as a young girl in Class 1. Her father comes from Bihar and moved to Delhi in the late 1980s to study. However, due to financial problems, he was forced to start working at the nearby factory at an early age and settled in the Giri Nagar area.
In 2006, with Anita in Class 6, her father lost his job. Whilst her mother, a housewife then, was forced to begin running a stitching and embroidery service from home. In an effort not to let the family suffer, Anita’s mother combined this income with her life savings to support their lifestyle.
Anita is one of the many examples of the opportunities that Project WHY can create. She attended the educational centre at Giri Nagar until Class 12, and recorded consistent scores of 80% throughout her school career. As one of our brightest students, she secured admission to the prestigious Delhi University to do her Bachelors in Commerce in 2012.
Anita returned to us after graduating, wishing to provide the same opportunities to similarly underprivileged children. Her parents were supportive, indeed they knew she was safe with us and did not want her working elsewhere. She joined as a primary teacher and then went on to teach some of our brightest secondary students. #Education4All
In 2015, she came to us with the news that she would have to leave the job, as her parents wanted her to get married and had found a boy in the village. We had no choice but to accept this. Yet, four months later, Anita returned and asked to resume her old post, which we were happy to give her. The boy’s family had demanded a large amount of money as ‘dowry,’ claiming her to be dark in skin and apparently not sufficiently pretty.
“Studying and working at Project WHY had taught me a lot, especially about my rights, as a person. The years being with Project WHY has given me immense courage and confidence.” Anita refused to get married. She spoke to the boy’s family herself, rejected the boy and the forced marriage.
Dowry or Dahej is the payment in cash and/or in kind by the bride’s family to the bridegroom’s family along with the giving away of the bride (called Kanyadaan) in Indian marriage. Although dowry was legally prohibited in 1961, it continues to be prevalent. The groom often demands a dowry consisting of a large sum of money, vehicle, house, furniture, and electronics. The dowry system puts great financial burden on the bride’s family.
At Project WHY, we pride ourselves in discussing prevalent social issues such as caste, dowry, violence against women and sexual abuse. We believe that we have made our teachers as well as our children, fully aware of their rights and responsibilities. Anita, at that moment, stood up for her rights and refused to get married on those terms and conditions. “I am as good as any girl on this planet,” she voiced. #WomenEmpowerment #WomensRight
Today, Anita is back to teaching and continues to value education above all else. Together with her mother, she is funding her brother’s B-Tech from Indraprastha University, striving to give him the same opportunities in life that she had. Concurrent to her work as a Secondary teacher, Anita has completed her Masters in Commerce and is also our documentation officer at Project WHY.
“I am thankful to Project WHY and will never stop supporting its mission through my teaching and sharing their stories of impact.”
Dilip Kumar
Dilip Kumar joined Project WHY in 2018. His family originally belongs to Uttar Pradesh. His father came to Delhi to earn a better living. His father is daily wage worker in a private company and mother is housewife.
While growing up, their financial situation at home was not stable. However, that did not stop Dilip to continue his pursuit to complete his education in Delhi. To pay his school fees he started taking tuitions for children who needed support.
Despite the financial struggle, Dilip completed his graduation in Bachelor of Arts in History with Honors from University of Delhi. He also completed his Masters in History (honour) from Indira Gandhi national Open University. He completed his B.ED from Maharishi Dayanand university of Haryana. And is currently preparing for M.ED.
Before joining Project WHY, he worked in Sewarth Foundation as a teacher for 2years. After which it closed due to lack of funding. “To keep my financial situation afloat, I started taking tuition at his home for children in classes 8th to 12th”.
He got to know about Project WHY from his friend Vijay, our computer teacher at Okhla. In Project WHY he started teaching to 8th standard but now he teaches till 12th standard students.
“I came to identify with Project WHY’s vision of support underprivileged children’s education”. I like teaching at Project WHY Okhla, the purpose is greater and challenging than just teaching.”
Dimple Kainth
Sometimes all you need is a second chance because time wasn’t ready for the first one. The second chance came in the form of Project WHY!!
Dimple Kainth is our resource person at the Okhla educational center since January 2016.
Her parents belong to Punjab- her father was a tailor and mother was a house wife. They came to Delhi to earn a better living. Dimple has five siblings. Her parents were all for education and enrolled their children in the nearby government school. While Dimple was in class 9 (in 1991) she started tuition classes for children in junior classes to earn extra income. This way she was able to pay her school fees. In 1995, Dimple completed her schooling.
