Monday 29 September 2014

Childhood

There is a phase in everyone's life they never want to forget, there is a time frame in everyone's story which they never want to get over, the time which draws a curve on our lips whenever we talk about it. The time when we were free like a wind, chirpy like a bird, bold as a king and fast as a tiger. This magical epoch is called 'The Childhood'. 
The childhood gives everything one would want to have to enjoy one's life. It sublimes our lives with the most beautiful things in the world…freedom, ease, carelessness, selfishness and most important Happiness. The childhood lets one to enjoy the most enjoyable part of one's life. The part which one can never forget about, which one will always miss and which will never come back. This is the most important part of our lives, this is when we learn the most and this is only when we actually see things without any pre-formed perception. During childhood, we are considered as the ones with lesser understanding but this is the only phase when we can see things like they actually are, without thinking of any profit or loss, without any selfishness being involved, without any assumptions and perceptions already formed, we see things exactly how mother nature created them for us. 


The best thing about childhood is, you always enjoy whatever circumstances you are in. Even if you are living in the streets or in a slum, you accommodate yourself with the surroundings and you start liking the place just like the ones living in the mighty palaces. You don't complain, you don't wish for better, you don't ask for more. All you do is to live your live to its fullest. There exists no terms such as a ruined childhood or bad memories or under-privileged, when you are in that stage. These terms actually take place in our lives when we grow up and our childhood leaves us behind.
Even today, whenever we 'Grown Ups' look into our past and recall our childhood, only good memories come into our mind. The childhood never leaves any bad memory because there is no bad memory when you are a child. It's always winning or learning. But the only bad thing about this epic era in our lives is, it doesn't last very long. With the blink of an eye, it leaves us behind with nothing but memories, such sweet memories for life - carefree, selfless and daring childhood memories are left behind. So hold it tight while you are still a child, for once gone, there will only be memories.

Monday 22 September 2014

Interview- Manas Mehrotra (Overall Coordinator)

1. From where Sarthak foundation initiated?
Answer: Initially, when we started working on 'Educate A Child' project under Sarthak Foundation, there were three of us. Most of the members of our team belong to Amity some way or other. So we used to come across these beggar children near the malhaur railway crossing. Then we decided to start teaching these children from crossing and that's how we started our first open study centre in Malhaur Basti.

2. What exactly is the purpose of your organisation? How do you achieve it?
Answer: We basically go to the slums, identify the children nearby and start teaching them. Before starting, we divide them into two groups depending on their level of knowledge: A- Tender Feet (Those who have never been introduced to any sort of education) B- Advancers (those who have dropped out or those who attend government schools). Then we start teaching them basics of English, Maths, General Awareness, basic manners, cleanness and these things. We plan to teach them till their primary education and then get them admitted to main stream schools depending on their capabilities.




3. How do you feel your organisation is serving the nation?
Answer: There's no doubt that one country can never be civilised and developed leaving its Children and Education behind. These Children And their education are the foundation of the nation. We are trying to do our bit by spreading education as far as possible. We haven't achieved much heights yet we are working in the direction and we dream of a nation which is full of such sweet and educated children who are not at all deprived of anything.

4. How can one help your organisation?
Answer: Being an organisation based on individual helping hands, one can always come forward and lend an helping hand. One can sponsor an individual child's education or a whole study centre for one year at least. Other than that, we are looking forward to get introduced to some corporate for their CSR tie up, in which anyone can help us. Besides these, one can always volunteer at our centres in teaching on regular basis.
Ahh.. M sorry for such long answers. I just couldn't cut it any shorter. I think i can write a short book on Sarthak and its kids. :P

Me: It was an absolute pleasure talking about your organization, the kids, the work you are doing.
Looking forward to help you in some way or the other. :)


Source: People for New India