saksharta se swachhta
In August 2018, DEVI Sansthan launched a collaboration with the National Service Scheme of Lucknow University. We have been motivating and training college students to select a nearby slum area and teach illiterate children and adults using the Global Dream materials.
As of February 2019, over 1100 students have taken the training, and 700 Global Dream kits have been distributed. 15 colleges have been involved, including Chandra Bhanu, Mahaveer Prasad, Christian Degree College, Christian Training College, Isabella Thoburn, KKC – and many more.
The program aims to spread basic literacy in Lucknow’s slums and surrounding rural areas, and hopes that an increase in literacy will also lead to an improvement in hygiene. Not only have slum-dwellers benefited from and appreciated the opportunity to learn to read and write, the college students too have enjoyed the opportunity for meaningful community service. The field work of teaching has proved highly relevant to the degrees of B.Ed, BTC and Social Work students – but BA, B.Com and B.Sc students have also developed time management, teamwork and self-confidence which will prove valuable in their future studies and careers.
If you are a student or faculty member at a college in Lucknow, please contact us to explore how your institute can be involved. In coming months, we are looking to expand this project in other cities and states – if you study or work outside Lucknow, and would like to start something similar in your area, please contact us.
Riya 1st year student – KKC
“I am teaching an older woman, Rekha. She initially felt uncomfortable about learning at her age. But I really want to raise her courage.”
Sanyukta 1st year BA student – KKC
“Before joining [the Global Dream literacy campaign] I was a bit concerned whether I would be able to manage my time… but after joining this programme, I am really happy. I don’t want to miss these classes… the quality time spent there [in the slum] makes my day a happy and good one. Not only do we teach but also learn different things. Each moment there is well spent… I just love it.”
Rishi 1st year student – Christian Degree College
“I learned about how to teach children and adults"
Gulshan 3rd year student – Christian Degree College
“In today’s scenario, education is the most important part of life. For the development of our country, educated people are the first priority. Our NSS volunteers are daily working hard to teach the people. Our motive is to teach all the people, whether they may be children, adults, uncles or aunties.”
Nilesh 3rd year agriculture student – Chandra Bhanu
“I am very grateful to [DEVI Sansthan] that gave me a wonderful chance to connect with these people [in a slum by the side of the railway track]. I learnt a lot from them: the difficulties of survival, poverty etc. After all these circumstances they have a tremendous learning attitude and attraction towards studies. From the scenario they were not able to identify letters, to being able to read paragraphs, they faced a lot of problems and sometimes they thought that they would not be able to do it. But it was their learning attitude which made their dream come true.”