She got married in April 1996 while she was doing her first year of Bachelors in Arts. “Teaching was a skill that came to me easily. The children I taught while I was in high school, all did well in their school examinations. Taking that experience, I planned my career to become a teacher”.
After marriage, Dimple could not continue her study as her in-laws did not allow her to go back to college. Life took over and she devoted her time to looking after her two children, her in-laws and home. In 2000, when her children started going to school, she had time on her hands. She again started tuition classes from home (after 4 years of marriage)
Her financial condition became weak as her husbands work was not doing too well. That propelled her to look for work outside her home. Through her friends she came to know about Project WHY. In 2016 she came to Okhla centre for an interview and was selected as a primary teacher at Project WHY.
“Second chances are rare in life. I am grateful to be given the opportunity to be a teacher at Project WHY. I have met and learnt from other teachers at Okhla.” Dimple has become a captivating storyteller at our Okhla. Together with Sonia and Sophiya, teachers of primary classes, they regale the children with morale stories. Dimple’s financial situation is slowly becoming stable.
GEETA Devi
Geeta was born and brought up in Delhi. She got married at a very young age of 15 years. Currently, she lives in Madanpur Khadar with her husband. She has two sons – one is working as a Nurse and other is doing his Bachelors in Pharmacy.
Over the years, Geeta completed her Junior Basic Teaching (JBT) degree. “I have been passionate about teaching and have been looking for a teaching job but I was not successful in getting a teachers job.”
In 2008, Geeta’s family’s financial condition was not very good and she need to find a job fast. Geeta came to know about Project WHY from one of the existing teachers at the Khader Centre who encouraged her to apply for a teachers position.
“I was skeptical at first, cause no one wanted to hire me as a teacher”. Geeta applied for a teachers position and joined Project WHY in 2008. Initially, she joined as a teacher at our early education program – Crèche. As time passed, she gained confidence to teach the children at the Primary class level. Today, with 11 years’ experience, she currently teaches the class 8 level students at our Khadar Center.
“I would never have been a teacher, if not for Project WHY. They believed in my passion, my abilities and made my dreams come true.” After joining Project WHY, Geeta’s could financial contribute to her family’s expenses. “Project WHY is my sole earning avenue. Working here has given me both financial and mental satisfaction”.
Kiran – A Ray of Light
“I grew up in Project WHY, be it playing with the special needs children, volunteering and now, being part of transforming their lives by teaching them”. Kiran’s story is intertwined with the growth of Project WHY itself. It’s a story about giving a chance and seeing purpose in one’s own life.
Kiran was born just when Project WHY’s field programme began in 2000. “I grew up alongside Project WHY”. Though Kiran is not a ‘direct’ beneficiary of Project WHY, her young life is indubitable proof of the fact that Project WHY has serendipitously transformed the lives of many.
Kiran comes from a lower middle class family. Her family is originally from Nepal but for past two generations have been living in Delhi. Her father is a graduate and was having difficulty in finding a job. In 2001, Project WHY gave him an opportunity to teach Mathematics to our higher secondary classes. From thereon, Kiran’s life was connected to Project WHY.
Change does not come easy. However, as Kiran spent time at Project WHY, we could surreptitiously intervene in her upbringing – be it in matters of hygiene, nutrition or even her education. Again, it was all about setting examples.
She is an exceptional child in more ways than one and has often delighted us with her own brand of logic: be it her own type of English or her little pearls of wisdom. Kiran spent the first few years of her life either being carried around by our Founder and CEO Anouradha Bakshi, or playing with the kids of the special section which she somehow preferred to the creche! “A sense of belonging developed as I spent my more time at Project WHY as a volunteer during my holidays”.
As years passed, her family with the influence of her aunty – Rani Bhardwaj – were adamant to send her to a “good” English medium school. Kiran was our lens to the public education system in India. We got to know the nightmare of getting admissions and the gaps in public school education. This led to changing our focus/ mission at Project WHY.
