Compilation and Editing – Pallavi Shambharkar
Thanthan – 15 August – A Beautiful Experience of Learning and Leadership
– Pragati Bandebuche
As every year, Independence Day was celebrated with great enthusiasm at the Beda this year as well. The most beautiful highlight of this year’s celebration was the presence of all the Mukhiya and parents. In their presence, the flag was hoisted by Sidhu Bhaiya and Mafla Bhaiya.
With parents and community members coming together to witness the children’s celebration, the entire atmosphere was filled with excitement and a sense of togetherness.
The special highlight of the day was a play performed by the children. A few days ago, a senior person had responded to the children by saying, “What are you studying? You don’t know how to study anything.” This incident deeply connected with the children. It led to the thought, “We are also learning, we are capable of doing things, and we can show what we are learning.” With this thought, the children prepared and performed a play.
Kanha, Sabu, Pooja, Asha, Kinjal, Kajal, Riddhi and Naresh participated enthusiastically in the play. Pooja played the role of a Madam, while Kanha confidently performed the role of a Student Leader. Through the play, the children did more than just perform dialogues—they expressed their learning journey, their efforts and their growing confidence in front of the entire community.
Through this play, the children wanted to share an important message with the community: “We are learning from what you say to us. We are also trying, and we can do many things too.” The children conveyed this message with great confidence. The small efforts they had been making while learning had now transformed into the confidence to express themselves in front of the entire community.
Another beautiful part of the day was Sidhu Bhaiya’s participation with the children. He motivated the children about education and also guided them about their traditional lathi-kathi game. His interaction and participation gave the children an opportunity to learn from an elder in their community and strengthened their connection with the community.
Thus, 15th August was not just about flag hoisting and celebration. It became a beautiful experience of the children’s learning, leadership, confidence and community connection. On that day, the children did not just say, “We can do it too”—they showed it through their actions.
Asola – A Beautiful Rakhi Celebration Experience
– Prachi Borekar
Today, we planned a Rakhi-making activity with the children as part of our Rakhi celebration. However, we soon faced a small challenge—we did not have the materials needed to make the Rakhis.
We knew that some materials from last year were stored somewhere in the school, so we started searching for them. After looking for quite some time, we finally found them in Sir’s office and immediately began making Rakhis.
We had some beautiful stones, but they were not suitable for sticking onto the Rakhis. The children wanted to decorate their Rakhis with stones, so they came up with a creative solution on their own. They went home, searched for stones from old clothes, and brought them back to use for making the Rakhis. Their creativity and problem-solving skills brought a big smile to our faces.
Making Rakhis together was a joyful experience, and we got to see the children’s creativity up close. Every day, we try to teach the children something new, but today, it was the children who taught us how to make Rakhis. The school teacher also responded very positively and shared her own creative way of making Rakhis, giving us another opportunity to learn something new.
The children excitedly said, “Wait, Madam! Not like this… make it like this, I’ll teach you!” This one sentence beautifully captured the essence of the day. We may teach children many things, but they too have so much to teach us.
Today’s Rakhi celebration reminded us that education is not only about teaching; it is also about learning from one another. Through this simple activity, we witnessed the children’s creativity, problem-solving skills, confidence, and willingness to take initiative.
It was a day filled with joy, creativity, learning, and beautiful memories. More importantly, the children reminded us of something very meaningful—learning is always a two-way journey.
Sonkhamb – I Can Do It Too! – Mayur’s Beautiful Learning Journey
– Devendra Raut
Mayur is a quiet and sweet third-grade student. When I initially started working with him, I noticed that although he was trying to learn, remembering and recalling what he had learned was difficult for him.
Even in Grade 3, he struggled with recognizing basic numbers and reading English. The challenge was to understand one important question—how could I help Mayur learn at his own pace?
To address this, I created a small Learning Plan based on his needs. In Math, we started right from number recognition, while in English, we began regular practice with Phonics Sounds and CVC Words. In the beginning, we had to repeat small concepts several times. With consistent practice and patience, Mayur slowly started understanding and remembering them.
Gradually, the change was visible not only in his academics but also in his attitude towards learning. He started attending school regularly, completing his homework on time, and participating actively in classroom activities. Most importantly, he began picking up small books on his own and trying to read them.
Today, Mayur can recognize numbers up to 50 and can read CVC Words with ease. The child who once felt “I can’t do it” is now willing to make an effort and learn independently. He no longer needs to be reminded to read; he picks up a book on his own and starts reading.
Mayur’s journey has taught me an important lesson—every child has a different pace of learning. With the right approach, consistency, patience, and trust, every child can gradually discover their own abilities.
Mayur is still learning, but there is a new confidence in his eyes today—“I can do it too!”
