School starts in Dharavi

Background

Sri Sri Vidya Mandir is the first English medium school that Asia’s largest slum has seen. Today the school has six rooms and classes up to 6th standard. The school introduces a higher standard each year.

Leaping over all the challenges like difficult backgrounds of the children, unavailability of the land and indifferent attitude of the parents towards education, the school has been successful in reaching out more than 220 children and imparting not only formal education but also holistic education.

Stress free school

Most students come from a background where a child has been mentally or physically abused. Children have either been involved in gambling or drugs, and in extreme case the use of weapons. In these circumstances, the school works not only to deliver education but also to strengthen the basic foundation of a child. The school organizes extra coaching classes and annual medical camps which include a full health check.

Teachers and dedicated volunteers conduct regular counseling sessions to help bring a child out of his/her past experiences and empower the child with tools to overcome challenges faced in the family. Regular yoga and meditation integrate these efforts and help children to blossom, completely dropping any past insecurity and develop a shield against any negative influences present in the area.

First generation learners

One of the major challenges faced by the school was to deal with the casual attitude of parents and bringing about discipline and commitment from the children as well as their parents. To achieve the same, the school conducts special counseling sessions for parents and regular parent – teacher meetings.

The parents are also encouraged to get involved with the school activities like medical camps and annual function. This approach gives them an opportunity to be a part of child’s growth.

“Every day is a challenge and a miracle. I wonder how all the needs of school are met. People walk in and voluntarily contribute for whatever the school needs. We want to give the best to our students. We not only want them to be literates but also complete human beings. We are planning to have a separate vocational training school and a library. They love to come to school now and sometimes we have to force them to go back home!” - Shubangi Karamvir, The principal of the school

Developing communities

The presence of the school and its activities play a very important role in strengthening the community as a whole. Apart from this Art of Living volunteers also organize de – addiction camps, awareness campaigns, stress elimination workshops and Youth Leadership and Training Programs to bring peace and harmony in the community.

As an example to this residents were made to convert an approximately four thousand sq.ft. dumping ground into a garden — one of the rare spots of greenery in Dharavi. To know more about the school, click this link.