Kiran attended an upscale school as her humble family felt that it would open new doors for her. ” I realised and learnt about the societal divides – rich versus poor – that exists in our society. I use to talk about it to Anou ma’am and my aunt.” But Kiran never felt the need to alienate one life for the other. She is equally at ease with the kids in her urban slum street as she is with her well to-do school pals. She transitions comfortably from a loud Hindi slang, to barely audible English, to sign language when communicating with her special needs friends.
Kiran is the answer and proof of the many apprehensions voiced by our well-wishers and supporters regarding how to break social barriers. She is our model to other children in her street. We at Project WHY are reasonably certain that Kiran and any other child who are given a chance, will be an asset and not a liability to our society. Unless and until we give a reasonable chance to them, like Kiran, we will never know the courage and determination of each child to make a difference in the world today.
Kiran has completed her Class XII examination and is currently enrolled for the Bachelors course in English at the Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU). She is also working as an English teacher (secondary class level) at Project WHY Okhla to develop her teaching skills.
MADHURI
“I was inspired by Project WHY teachers to be a teacher”.
Madhuri joined Project WHY in August 2019. She is currently enrolled in the Under-graduation program of Delhi University. Her parents have been living in Okhla Ph-1 (very close to the Okhla educational center) for the past 30 years. Her family originally came to Delhi from Bihar to earn a better living. She has three brothers. They all are currently studying at the Government school.
Madhuri has been associated with Project WHY Okhla educational center since she was a student of class 3 (since 2009) and completed her class 12 with the support of Project WHY.
“It was hard studying in school. Looking back, I began to read and understand my class lessons at Project WHY. The thing is that in our government school, there is about 50 children for one teacher, so it is not possible to always clear one’s doubts. Also, the teachers at the government school only explain once. They are sometimes rude and scary. Teachers at Project WHY explain until we understood. They are polite and teach us easy method.”
“It was coming to Project WHY, that made me decide, I wanted to become a teacher. The teachers at Okhla Center inspired me when I was growing up. I wanted to do the same for my community children as they do not get the same support in their Government school.”
Currently, Madhuri teachers class 1 and 2.
Mithu – Never Say Never
Mithu was born with a physical handicap and is unable to use his legs. He moved to Okhla in 1996 together with his aunt and his elder brother, leaving behind his younger brother and his parents in West Bengal.
Given his disabilities, his aunt had low hopes for him. He was sent to a Government school for two hours a day and given no further tuition or help. “The school was crowded and I felt lost without any support towards my education. Also, the school had no facilities for children with disabilities, or any special aid teachers”.
Sophia, a teacher at the Project WHY Okhla Centre, met Mithu one day in 2002 and encouraged him to begin studying at Project WHY. By this point, he was in Class 10, and had some serious catching up to do. By giving him the care, attention and support that he needed, he successfully passed his exams for the first time that year.
Mithu continued studying and volunteering his time at Project WHY Okhla. When our generous donors provided a set of computers to our Okhla Centre, Mithu immediately took a liking to them. “Looking at these machines gave me inspiration. That was the day I found my passion”. We started a basic computer course with part-time volunteers. Mithu proved to be one of our most capable students. “I found myself making designs, playing, tinkering with the computers for long hours every day and under the guidance of the volunteers. I would read up many guide books, watch YouTube videos and then experiment with the computers.”
By 2005, Mithu was ready to take up a role as our full-time computer teacher. He had picked up the necessary skills and was able to interact with students and teachers alike. With IT skills now an essential part of a student’s skillset in India, we started our in-house IT course. “This course is essential for children at Okhla. When they go elsewhere it is very expensive. At Project WHY it is free”. Mithu now teaches over 40 students, conveying skills of design, text-editing and basic programming to the students. He is a great role model to the children to on grabbing the opportunity given and make the best us of it.
“Along with teaching computers to children at Project WHY, I have gained independence and self-respect, which I never envisaged while studying in Delhi”. Mithu lives alone and has bought himself a modified scooter, which he rides to work. “Here I do not even think of my disability. I climb trees—it is a normal thing for me. I play sports: cricket, football, marbles, gilli danda, I love them all. Main khush rahta hoon.”
NEELAM
“Project WHY, has helped in identifying my passion – that is teaching young children”
Neelam joined Project WHY since 2017 as a teacher for our early education programme – Crèche. Her family hails from Utter Pradesh and came to Delhi to earn a better living. She lives with her husband, father in law and two children. Her son is in Class 9 and daughter is in Class 2, both studying in Government School.
