Children of Bherkhampur Mohalla slum enjoying singing with their family members lead by The art of living volunteers.
In the Bherkhampur Mohalla of Lucknow, on the banks of the Gomati River, is a colony of maids and rag pickers. Children belonging to the families that reside here pick rags in and around the railway station, and other areas of the city. They start work early morning and go on till late in the evening. The women clean homes, cook for families and do household work.
Sometimes, the children are given the additional responsibility of looking after their younger siblings, and therefore cannot attend a regular school. The Art of Living has started coaching classes for such children during the evenings, in one of the huts, and they are educated under the leadership of Ratna Prakash.
In 2013, a small hut with an area of 200 sq.ft., was constructed and a school was started there. It has now become a favorite place for the local children, and they are keen to study even after a long and tiring day. The classes are conducted from 5 p.m. to 7:30p.m. and more than 60 children are educated here. Two graduates, Rajesh and Pawan, have been appointed as teachers.
The classes begin with chanting and pranayam, which help the children to calm down and increase their concentration. Teaching is done with the use of charts, games and activity-based learning, and includes poetry to sustain the children’s interest in class, according to the teachers.
Occasionally, volunteers visit the place to celebrate their children’s birthday with other children in these areas. Children look forward to the song and dance sequences taught by volunteers Ratna, Namita and Ranjana, said Pawan.
Special meals are organised for the children on certain occasions, and warm clothes are distributed among them just before the commencement of winter. Several activities are organised by Alok, Rati, Namita and Ranjana who have made the mission of educating children a big success.
Reported by : Hanumant Singh
