A large number of city-run government schools claim to provide education to children living in slums. Quite a few of them do a reasonably good job, but most leave a lot wanting in terms of quality. Funded by the government, the staff is not always qualified, or motivated enough to reach out to those in poverty stricken areas.
Rajesh Sharma owns a grocery store in India. Having faced hard times himself, he was unable fulfill his dream—completing his education. He noticed that children around him, the ones in the slums, were going to school but were not receiving a desirable education. He had experienced firsthand, the difficulties faced by these young students. He wondered how he could balance both running his store and helping these children. This was the thought that came to him seven years ago.
Today, Rajesh is not just a typical store owner. He spends the early hours of the day, running a school for a class of youngsters. The space would require a roof and protection from the elements. He thought of the perfect place—a classroom under a local bridge.
He started with just a couple of children in his class. Over a period of seven years, the number has grown to over 200 children. The class runs from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. daily. Some children continue to go to government funded schools he rest of the day, and Sharma then leaves to run his grocery store.
Sharma had received a decent education himself as far as it went, but he was not able to complete his college education due to financial constraints. He felt he could contribute by imparting some additional bit of knowledge that would bring about a change in their lives.
Several altruistic people in the local area observed his selfless work and appreciated what he was doing, so they have been donating funds that help to buy supplies for the children, like notebooks, pencils and more.
