Day One:Teach India

A saturday afternoon,all walking anxiously around the new english school at Bandra unable to locate the KEF LABs centre.What were we expecting,some big billboards with the welcome messages,Nahhhh!!!With the help of the faciliator we were directed to the third floor of the building wherin a class had been converted into KEF LABS.Nicely decorated with ribbons & posters,what my friend Yasmine compares to a five star treatment of the room which is agreeable if you have seen various other NGO centres .We chatted with the fellow volunteers and were treated royally with a cuppa of tea and parle biscuits with a prewarning that this kind of treatment is only for today as they do not have the budget to serve us everyday.This is understable.The induction began with a brief introduction and an interesting game.I won the game and i was happy about that,though the game involved a little alertness and pushing to get hold of your seats,i just did tht by unkindly pushing one of the girls to get my seat of honour.What not for the winner title!

This was followed by an information session about KEF LABS taken by Genevi,the english faciliator.We learnt regarding what would be our roles as volunteer and what we need to take care of.The session was good in terms of simplicity and structure.Next session we will be directly interacting with the children our actual work begins then.

Day Zero:Teach India

'Big movements often have small beginnings'.Every beginning needs a changemaker, a leader and followers to make it a movement.A movement with a common thought with a common cause and a common purpose to bring about a CHANGE envisioned by all.I chose to be part of this movement.

Last year missed on the opportunity but this year made sure my application reached before the 15th july deadline.The volunteers were called in for an induction programme at Uttar Bhartiya Sangh Jr college which was just one of the 17 induction centres.With the numbers one can make sure of the overwhelming response.Entering the classroom you get to see an eclectic mix of volunteers right from a lady in her 70's to doctors,homemakers,working professionals,college students.The induction programme began with introduction of the five NGOs Kotak Education Foundation,Prem Foundation,Aasra,AAMRAE and an NGO at Dharavi.The introduction was followed by an interaction with the NGOs and each volunteer was given the choice to choose the NGO he/she wishes to get associated with.

Its wonderful to hear about the great initiatives taken by the various NGOs towards the literacy drive.Sometimes,you start believing that in some ways CSR activities are good atleast the fund and financial help reaches the NGO for their organised and better functioning.The reason being the number of sceptics outweigh the number of philanthropists.Having said that TOI's intiative is incredible in terms of bringing in volunteers to help bridge the education gap.

Its time to teach,it is time to learn.The movement has just begun..........