Chakrighat – Girls from the Bharwad Community Become Teachers
– Jivan Dhok
The lives of families in the Bharwad community are closely connected with migration. Every few months, families move from one place to another with their cattle, and the children move with them. Because of this, ensuring continuity in their education has always been a major challenge.
However, this year, a beautiful change could be seen among the children at Chakri Ghat Beda.
Initially, many children struggled to sit properly in class, listen to teachers, and stay engaged. But with regular classes, caring guidance, and continuous encouragement, they gradually started attending classes regularly. They began showing discipline, confidence, and a growing interest in learning. The Student Leader initiative also played an important role in this transformation.
Through this initiative, some girls from the Bharwad community began not only focusing on their own learning but also teaching their younger siblings at night. While taking responsibility for their own education, they started supporting their siblings in their studies as well. This positive change could also be seen in the learning journey of children like Jagdish and Dinesh.
On the occasion of Teachers’ Day, these girls got an opportunity to take on the role of teachers themselves. One of them, Wali, observed the teachers and conducted a Marathi Activity-Based Learning class. She made the children sit in a circle and taught them through different activities. The same girl who was once a learner herself was now standing in front of the class and teaching others. The children listened to her carefully and participated enthusiastically.
Wali’s experience was not just a one-day activity; it was an important milestone in her journey of building confidence and leadership skills. Through the role of “I learn and I teach others,” these girls are not only taking responsibility for their own education but are also creating new opportunities for learning within their community.
For the past four to five years, Learning Companion has been consistently working towards strengthening education at Chakri Ghat Beda. Through Fellows and teachers, continuous efforts are being made to connect children with education and provide them with opportunities to take leadership. Today, these girls from the Bharwad community are not just students; they have become teachers, mentors, and sources of inspiration for other children.
Junapani – A Sign of Change… Little Feet Running Towards School!
– Dipanshu Devase
Our little school at the Beda has now become a beautiful part of the children’s everyday lives. There was a time when coming to school was not always easy for them, but today, they come with excitement and eagerness.
They have also developed the habit of taking a bath, wearing clean clothes, and getting ready before coming to school.
As soon as we reach the Beda, the children hear our voices and come running towards the school from a distance. With bright smiles and excitement, they greet us with a cheerful “Good Morning!” Their simple greeting reflects the sense of belonging they have developed towards the school.
For the children, school is no longer just a place where they come to study. It has become a space where they come happily, spend time with their friends, participate in activities, and discover something new every day. Their willingness to come to school has become an important part of their learning journey.
This change has been nurtured through consistent engagement, caring guidance, and efforts to make learning joyful and meaningful for the children. Through small everyday habits and experiences, the children are gradually developing responsibility, confidence, and a positive attitude towards learning.
Today, watching little feet run towards the school at the Beda reminds us that this is more than just a change in attendance. It is a small but meaningful change in the way children see school and learning.
From this little school, big dreams are slowly beginning to take shape.
Thanthan – Childhood Is Truly Priceless!
– Devid Suryawanshi
“Childhood is truly priceless!” This thought comes to my mind again and again when I look at the children in my class. Whether it is raining or the sun is shining brightly, these children never give up on coming to school.
Every word they speak, every question they ask, and every little experience they share teaches me something new. Though they belong to different age groups, I see all of them as my own children.
For me, teaching children is not just about teaching what is written in books. It is about helping them express the thoughts and feelings hidden in their minds. I encourage them to speak, ask questions, share their experiences, and express themselves freely. Through these everyday conversations, I can see their language developing, and this rich language becomes a strong foundation for their future reading and writing.
Our class begins with simple rules created for the children. One clap means that everyone sits with their hands folded—this is our simple classroom rule! Then comes our time to talk. What did you eat today? Which vegetable was made at home? How many rotis did you eat before coming to school? Some children share a lot, while others speak only a few words, but every child’s voice matters. Sometimes they even ask me, “Sir, did you eat your food?” and I happily answer them.
After our conversations, we sing songs, play games, and take part in different activities. Today, the children sang with great enthusiasm. Some sang loudly, while others quietly listened, but everyone enjoyed the moment. Sitting under a tree, the children tried to learn in different ways. They even collected tiny stones and proudly stood in front of their homes, asking me to take their pictures. Their innocent request, “Sir, take our photo!” brought a big smile to my face.
Along with learning, I also want these children to experience the joy of childhood. So, we play traditional games together, such as “Aapli Tupali, Gulachi Papadi, Dhammak Ladu…” These games are not just about fun. They give children opportunities to speak, listen to one another, express themselves, participate confidently, and enjoy learning together.
Every day with these children reminds me that learning does not happen only inside a classroom or through books. It happens through conversations, songs, games, laughter, and everyday experiences. Watching my children become more expressive and confident gives me the greatest sense of satisfaction.