Across the road, Bandra-Kurla complex
Students of DAIS visit an NGO ‘Across the Road’ where they educate underprivileged children. teaching them Mehndi, English and Music. Our first visit to the community was simply aimed at interacting with them and understanding the problems that they face in their everyday lives, from lack of water to lack of transport. From our interactions we became aware that most of them want to learn mehndi (a vocal skill that could help them earn a living) and English (to better them communication skills and hence job opportunities). After interacting with many children and parents we concluded that teaching them skills that they wanted to learn would be the best choice.
We divided the children into groups according to the skill they wished to learn. Before starting out mehndi classes we ourselves learnt more about the art online and planned each lesson out. The English and Music lessons were also planned in a way that would interest the students from the community and help better their skills in a short period of time..
The children were enthusiastic and eager to learn. There were a large number of female students who were enthusiastic about learning both mehndi and English.
We divided the children into groups according to the skill they wished to learn. Before starting out mehndi classes we ourselves learnt more about the art online and planned each lesson out. The English and Music lessons were also planned in a way that would interest the students from the community and help better their skills in a short period of time..
The children were enthusiastic and eager to learn. There were a large number of female students who were enthusiastic about learning both mehndi and English.
This was encouraging as they were taking a step to uplift themselves even while living in community where gender inequality is not uncommon especially in the lower income groups.
To further consolidate our project and spread awareness we also developed a website. On the website we posted images, interviews and write-ups about the community and our work with them. We hope that this website will help increase social awareness and make more people familiar with the Across the Road Community and the problems they face so that more people step up to help uplift these community.
On a more personal level, our group immensely enjoyed these interactions as they people were not just open and cooperative when asked them questions but also responsive and warm during the sessions. We do wish we had been able to get more sessions with them to have better planned the lessons and help them learn more. However, overall it was an enriching and fulfilling ecperience.
They could talk to children so similar, yet different from them. It has taught them to see people from a different point of view. It showed them that strength lay in laughing in the face of difficulties.
To further consolidate our project and spread awareness we also developed a website. On the website we posted images, interviews and write-ups about the community and our work with them. We hope that this website will help increase social awareness and make more people familiar with the Across the Road Community and the problems they face so that more people step up to help uplift these community.
On a more personal level, our group immensely enjoyed these interactions as they people were not just open and cooperative when asked them questions but also responsive and warm during the sessions. We do wish we had been able to get more sessions with them to have better planned the lessons and help them learn more. However, overall it was an enriching and fulfilling ecperience.
They could talk to children so similar, yet different from them. It has taught them to see people from a different point of view. It showed them that strength lay in laughing in the face of difficulties.