Visit to Teja School - Champapet Slum

Date: 6th October 2007
Attendees: Sunil, Karthik, Surya, Tanvi, Sidhartha.

~Pankhudi Hyderabad volunteers visited Teja School at Champapet Slum to have an interactive session with the kids and the teaching faculty of the school. During the previous visit, on the 30 th of September, a complete picture of the ground situation there could not be assessed as it was a Sunday. The visit this Saturday has been very productive; it has acclimatized us with the academic curriculum and activities of the school besides having helped us to get acquainted with the kids (most importantly) and the staff.

Five of us assembled at the school by around 2:30 P.M. Mr.Devender , the founder of the school then briefed us about the working of the school, the challenges that they were facing and the academic schedule and practices that they were following. We then went in to interact with the kids. The kids initially seemed a bit nervous and withdrawn. We indulged them in a few fun filled educative activities like using flash cards and games. All the kids participated actively and a few of them also came forward enthusiastically to recite and enact rhymes for us. This activity served as an ice breaking session with the kids and also enabled us to gauge the standard of education that was being imparted to them.

We also received important info and inputs from the teaching staff of the school. Various issues were discussed ranging from the sanitation and hygiene of the kids and the people residing in the slum, to the resources, challenges and teaching practices that they were following. We also got to interact with a couple of students who were privately pursuing their 10 th standard from the same school. They shared with us their experiences and informed us about the subjects in which they were weak and required help. (No brownie point for guessing the areas of concern are Math’s and English). The activity for the day was wrapped up by 4 pm.

The response and the warmness that we had received from the staff and kids was overwhelming and the details that have been provided to us would prove very beneficial in planning our future activity. Hopefully we have a great association with this school and hope to contribute in the growth and development of these kids!

Documented by - Tanvi Rao,for ~Pankhudi Hyderabad.