For the A to Z Blogging Challenge, I’m blogging 26 days in April based on the alphabet and bringing you stories from the nonprofit Project Why.
Today, we talk about Naresh, who has been the longest on the staff of Project Why. At times he looks like a rockstar, and at others, he could be the poster boy for a gym.
But do not be taken in by his looks, Naresh is a stellar maths teacher who can make any child excel.
When Project Why opened its first English class, Naresh had just finished his Bachelors degree and was looking for a job.He loved to teach, and fulfilled this by giving tuitions for neighborhood children, often unpaid. But in a poor home, dreams and aspirations go unheard–Naresh tried his hand at various things, even a two-day stint as a vendor in a shoe shop, amongst others.
But not for long.
Project Why had begun spoken-English classes for secondary students at the time. One day a Class X student came to class with large welts on his arms. He had been brutally beaten in school – corporal punishment still prevails in many Indian schools in spite of laws against it. A visit was planned to said school. The experience was Dickensian. The headmaster kept whirling the stick in his hand to make his point. The boy and other Project Why students were humiliated in front of the Project Why founders. The boys were called guttersnipes and the Principal contemptuously informed them they would never pass their Class X Board Examinations.
Project Why took this up as a challenge. With no funds, no space, no teacher, how do you tutor a bunch of lads for an exam in 2 short months? You need a miracle.
It was the dead of winter, a cold one in 2001. The only space available was the dusty pavement in front of the Project Why Center. The only time available with the students was from 7.30 to 9.30 am. The only teacher available was Naresh. Every morning ten students assembled in front of the center, some mats were laid out and Naresh and his boys sat in a circle for study. The cold was kept at bay by cups of tea graciously offered by Naresh’s family.
The challenge had to be won, and it was. Project Why’s secondary outreach had seen the light of day. Naresh has since almost single-handedly ensured the success of hundreds of boys and girls who have successfully cleared their Board exams. One of his students secured a 100%. Most of his students top their respective schools.
To Naresh, teaching a student is a mission he cannot fail. When exams approach, he schedules extra classes and teaches at the crack of dawn or late into the night. A feat for one who likes a morning lie-in and a late session with his pals! On exam days he’s as nervous as his students if not more, and waits for their return so he can find out how it went. Come result day, his nails are bitten to the quick as he scours the internet, his students in tow.
Recently, when he went for a visit to the Project Why Okhla Center and found out that the senior secondary students were weak, he rescheduled his timetable and took them under his wings. He never seeks extra compensation. Naresh often tells his students that he wishes there had been a Project Why when he was growing up.
Without Naresh, it would be difficult to imagine Project Why.
If this story touched you, Donate to Project Why, CLICK HERE.
To Contact Project Why, Click Here
Â
Please join Daily (w)rite on its Facebook Page if you’d like to be heard by this community. If you liked this post, you can have biweekly posts delivered to your inbox: click the SUBSCRIBE button in the sidebar. The daily posts are only for April: I’m doing 26 posts on the fab nonprofit Project Why for my A to Z Challenge.
It’s great to read that the results bring reward for this dedication! 😉
Hi Damyanti – Naresh sounds a complete star – how lovely to read he’s helping so many students – Project Why certainly give us, the readers, high standards to keep up to … wonderful to read – cheers Hilary
A very special story about how one person can make a lifelong beneficial difference to many other people. Thank you.
Teachers are worth double their weight in gold! Without them the world would be lost!
What a great teacher! Thanks for sharing his story 🙂 https://spookymrsgreen.com/2016/04/16/atozchallenge-n-is-for-novelist/
Another true hero for Project Why.
Another inspiring story from this inspiring project. Thank you, Damyanti.
Each of these stories is so beautiful and inspiring. I hope they will be compiled into a book? They really should be.
Bravo Naresh!
Joy @ The Joyous Living
He goes above and beyond, a rare trait these days.
What a horrible headmaster. He should not be involved with children.
So many people with such a giving heart. Naresh is a real asset to your project. Thank you for sharing such warm and loving people with us.
Naresh is truly an asset and we are blessed to have hi with us at Project Why
You can tell by his picture that he’s a man who enjoys what he does.
Naresh is one of the most dedicated and enthusiastic teachers we have. He is completely in love with his job! Thank you for your kind thoughts.
Good for him. Really, education needs to be knocked down to the basics: giving the kids a chance to succeed.