Her family could not pay the additional expenses of the children’s school fees, which propelled Neelam to look for a job close to where she lived. Her neighbour told her about Project WHY.
Initially, Neelam had no experience of teaching. “I like learning new things and being with children”. She was a quick learner and she picked up methods of teaching toddlers, how to keep them involved and interested with the help of her colleagues. She discovered that she was able to not only support in the learning process, but also had an aptitude for art-n- craft, rhymes and dancing.
“I really have come to appreciate and love working at Project WHY”. Conducting survey for new students within the Okhla community really affected Neelam, to see first-hand the poor living conditions of the children’s families. “The people of Okhla community cannot afford a balance diet for their child, how can they pay for crèche services”. The fact that Project WHY is free, that is why they are willing to send their children to us and value it.” #GoodTeacher
Before joining Project WHY, Neelam’s husband was the sole earning member of the family. Working at Project WHY, Neelam also started contributing to the family’s expenses. She pays for her children’s school fees. By this she has brought a little change to her family. #WomenEmpowerment
Neelam has seen many children graduate from the early education programme and subsequently join Project WHY’s after –school support programme. “Project WHY has not only helped me financially, but it has helped in identifying my passion. It has provided me a friendly environment to fulfil my personal dreams.”
Neha Kumari
Neha was a former Project WHY student.
Neha’s family originally belonged to Bihar. Initially, her father shifted to Delhi in 2001 to earn a better living. There are five members in her family – father, mother, two brothers and herself. Her father works at a private company and her mother is a housewife. Her family does not give too much importance to the education of girls. Also, her father always celebrated her brother’s birthday with great joy and happiness but he rarely celebrate Neha’s birthday till date.
In July 2010, Neha came to Delhi with her Mother. At that time, the admissions in all the Government schools were closed. She came to know of Project WHY from her neighbours. She joined Project WHY and completed her class 8 at the Khader center. In the next academic session, after an entrance exam, she got admission in class 8 at the Government school.
She studied at Project WHY Khader at the after-school education support programme till class 12. After 12th she wanted to do her under-graduation. However, her father didn’t allow her. He did not give her money for admission. “I did not give up on my dreams even then. When an opportunity to teach at the Project WHY Khader center came about I applied.” After class 12th, Neha joined Project WHY on October 2016 as a primary class 5 teacher as well as a craft teacher.
“My father changed his views about girls after he came to know that I was earning a living while teaching at Project WHY.” Neha’s father then gave her permission to complete her graduation. In 2019, Neha completed her NPTT (Nursery Primary Teacher Training), Computer Diploma and currently is pursuing B.A. Final year. “I love teaching and spending time with young children. Apart from the academic support that I provide, I specially talk to all my girl students to study hard and dream big”.
“Project WHY changed my life and that of my family. They gave me the opportunity to reach my goals and improved my financial condition”. Neha love for art also got expression at the Project WHY Khader Educational Centre. She encourages her students to paint the walls of the center so that they feel a sense of belonging. She makes all the decorations for various celebrations and festivities enjoyed at the Center.
NIKITA
Nikita is born and brought up in Delhi. Her family resides in Madanpur Khadar. Both her parents have completed schooling. She has two younger brothers who are currently pursuing L.L.B. Her father is a milk vendor while her mother is a housewife.
When Nikita was studying in class 10, she desperately needed after-school support for her studies. Due to curriculum changes and studying in D.A.V. Public school which was in English Medium; her parents could not support her. At that time, her mother got to know about Project WHY and Nitika joined as a student.
After Nikita completed her class 12. Her father was against her continuing higher studies. “Even after Project WHY members explained to my father, he did not agree to send me to college”. However, Nitika’s father was willing for her to come and work at Project WHY. Hence, in 2016, Nitika joined as a primary teacher at the Khader educational center.
“Joining Project WHY gave me an avenue to pursue my dream – of a higher education.” After joining Project WHY, Nitika completed her NPTT (Nursery Primary Teacher Training) and got a Computer Diploma. She is currently pursuing her Bachelor’s of Commerce (B.Com) 2nd year from IGNOU (Indira Gandhi National Open University). “The passion towards education was ignited by Project WHY, and I want to do the same with all the children at Khader Center so that I can bring out their individual talents”.
