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Free Below-bridge school in New Delhi gives hope to underprivileged children.
India’s first open-air school is set up Rajesh Kumar and operates from under the Delhi Metro flyover provides free education to underprivileged children. Kumar makes time from his schedule every morning to teach the children while volunteers from across the globe come and teach maths, English
The iconic Kutub Minar whizzes past, so do glass and concrete structures leaving you doubting the country in which you are travelling. That’s the experience of riding in the Delhi Metro. However, a diametrically opposite world inhabits the underbelly of the gleaming train.
The pillars supporting the Metro track are home to slum dwellers and their little children. The sight of these children playing in the construction zone instead of attending school disturbed 43-year-old, Rajesh Kumar so much that he took it upon himself to give these children a decent shot at education.
The result was India’s only open-air school operating from under the Delhi Metro flyovers providing free education to underprivileged children. Close to 80 children from the neighbouring slums attend the school today. Kumar makes time from his schedule every morning to teach the children.
The school is minimalist with blackboards painted on the walls while a few polystyrene foam pieces form the seats for students. The Spartan school along with the constant racket of trains overhead does little to faze the children who are attend the school without fail.
Additionally, the school receives cardigans, books, shoes, and other stationery tools from anonymous donors. “It’s most important to inspire these children to study and give them an opportunity of an education. I will be fortunate even if two out of 20 study further. I will feel satisfied that I contributed to their future generations.” Rajesh says.
Over the time, the school has gained recognition and international attention, with it has arrived a stream of volunteers from around the globe who offer education across areas including math, reading, and writing. Then there are certain volunteers who contribute by helping students achieve admission to formal schools, giving the children a chance to integrate in mainstream schools. Today, the school attendance has risen to hundreds of underprivileged students who attend regularly every day.
While the open-air school is a step in the right direction for the few students who make it to school every day, one can’t help but wonder what the government is doing to reach out to millions of children who slip out of the cracks of regulations like the RTE Act and the net of government-run schools.
Read the original story by Maverick Baker at www.interestingengineering.com.