Compilation and Editing – Nikita Dewase
Chakrighat – Children Found a New Path to Learning
– Komal Gautam
After the migration of the Chakrighat settlements, some families have come and settled near the village of Champa.
Some children are living in Champa with their families, while others are still moving with their parents in the migrating settlements.
Since regular classes started in Champa, positive changes have been observed in the children’s behavior and learning. The children are now sitting regularly in class, paying attention, and trying to complete the given work. Gradually, their confidence is also increasing. However, such changes are not seen in the children who are still moving with their parents.
Savva is currently living in Champa with his grandparents, while his younger brother Jagdish is still living with his parents in the migrating settlement. Earlier, Savva was not interested in studies and did not sit properly in class. But now, a significant change can be seen in him. He sits regularly in class, pays attention, and tries to study on his own. On weekends, when his father takes him to the migrating settlement, he is also seen helping with milk calculations there. Because of this, his parents have also started understanding the importance of education.
A similar situation happened with Jagdish. We repeatedly told his mother to send him to Champa for education, but initially, she did not send him to school. Later, when we visited their migrating settlement, we had a direct conversation with them. We explained, with examples, how much he could lose if he did not get the opportunity to study.
After this conversation, the very next day, they sent Jagdish to Champa for learning. Now he is also getting the opportunity to study. We hope that positive changes will be seen in him as well in the future.
Asola – A New Beginning for Learning Again
– Jeevan Dhok
Kisan is currently studying in Grade 10, but due to some family responsibilities, he had not been attending school regularly for the past two years.
As a result, his studies had fallen far behind. Because of his irregular attendance, he was unable to understand many concepts taught in school.
Initially, he was afraid of the Grade 10 examination and felt confused about his future. Questions like “Will I be able to appear for the exam?” and “Will I manage it?” created fear and doubt in his mind.
However, through continuous conversations, he was gradually made to understand that with effort and a little hard work, it is definitely possible. Efforts were made to build his confidence. He was encouraged to attend school regularly and to study consistently. Slowly, he also began to focus on his studies and decided to appear for the examination.
Although he was not regular in school, he used to attend the classes conducted at the settlement quite often. In these classes, he was given books in Marathi, Hindi, and English to read, along with practical mathematics exercises to solve. He was also given question papers from previous years for practice. I personally sat with him, explained the concepts, and guided him through solving the questions. Small goals were set for him, and he was appreciated upon completing them, which motivated him to move forward.
Today, he is appearing for his Grade 10 exams with confidence. He said, “Sir, because you are teaching me, I have started understanding a little.” Since he had been away from school for two years, he initially faced many difficulties, but now he is gradually developing interest in his studies. Especially in Marathi reading and comprehension, noticeable progress can be seen. He now listens more attentively, tries to read, and makes an effort to understand.
Kisan’s journey is truly inspiring. It shows that with proper guidance, consistency, and encouragement, students can return to the path of learning. When students are trusted and supported, their confidence can grow.
In the coming days, efforts will continue to guide Kisan and other children in a similar way, so that their learning journey becomes stronger and they can move forward through education.
Thanthan – A Classroom Under the Tree: A New Learning Experience
– Pragati Bandebuche
After the migration from Thanthan, the settlement moved near the village of Kalamna. At that place, we did not have a regular classroom or proper learning materials to teach the children.
However, to ensure that the children’s education did not stop, we started an open classroom under a tree.
While teaching the children under the shade of the tree, we thought about how to make the class more engaging. For this, we tied various word cards, pictures, and educational posters to the tree. The tree itself became like the wall and blackboard of our classroom, creating a unique learning space for the children.
In this activity, children were asked to read the words displayed on the tree, find words, and create new words from them. At times, they were also encouraged to form small sentences using those words. This helped the children practice reading in a fun and interactive way.
During this process, the children’s enthusiasm increased greatly. They really enjoyed this new method of learning. They started going near the tree on their own, reading words, showing them to each other, and trying to create new words.
Kisan, in particular, participated with great enthusiasm. He reads the word cards on the tree every day. Not only that, but he also comes on holidays to read those words. Gradually, he began to understand new words and started forming small sentences using them. Because of this activity, the space under the tree has almost become like a small library for the children. Whenever they get time, they go there and read the words on the cards.
This experience showed that even with limited resources, effective learning can happen with a little creativity and enthusiasm. This open classroom under the tree has become a joyful and unique learning experience for the children.
Internship – A Journey of Transformation
– Nikita, Nikhil
Currently, the fourth batch of the internship program is ongoing. When the program first began, around 10 interns participated in Batch 1.
For them, this experience was completely new. Many of them initially faced challenges in English communication, confidence, and adapting to a work routine. However, they began this journey with a willingness to learn.
After that, 10 interns participated in Batch 2 and 12 interns in Batch 3. With each batch, our approach became more clear and stronger. In this journey, Batch 4 saw a sudden and significant increase, with around 30 interns participating in the program. This growth was not just in numbers, but also reflected the growing trust and impact of the program.
Throughout this journey, our main focus was on empowering the interns. Continuous efforts were made to improve their skills and the quality of their work. To enhance their English, we started a Speaking Club, where interns got regular opportunities to practice speaking. Along with this, small daily tasks were given to ensure consistent practice, which gradually helped in building their confidence.
We also provided interns with placement opportunities within the ecosystem. Making good use of these opportunities, 3 interns secured placements, and 6 interns were selected for CLR’s English Project. These success stories became a source of inspiration for other interns as well.
During this entire journey, interns developed important qualities such as ownership, teamwork, interdependency, and observation. Those who were initially hesitant gradually started taking responsibility, supporting each other, and working as a team.
At the same time, they showed significant improvement in English language and communication skills. With regular practice, feedback, and a supportive environment, visible changes could be seen in them.
Overall, this internship program went beyond just learning. It became a strong platform that helped interns build self-confidence, take responsibility, and prepare themselves for future opportunities. This journey was not only about skill development but also an important step in personality development and confidence building.