Nikita teaches our Class 4 students at Project WHY Khadar center. With her experience and flare for writing, she also took on the role of documentation -in-charge for Khadar and Yamuna education Centers. “It is being at Project WHY that I could achieve my goals as well as have an income. Project WHY has always supported me in the time of need and I hope that I can be of service to the children and the centers.”
Pushpa – A True leader
Pushpa is an incredible woman of substance and yet nothing about this diminutive, ever-smiling woman reveals her indomitable strength. She is one of the many leaders that brought Project WHY to life.
Pushpa came to Project WHY 15 years ago looking for an opening as a teacher. Despite being a mother of two small children; she wanted to do something for herself and her community. She along with Sophiya, her close friend, enumerated about the plight of Okhla children, the area where she resided, and how they were targets of multiple predators looking for easy prey. There was no school in the area and no organisation that could care for them. Pushpa with Sophiya took on the goliath task of finding a way to start an educational centre, after getting a nod from Anou Maam (the Founder) to help these children. The area in question was an industrial one, with factories and small slum clusters tucked in between.
“In the beginning, we started classes in Sophiyaji’s house in the morning and set out during lunch time to look for suitable place where we can open a center”. A few weeks later they both declared that they had found a ‘place’ which was a dump yard close to the railway tracts. We could not see how it could be transformed into anything close to a children’s education centre, but Pushpa assured that it was possible and that all it needed was a little ‘sprucing’ up! “We could not just start a center in Okhla. With Sophiyaji, we met the local stationed police and local politicians to obtain permission to ‘use’ the space. We organized trucks to remove the existing garbage, brought in earth to level the ground and we put up a tent of a few bamboo sticks with some blue plastic sheets. From then on our work began– the Project WHY Okhla Centre.
What ensued was a battle of wits between the local baddies and the two strong ladies. Every weekend the fragile structure was broken down and ever Monday the two ladies would erect it again till the day when the breaking stopped. They had won the war!
Today, the Okhla centre is a beautiful space. It reaches out to over 350 children and employs 12 teachers from the community. It has primary and secondary classes and a computer centre too! “No one can imagine the trials and tribulations we went through from cleaning ‘poop and puke’ to standing up to the local goons”.
Pushpa has never lost her smile even when faced with the biggest adversity. She runs her center with determination and pride and epitomises what Project WHY stands for, in all the ways that count. Pushpa has truly given wings to many dreams and Project WHY.
Renu – From Student to Teacher
Renu and her family came to Delhi from Aligarh, Uttar Pradesh in 1998 and moved into her own house in Faridabad, Haryana. In 2004, her house got robbed and in the same year her husband met with the accident. She was forced to take a loan for his treatment and subsequent hospital charges. The marriage of her husband’s brother further plunged the family in deep debt, a problem faced by many Indians who are unable to maintain liquidity for emergency expenses.
In order to pay back the debt, Renu sold her house in Faridabad and moved to Madanpur Khadar, Delhi in a rented apartment. Renu needed a job as her husband was unable to work after his accident. She got to know about Project WHY’s skill building programme through her neighbour.
Keen to start earning, Renu was immediately attracted to the idea of developing a new skill and signed-up for Project WHY stitching classes in the evening at Khader Centre in 2007. As she completed her course she began doing small jobs for her friends and neighbours to earn a bit of money.
Though she was moving forward, she still had debts to pay back, put food on the table everyday and be able to afford to send her children to school. “My dream was to provide a good education for my children and be able to wipe all the debt of my family”.
In 2010 the Khader Women’s Skill building programme lost its only stitching teacher. Project WHY, saw Renu’s progress over the years and felt that she could carry out the task. Renu was offered the position of teaching sewing to the ladies. Initially, I was very scared and not confident that I would be able to fulfil the job properly.”
As time passed, Renu started gaining more self- confidence, guiding young women from her own neighbourhood in a skill that she was passionate about – Stitching. She met new people who visited the Okhla centre and the women skill building programme such as international volunteers, foreign donors and friends. She learnt to communicate with them and made new friends among her peers.
“Seeing the friendly atmosphere around the Khader center as well as the support Project WHY gave to slum children in the area; I decided to include my two children in the after -school educational programme”. At that time her children were going to the nearby government school; in the hope to fulfil her dream.
Today, after 9 years teaching at Khader Center; she trains about 80 women and girls every year. Her son is in third year of college and her daughter is currently in class 9.
