Mahesh - an orphan

The story of Mahesh, age 11 years - In our lane there is a family who has a mobile tiffin centre in a busy area. They hired a child labour, Mahesh as a helper. His job is to clean the plates and serve the customers. He worked there for almost two months. Unfortunately, Mahesh was thrown out of the job and didn't pay salary for the days he worked.

I happened to talk to him a night. My aim was to join him in a hostel, so was explaining him the benefits of joining hostel with the help of child help line people. To my surprise, he gave a list of hostels he ran out from. Mahesh doesn't want to live in hostels, he had had brutal experiences in prison like hostel. He is strongly decided to stay away from hostels.

After a week I called him my home and inquired about his family. "My parents expired ages, I didn't see them since my birth; I have a sister younger to me. My sister and I brought up at my aunt's home for few years. She admitted to a hostel and studying there. I came to Hyderabad in search of a job. I happened to live in three to four hostels, but couldn't live in such jail like home, so ran off..." he said. A big question in front of me. Where should I keep this boy, how come his feeding, and education? Though, I told him to join my tution the very next day. Amazing! he is above average student to his level, he can read and write Telugu(mother tongue), English as well. Even he is good in Math basics. I decided firmly to join him school in the coming academic year. Mahesh is little or more interested in continuing his studies. As for now, he is staying in a broken old house. There is no roof for the room; doing small jobs in near by houses and eating here and there. My mind and heart sinked at the sight. Wanna do something, but how? My family won't allow to give him shelter, (as ours is 10x10 sq ft area, insufficient for us to live);God listened to my words at last! he got a small shelter in one of my alumni student's house. He welcomed him to stay without paying any rent (as for now). I was really happy for getting him a shelter.

What I observed from other students was, everyone came forward to contribute for the living of Mahesh. It's a good sign in fact, sowing a seed of humanity at an early age. Glad and satisfied to see their helping nature.

a day at zphs

After deploying the virtual classroom setup in the school, had conducted an assessment - oral and written to see how far virtual classroom teaching is effective. EFF volunteers turned teachers for sometime, they invigilated, guided, motivated and inspired the pupils in many aspects.

There are some bitter moments in this trip. Most and most of the pupils coming school barefoot from long distances. OMG! barefoot in hot summer! it's intolerable. When I asked the reason for not buying foot wear, they simply smiled and never regret their status of living. Tears rolled my eyes. Few pupils carrying books in hands, they don't have bags to carry the books. What a pity! still Indian farmers leading life with less than $ 2 a day. We have to do something to uplift their status. At least donate foot wear to save their little feet from burning hot sun.

Ended the school with a get together in the school campus.Distributed gifts for the GK quiz winners, in a big open auditorium. For the first time I spoke in front of 400+ pupils. It's my turn to speak on the dais, I was not scared actually, but ran out of words therefore my speech tumbled and fumbled. Shocked to see Sai Sudheer's [one of the EFF volunteer] speech. He spoke in pure Telugu, with huge huge words to explain benefits of virtual classroom and pitfalls of stereo type teaching. Disappointed for not carrying a video cam to shoot, it was really good.

At the same time we enjoyed the trip either; though summer started, the greenary in the fields feasted our eyes, for a moment we halted at some scenic spots and gone out for a photo shoot. Wow! I love to be in the country side.

This trip sensitized me in many things. There are so many questions, and challenges in front of me...