Initiatives like ours derive inspiration when the beneficiaries get a direction to move ahead in life and are empowered to carve their own niche in the world of immense possibilities.

An inspiring example from our Vocational Training Centres: 

When a girl from a slum graduates from one of our Vocational Training Programs and returns home with the ability to stand on her own two feet, it does more to improve the perception of the girl child in her neighbourhood and to inspire other girls and women to make something of themselves than a million pamphlets and dozens of talks. 

Lakshmi, Puja, Yasmeen and Farhana come from weak economic backgrounds with 6-7 family members earning Rs. 4500 pm combined. They gained the skill and confidence through Sakshi's Computer Training Program to  attain successful placements at Tech Mahindra and Vodafone at a starting salary of Rs. 9000 pm each!

Read the full story below in their teacher's words.

"These are Lakshmi, Puja, Yasmeen and Farhana who completed the computer training course at Sakshi's Vocational Training centre in Jasola and were successfully placed at Tech Mahindra and Vodafone.

Their success not only helps them and their families but serves as an inspiration to others and helps us realize our dream of helping needy members of society who only need a little support and a platform to show their calibre." - Javed, Sakshi Computer Training Teacher

Case Study: Early Childhood Care and Development Centre, Shaheen Bagh

"Shabnam Ma'am finds the Secret to Happiness"

Shaheen Bagh, a slum in Delhi had no facility to take care of young children between 3-6 yrs. Residents work as day labor to make ends meet. So the little ones were left alone or their elder siblings were forced to drop out to look after them. 

Then, Sakshi opened two Early Childhood Care and Development Centres. The young 'uns now learn to read and write in a loving and encouraging environment, draw, sing, dance and receive good food and medical care. 

Sakshi teacher Shabnam ma'am works long hours convincing slum-dwellers who are illiterate to school their kids but she loves her job. Glowing, she points out every child in her ECCD graduated to join a primary school!

Read Shabnam ma'am's story, the difficulties she faces and the happiness she has.

Sometimes the reasons for dropping out of school are so simple. "The school is very far from here," Shabnam explains. Indeed, there is neither an MCD school in Shaheen Bagh nor school bus service. The nearest bus service is not easily accessible by children between 3 and 6. But above all, not easily accessible for children whose parents do not grasp the importance of education, can neither read or write and are on low incomes (farm workers, factory workers etc). 

Shabnam has worked as a teacher with Sakshi for more than 4 years. She really knows these communities and understands their needs. The children need a lot of assistance. Faced with this situation, Sakshi opened 2 ECCD's in Shaheen Bagh.

30 children benefit from Shabnam's centre. Because resources need to be stretched, children between ages 3-6 are in the same classroom. Classwork goes on in different groups for different levels. Pupils take tests regularly to assess progress. 

When Shabnam talks about challenges, she stresses the difficulty of convincing the parents to send their children to the ECCD. It is a recurrent task. Every month teachers and Sakshi staff meet the parents.

However, despite all the difficulties, Shabnam is very happy. She loves her work and she underlines the success of her centre; every child joined a Primary School at the end of the year.

Remedial Education Program Case Study:

"The Girl who got a Prize from Famous Writer Manoj Das"

Rani's father is a rickshaw puller. Her mother works as a maid. They earn a combined Rs. 4500 pm. 

Rani did not get time to study because she did household chores and cared for her siblings. She was good in Hindi but failing in English and Maths.  

Then, she was enrolled in one of Sakshi's Remedial Education Centres. Her grades improved immediately. On a recent Sakshi trip to the National Book Trust Book Fair, she received a prize and standing ovation from famous writer Manoj Das for translating his story from Hindi to English!

Rani's parents are proud of her and attend all Sakshi's Parents' Workshops to learn how they can support her. Their smiles say it all.

Read the story of how Rani bloomed to her full potential as documented by her social worker.

Name of the girl: Rani.

Class: 6^th.

Age: 13 years.

Rani's Academic Status when she came to us:

Rani was good in Hindi. She could read English books but she didn't understand what the stories meant. She faced difficulty in maths sums. She could not practice at home because there was no time. Her mother works so as the eldest child, she has to perform household chores.

Support Rani receives at Sakshi's Remedial Education Centre

• We placed Rani at one of our Remedial Education Centres for additional coaching after school to help her with Maths and English.
• She attended our Life Skills Coaching sessions. 
• Her parents also attended our Parents' Workshop and Parent-Teacher meetings.   
• Rani participated in Exposure Visits to Apno Ghar, India Gate, Science Museums, and Children Park.

​Rani is a hardworking girl. She actively participates in all the activities at the Sakshi Remedial Education Centre. She also completes her homework punctually, and asks the tutors her queries and problems. 

Sakshi Remedial Education Centres helped Rani excel at school. She won a prize from famous writer Manoj Das at the National Trust Book Fair for translating his story from Hindi into English! She also learnt many other things at Sakshi. Here she is at Sakshi's International Women's Day Celebration receiving a prize for winning a Dance Contest!

Rani is always ready to learn. She loves going on the Exposure Visits and comes back full of stories and facts.

Rani's scorecard at school reflects her increased abilities. She is doing very well in English now. She went to the National Book Trust Book Fair, a trip organized by Sakshi. There, she translated a Hindi story by the writer Mr. Manoj Das into English and got a prize and an ovation from him!

She wants to study. She loves to study. Rani's parents also support it now. After participating in the parents meeting and workshops, they understand the benefits of education which they did not earlier because they are not literate themselves.

Very importantly, because of the outreach Sakshi arranges, Rani's parents also feel like they are part of their daughter's life and progress and are proud of their daughter's accomplishments. This makes Rani very happy. After all, at the end of the day, what is life or success without family ? Rani loves to dance too and now she has a reason to dance every day.  

Update: Rani and one of her younger sisters are now also part of our Girls Education Project. This means we will bear the cost of their studies till they graduate. Their family is very poor. Our financial and material support will ease the burden on the parents and they can now afford to educate all the children otherwise one or more of them, even Rani, might have had to drop out.