She has a clear financial strategy to pay back her debts as well as to support her family. “For the first time, I feel secure and self-worth. I hope to give the same to others women through my teaching.
SAPNA SHARMA
“Education for girls is important but we also need spaces to fulfil our aspirations, a place where passion finds expression. That place for me is Project WHY”
Sapna’s family hails from Bihar. After Sapna’s birth her family shifted to Delhi. Sapna has three sisters. Her father completed his class 10th and currently owns a welding shop while her mother is a housewife.
Sapna came to know about Project WHY from her sisters. “The fact that Project WHY’s programme was free, was a well known within the Khader community. I completed my graduation in 2017. While I was studying, my older sister Shivani, was attending Project WHY’s cyber (computer) programme at Khader. Even my younger sister Khushi attends the after-school programme.”
After graduation, Sapna wanted to join Project WHY as a teacher. But, her mother was against girls having jobs as she feared the environment might not be good for young girls. “My sisters came to my support. They explained to my mother on what Project WHY does in promoting girl-child education and the safe environment spaces for women”.
Sapna was given permission to apply to Project WHY as a teacher. “That was the happiest day of my life”. Sapna joined Project WHY in 2017 as a primary teacher for classes 1 and 2. Currently, she is teaching secondary class, that is class 6 at Khadar educational center.
“I like teaching at Project WHY. It has challenged my teaching abilities. At Project WHY, I have also found an expression of my passion, that is, teaching dancing to the children”.
Sapna teaches dance to the Khader children. All the dance performance for festivals or celebrations by the children are often choreographed by her. Through dance, the children express themselves freely and have fun.
“Project WHY spaces go beyond just academic support, to include dance, music, art, caring for the environment, respect and love. We try to give our students a learning environment where they can learn as well as have fun”.
INCREDIBLE SEEMA
At Project WHY, women are naturally at the front and center of most of the activities. One such power packed woman is Seema. She wears her heart on her sleeve, a big smile on her face and comes across to all as a large-hearted “Momma”.
Coming from a middle-class background and the only child of her parents, Seema was smothered with love throughout her life. Originally from Bihar, Seema’s father used to work at a flour mill shop but is now retired. Seema got married 26 years ago to a man her parents chose when she was just 14 years old. She had her first child when she was 17 years old.
But despite all the smiles and cheer, things were not always easy at home. She now has three children of her own and her husband, a repairman, does not earn enough to make ends meet. So, Seema had to leave her cocoon at home to find work.
At the time, in 2003, Project WHY was looking for a crèche teacher. Seema was the perfect fit. Seema took to being the crèche teacher like a fish to water. She loves children and they love her too. Discipline is better left to others; she wants to spread joy and cheer. Completely unconscious of her imposing personality, she jumps, runs and dances with abandon with all the children. “I cannot help it, with children around I become one of them”. Nothing stops her from having fun with the children.
Seema’s very warm disposition finds favor everywhere, and she’s adored within the Govindpuri community and by all the local authorities. This gives her the power to conjure the seemingly impossible – from getting a meeting hall for free for our annual day show, to admission for a child at the local school. All she needs to do is ask in her inimitable style.
Seema loves learning new things and will register eagerly for any new course available in the vicinity: a creative art course, a course on recycling waste, a beauty parlor course. “Joining Project WHY gave me immense confidence; to meet and greet people as well as get work done for the Center”.
Everyone at Project WHY loves Seema, for her good cheer and her ability to get things done. When one of her initiatives is successful, the staff greets her with “Jai Ho Seema!” She is currently the Govindpuri Centre in-charge and takes her duties of teacher’s attendance, child safety, and ensuring that the centre runs seamlessly very seriously. We frequently still find her back with the crèche children, either to help or start the children’s day with cheer and fun!
SEEMA SHARMA
“The desire to do more led me to Project WHY”.
Seema Sharma joined Project WHY on May 1st, 2018. Her family originally belonged from Punjab. When she was only 2 years old she lost her father. Her mother single handedly brought up her and her siblings.
“My Mother was my role model. She worked hard and while giving us an education showed us the value of it.”
After completing her schooling, Seema joined a private school as a primary teacher in 1995. While teaching she completed her Bachelor of Arts in Punjab. She got married and migrated to Delhi, where her husband lived and worked. She has a son who is currently studying in class 12.
