Spreading Smiles: Shakti Sutra Team's Trip to Phechaan The Street School

We all know the impact of education on our lives and in society. In schools, we studied the role of education in different domains and eras, from revolutionaries who fought for our independence to social reformers who gave our society new directions to the great scientists who changed our lives through time-changing discoveries and inventions. The contributions of these people are incomparable. They all had a different mission that made them extraordinary but that's not the point here. The matter to ponder is that you are reading the words I wrote. You are interpreting these sentences, that might be different from others depending on your background and experiences. You are making an analogy that might be different from the analogies of others. A philosophy student might infer the words slightly differently than a student of history. Sorry, there are no numbers to tally for the commerce people and no equation for the science people. But believe me, there is nothing to do with all the stuff I just wrote. More than 'why' it's about 'how'. How do you read all the lines above? How are you able to read, interpret, understand, explain, make decisions, etc.? It all starts with your parents' intent to provide you with the best quality education. They thought to see their ward with a successful career. They made efforts to send you to the best educational institute. Even if you are reading this are already a privileged person who has all kinds of basic services and facilities that are required to grab opportunities coming your way.

Very unfortunately not all children are that privileged. It's hard to imagine that a necessity like education is a privilege in today's time but, sadly that gap exists in society. Their parents can't afford to provide their wards with a good reasonable education which closes many doors to opportunities. When a family is thriving to fulfil their basic needs for survival, education becomes a secondary thing. This makes them stuck where they are for one more generation and then the upcoming generation receives the same responsibility to uplift their family. Not land or bank balance, they get poverty and daily struggles in heritage. This is no less like a genetic disease. Life is not a movie full of miracles, here logic works and education is the only therapy for this genetic disease. Here comes the role of an NGO called Pehchaan The Street School took the initiative to bridge this gap. Their mission is to provide quality education and essential items required for education such as stationary, books, etc. for free to underprivileged children. They impart education with the help of their skilled volunteers who teach, organize and provide the vital resources needed. Pehchaan The Street School is not supported by the government or any corporation. It raises funds through the donations made by the volunteers. All the people associated with the Pehchaan The Street School serve with dedication to the noble cause. The intent of the volunteers and members is the key thing that matters to this initiative. It is appreciated by the people and media houses such as 'Aaj Tak' for their noble cause and contribution to society. The values and knowledge charges by the schools are provided by the Pehchaan The Street School for free without any discrimination. Underprivileged children from different backgrounds, races, ethnicities and religions study together under one roof without any discrimination.

This optimistic step is appreciated by the Shakti Sutra whose aim is to revive the essence of our culture. The team of Shakti Sutra visited and spent their precious time with the students of the Pehchaan The Street School. The team of Shakti Sutra distributed food and shared smiles with the students of Pehchaan The Street School. The children also enjoyed their visit, and the interaction was so blissful. The members of the Shakti Sutra were mature, young and aspirational people who understood the spirit of the students and other volunteers and most importantly the significance of this noble cause. They were able to connect with the children and were good at spreading laughter and sharing smiles. They camouflaged with the Pehchaan The Street School volunteers as a family. There were no differences and distinctions but only the pure heart and intentions towards the service to society. The way they interacted and the involvement with students and the volunteers of the Pehchaan The Street School reveals their caring and motherly nature towards society and the people. They create an environment of joy and happiness with their words and gestures. Although Shakti Sutra generally do social work many of them are service-related and bring smiles to people. This was an unexpected collab that was well executed. That day surely will be more than a memory in the album of all the children and volunteers.

At Pehchaan The Street School underprivileged children not only study but score high marks also which is the result of the quality of the education, the hard work of the volunteers and the dedication of the students. Recently, more than forty students from the IP Centre of the Pehchaan The Street School scored first, second and third ranks in their respective classes. This is a wonderful moment of achievement for not only the students but also for the members and volunteers associated with the NGO. This moment was celebrated by the students and the volunteers at the Centre. These achievements are so important because they encourage the children to keep working hard, to never give up, to stay consistent and give them hope that one day they will not be underprivileged anymore. These wins motivate them to stay consistent and keep making efforts. Pehchaan The Street School trying to change the hopeless end to endless hope. That's what matters. 

These events like Shakti Sutra's trip to Pehchaan The Street School give them a message that they are not alone in their journey, we are with them as their elder brother and sister, as their guide and mentor. Because you know it's actually easy to say that 'god is with you' but supporting someone true human being provides a different kind of strength. All the associated volunteers and members are trying to be that strength for the underprivileged children. The best way to provide someone strength is to educate them, focusing on their skills development and character building. Teaching ethics and moral values is also as essential as providing education. That's what the NGO is aiming for. Making underprivileged children independent and helping them achieve their career goals will truly fill their hearts with contentment.

Both Shakti Sutra and Pehchaan The Street School are working towards the betterment of society in different ways. But Pehchaan The Street School is providing an identity to underprivileged children. We all know that they go through a lot of struggles and atrocities in daily life that we can not imagine by sitting behind the screens. The world throws more challenges to their path and the NGO is trying to make the path obstacle-free and providing them the shoes they deserve. It is not about the underprivileged children of today, it's about the citizens of the tomorrow. This education can open the doors of opportunities to them that will help them to meet their needs and the luxury they want. God knows what is waiting for them and us in the future. All we can do is effort. The same is doing Pehchaan The Street School. For me, it is not just an NGO but a boon to the society. In my childhood, I used to think that one day I would provide or make education free and accessible to all and now when I see such an initiative trying to do what I wanted to do makes me feel connected. 

No matter how hard I try I don't think that it is possible to explain the experience and feelings of those students at the IP Centre. How did the visit by Shakti Sutra leave an imprint on their mind? You and I might not understand their emotions. We can't say how and what relations might be built that day by sharing love, care and concern through the team of Shakti Sutra. You may not believe but we are going to forget this event and many more this kind of events, except those with our involvement. That's the truth. But anyway, it is not about us, it's about those underprivileged children whose lives are affected by these events. Their academics, personal lives, thought processes, points of view, ethics, values, ambitions and many more aspects of their lives are changing because of these small steps taken by people like volunteers of Shakti Sutra. 

Although there are no such materialistic rewards for the volunteers, the smiles of the underprivileged children are equal to any reward, their laughter is the currency and their contentment is their satisfaction. 

Thank you for reading this long. Thank you for your patience. Because you read until this very end shows you have some fire to do something for the betterment of society. Till then stay happy and keep working hard until we meet again.