India's most unique school shows money can't buy happiness as it gives poverty-stricken children and teachers a new lease of life while teaching outside in the street under the shade of a tree.
The school is run by the Sunaayy Foundation, a team of dedicated women determined to empower underprivileged kids from the slums of New Delhi.
The foundation was started in 2009 by Richa Prasant.
"I finally decided to follow my heart and left behind a corporate job to help and empower kids from slums," she says.
"In the whole journey, my family and friends have been my constant support and have played a vital role in the school's foundation."
The programme runs across three locations in the capital, where children are taught in the most cost-effective and straight-forward manner, using blackboards, picture charts, colours, activities like storytelling and dancing.
This footage was filmed on Tuesday (February 20).
+CREDIT: RAVI MISHRA+
By
Deepali Ravi Mishra
Breaking all stereotypes, this 8-year-old learning centre that operates under a tree in New Delhi, India is a unique and magical place to learn and share happiness with innocent, young souls.
Based on a simple makeshift model of education, The Sunaayy Foundation which is a team of dedicated individuals working towards strengthening the roots of the nation aims to empower underprivileged kids from the slum clusters of India who get left out from going to a school and nurtures them in the most cost-effective and honest manner, using black-boards, picture charts, colours, activities like storytelling, dancing and much more.
"It was in 2009 when I finally decided to follow my heart and left behind a corporate job to help and empower kids from slums. In the whole journey, my family and friends have been my constant support and have played an vital role in the school's foundation", says Mrs Richa Prasant, the founder of the Sunaayy Foundation.
From 10 to 200, the number of children has increased gradually over the years. Currently, the programme operates at three locations in the capital, the one at Vasant Kunj being the oldest one.
A regular school with dedicated teachers, Sunaayy operates from Monday to Friday under the trees on the pavements and inside government parks, and aims at providing a clean learning environment to children and teaching the basics of cleanliness, hygiene, health, elementary maths, general science and knowledge to keep them well updated and away from getting addicted to drugs or thefts that is commonly prevalent among such kids whose parents leave them at home to take care of the house.
The learning process is such that it improves the overall personality and understanding of the children and instills a sense of belonging.
An amazing dimension attached to the programme is of women who are also getting empowered and are finding a new identity for themselves after becoming a part of Sunaayy. As teachers in the learning center, these women who also come from the same slums have discovered a new way of life and share the much-needed sense of responsibility that has helped them come out of the restricted world inside their homes.
Above all, the zealous presence of selfless people in the community is the strongest aspect of the whole programme. Right from pulling out kids from the slums to spending their time, money and skills,the people and volunteers are the backbone of the organisation who have helped kids by giving them ice-creams on a sunny day, offering winter uniforms to all, and so on.
This programme which aims to bridge the gap between the resourcefully rich and poor in the society is, undoubtedly, the result of heartfelt prayers, pure love and blessings.
In its own way, Sunaayy has contributed immensely towards adding meaning to several lives. It is, indeed, the purest example of the fact that money can't buy everything in life and that pure happiness comes through service. In its attempt to empower more such disadvantaged children and women, Sunaayy is looking for willing individuals, groups or corporate firms for some support and is open to receiving all kinds of donations and help in terms of time, skills, resources or efforts.
Video shot & Edited by Ravi Mishra