When her husband passed away in 2011, she had to support the family. She applied for a teaching job in serval schools, but her degree was not recognised. She finally got a job with the Lal Bahadur Shastri Non-governmental organisation (NGO) as an administrator. She decided to do a diploma Nursery Teachers Training (NTT) in 2013.
“I wanted to get back to teaching – my first passion.” Her friend told her about Project WHY education center in Okhla. Seema applied at Project WHY and joined as a teacher for class 5 at the Okhla Centre.
“Project WHY gave me the opportunity to be a teacher again. It was like going back to my old stomping grounds. I was back to what I do best – Teaching. Meeting teachers like Seeta Mahata and Sophiyaji, gave me great motivation to stretch and experiment with my teaching abilities. Along with supporting the children’s education, we sing, exercise and even tell stories through puppetry”.
The children of Okhla love Seema’s classes especially her animated story telling.
SEETA MAHATA
“I believe that each child learns differently. So, we teachers have to adapt and adopt different methods to support a child’s learning process”.
Seeta Mahata joined Project WHY on May 11, 2011. She did her post graduation from Allahabad University. Her parents have been living in Allahabad since 1952. They had shifted from Nepal to earn a better living.
Seeta came to Delhi after her marriage. She currently lives with her in-laws, husband and two sons in rental home at Govindpuri. Both her sons study in the nearby Government school. Having to support a large family, Seeta was looking for a teaching job. “Teaching is my passion”, she confesses. She came to know about Project WHY from her sister-in-law who was living in Govindpuri.
Seeta was willing to teach different ages of children – On joining Project WHY, she supported the special needs education programme at the Govindpuri Centre. She later shifted to teaching at the early education programme – Crèche. She taught our toddlers for two years. “That was when I started to observe children’s interest and response to story-telling as a learning tool”.
When the need for a teacher at Okhla after-school programme came about, Seeta volunteered to be shifted and taught the children in the primary classes. Seeta took this experience of storytelling and added hand puppets to further engage the young minds. “I believe that each child learns differently. So, we teachers have to adapt and adopt different methods to support a child’s learning process”. Currently, with her experience and education, she is teaching our secondary student at Okhla since 2018.
“I really feel proud to be part of Project WHY and be given the opportunity to teaching children who are in need of educational support and cannot afford to pay for additional tuitions due to their financial condition. Here, at Project WHY educational Centers, they receive free of cost education support. They don’t have to pay even a single penny.” Seeta’s passion goes beyond academics too. She also teaches her students dance and prepares them for performance during festivals or celebrations such as Independence and Republic day.
SONIA GOEL
It’s hard to fathom the magnitude of challenges that single mothers (widows, divorcees, separated or single parent by choice) face every day in India. Sonia is a single mother of a 11-year-old daughter. She lives with her parents in Kalkaji, Delhi and completed her graduation from Saheed Bhagat Singh College of Delhi University in 1994.
“Being a single mother is tough. Society can be judgmental”. To make ends meet she took up various jobs from being a receptionist to a typist at a small corporate company. Since her daughter was very small, she left the job and started a tiffin lunch distribution service from home. “My interest in this work was not 100 per cent. However, financially, it supported my family”.
In 2011, Sonia got to know about Project WHY educational center from her friends in Kalkaji. She applied for a teacher’s position and joined Project WHY Okhla educational center on August 2011 as a secondary teacher. She taught class 6 and 7.
“The Okhla educational center caters to industrial worker’s children; who are often in need of educational support. I am proud to teach children who really need education support but cannot afford tuition due to their economically condition. As Project WHY centers are free, I get a lot of children, especially girl, who want support in their reading and writing.”
Currently Sonia teaches class 8 students. “Project WHY provided me an avenue to financially take care of my daughter as well as be a productive member of my community.”
SOPHIYA TIRKEY – The Visionary
Sophiya is one of our oldest staff members. She joined Project WHY in 2001 when we were still trying to answer the many WHY’s of the community and looking for people who would give wings to our dreams. Sophiya had been involved in community work and seemed the ideal person to help us understand the needs of our beneficiaries. Despite her gentle demeanour, and her kind smile; she has an inner strength that seemed to emanate from her. She was keen to join our team and since then there was no looking back.
