Teaching children to chase their dreams

It’s like a never-ending tug of war; a struggle between those who want to unleash fear and ignorance and those who strive to make this world a better place for everyone. For every extremist force like a Taliban or Boko Haram, which uses threat, abuse and violence to keep children, especially girls, away from accessing education and building a better future, there are those like Malala Yousafzai and scores of other lesser-known advocates, activists, policy makers, who are working hard to make sure that every child gets to go to school and enjoys equal rights and opportunities.

Ritu Abbhi is one such quiet agent of change, who is teacher, friend, philosopher and guide, all rolled into one, for several children who troop into her home in the national capital region to study and learn special skills. Every afternoon, within a matter of minutes, her quiet living room is transformed into a lively, fun-filled classroom. Children between five and fourteen years of age walk in with their heavy schoolbags, pull out their textbooks, and get ready for “Ritu ma’am” to begin the lessons. As if on cue, their warm and loving teacher comes and greets each one and then takes a look at their work assignments, which largely determine the choice of subjects she takes up.

Of course, Ritu’s classes are an extension of her work as a social activist. “I love reaching out to people in need; it’s my passion. I have always found a way to do something for the community and those lesser fortunate. My association with the Social and Development Research and Action Group (SADRAG), a non-profit that focuses on critical development issues like education, women’s empowerment, child protection and violence, takes me to the grassroots where one gets to closely observe the challenges that rural communities face so that one can come up with workable, sustainable solutions. However, I wanted to do something closer home as well,” she shares.

When she had made up her mind to work with the impoverished families living in the vicinity, Ritu wanted to start small. So, initially, she began by organising informal sessions with the local domestic workers, motivating them to not just understand their rights and entitlements, but also fight for them. “I gave them basic literacy lessons, taught them the nitty-gritty of banking and also talked to them about health and hygiene. The idea was to make them self-reliant and empowered to stand up for themselves and their children,” she says.
Ritu’s concerted efforts to transform them and their attitude were so well-received that when she suggested that they start sending their children for a few hours everyday to study with her, the women jumped at the opportunity. “The response was overwhelming. From the very next day, I had a bunch of enthusiastic children crowding my living room. Enabling children from the neighbouring slum settlements to stay in school and do well is a cherished mission now,” she adds.

The dedicated teacher has bought a whole lot of stationery, notebooks, textbooks and other supplies for her students. While some of them have never stepped into a formal classroom, others are in dire need of assistance to understand as well as complete their school work. “I have 10 to 12 children coming home. All of them essentially hail from homes where there is not enough money to spend on education. Most of them are unable to handle the school work because the elders are illiterate and are totally focused on earning a living to make ends meet. I help them with their homework and assignments and prepare them for exams. For those who are unable to go to school I start with the elementary stuff – alphabets, words, numbers, and so on. We begin at 3 pm and I try to give them all individual attention, spending at least three hours with them.”

But it’s not the curriculum alone that these little ones are taught; Ritu goes all out to ensure that they get a well-rounded education. Classwork apart, she does many activities with them to keep things interesting and engaging. “Most of them are tired after coming back from school, so I like to include fun things for them to do. These are important to keep their interest in studies alive. We play games, draw, paint, sing songs, recite our favourite poems and put up small show-and-tell acts. It’s a great way for them to develop their skills,” she says.

Education is empowerment and the fundamental building block of a fair, free and progressive society. “So how can we be okay with so many of our children being denied access to something that ought to be their birth right? And it’s not enough to just provide schooling; there has to be an emphasis on quality learning and skill development, too. Poor education forces them into a vicious circle of poverty and destitution that they are unable to break out of,” Ritu observes.

Today, her students represent the hope of a better life for their families, as she has made it possible for them to dream big. “I have been able to do so because I have the unconditional support of my family. My two sons are working professionals and when they have time on hand they are ready to chip in,” she says, with a smile.
Everyone has the ability to affect the change they want to see around them. All that is needed is a proactive approach and an empathetic attitude. Ritu’s untiring endeavours toward bringing education to those most in need validate the well-known adage: Charity begins at home.