Sophiya joined as a primary teacher at the Giri Nager centre in 2001 and was loved by all our students. She has also stepped up whenever needed and was always eager to help. “Teaching at Project WHY for me was not just a “job”. It became all about getting slum children into schools and supporting them so that they stay in school “.
In 2004, she told us about the plight of the children in the Okhla neighbourhood, where she resided. This was an industrial area with small cramped tenements tucked away between factories that spewed all kinds of venom. There were no schools in the vicinity, no parks for the children to play in and absentee parents that led to children being on their own and ready targets for lurking predators. “I wanted to start Project WHY in Okhla, where I lived”.
She offered her home to begin the Okhla center as she felt that the initial ground work would help us gain the support of the community and even authorities. With the help of Pushpa, her close friend, she set out to find a suitable space as well as sought permission from the local administrative and political authorities.
After much searching a garbage dump was located along with the help of the community and Sophiya was confident that it could be transformed into a happy place for children. At first sight, a lot of us were not convinced…but how wrong we were.
“In no time, we opened our ‘centre’ with a couple of bamboo poles and a bright blue plastic sheet. With Pushpa by my side, we weathered every storm, bore every slander but never gave up.” Today the Okhla Centre is a vibrant school where over 350 children are busy crafting their tomorrows. Sophiya is back to teaching her primary kids.
“I am happy working at Project WHY. They gave me an opportunity to not only be a teacher but also do something for my community”. Over the years, we have come to admire her quiet but firm ways, even her occasional stubbornness which is so much part of who she is. She is a true visionary and has been a big part in creating what Project WHY is today.
VIJAY KUMAR
“Coming to Project WHY, I have learnt that there is no age to learning. I am still the sole earning member of my family, but I support a larger purpose now”.
Vijay currently is a computer teacher since 2006 at the Cyber WHY programme of Okhla Center. He is also is our computer technicians for all the education centers, whereby he repairs and supports any trouble shooting when it comes to computers. “With computers being all pervasive in education and our career world; my outlook is to provide expose the kids of Okhla on Safe and Effective use of computers.
Vijay’s family originally belong to Uttar Pradesh (U.P.) and shifted to Delhi for better earning purpose. He completed his graduation in Bachelor of Commerce. He lives in Giri Nagar, Delhi with his mother, two brothers, his wife, and two children – a son who is in class 7 and a daughter who is in Class 3.
Before joining Project WHY, he earned his living by repairing computer. “It was a hard living as I am the sole earning member of my family”. It was Rani Bhardwaj, Center Manager who approached him to join Project WHY in 2006 as a computer teacher cum technician. “I really appreciated her vision for the slum children and I decided to be part of Project WHY’s mission”.
Since joining Project WHY, Vijay not only teaches computers or repairs them but also got a chance to improve his own technical skills and spoken English. “Coming to Project WHY, I have learnt that there is no age to learning. I am still the sole earning member of my family, but I support a larger purpose now”.
VIJAY GUPTA
“Here, at Project WHY my abilities to teach has been challenged and I have learnt a lot. I have been given the space to not only to expand the thinking process of children but also put my thinking hat on for many occasions”
Vijay’s family originally belong to Bihar. They shifted to Delhi for better earning purposes. Vijay’s father currently owns a tea stall while his mother is a housewife. Vijay has one elder sister Sonia Gupta who was a computer teacher at Project WHY.
Vijay completed Bachelors of Art (BA) in 2014 and computer diploma. After his studies, he joined a courier company ARAMEX for one year and left the job to open a computer repairing shop. “My passion is computers and I wanted to build a career with it”.
However, the computer repairing shop was not earning much and Vijay had to close the shop. He joined his father in the tea stall. “It was frustrating, jobs were not easily available”.
When Vijay’s sister informed him about a teacher’s position at Project WHY Khadar educational center, he applied and joined Project WHY in March 2018 as a computer teacher.
“I am back to what I do best – being with computers and teaching – thanks to Project WHY”. He joined Project WHY as he thinks that teaching children is the best.
“Here, at Project WHY my abilities to teach has been challenged and I have learnt a lot. I have been given the space to not only expand the thinking process of children but also, on many occasions, had to put my thinking hat on”.
Vijay also teaches primary class students in Yamuna. Along with academic, he shows the children how to make interesting objects with waste materials. His financial condition has stabilised while working at Project WHY.