In today’s time, education is not something that is limited to schools and colleges. Today its roots are going deep into the soil of the country. And to help these roots get a firmer hold, there are several people, companies, organizations, NGOs, who act as fertilizers and support the sources to become robust. Now, before we begin to swim deep into the ocean and explore a few NGOs working tirelessly towards education, let us first understand the importance of education and NGOs.
What is Education?
Education, a word that holds power to transform the entire nation and take it towards a better future. There was a time when education was a scarce resource. But now, when someone wishes to get educated, numerous resources are available to get him the kind of education he desires.
Education is essential not only because it helps us become who we want to but also extends our mental capabilities and allows us to think in the right direction. Education helps us widen our perspective regarding what is right and what is wrong and take it to another level. It helps us to devise effective ways to make a better living for one and all. Education helps us rise above the unjust social norms, beliefs, practices
What is a Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO)?
To you, an NGO may sound like an organization that helps the poor or the underprivileged ones to avail of a certain standard of living. To some, it might seem as a hoax that runs on donations, and they do nothing for the betterment of people. But friends, take out a day and visit a child who is looked after by an NGO. He will tell you that it is a shelter that makes him feel at home. It is the case that protects them and is a blessing for them. They help them rebuild their lives. They teach them to laugh and to get up after they fall and what not.
Now, since we know the importance of education and NGOs, let us take a look at such NGOs that have been working tremendously hard towards the growth of education.
Teach for India
The organization is led by Shaheen Mistri and helps underprivileged children to get the best access to education. It started in 2008 with the mission of infusing committed youths as the teachers into the education system. NGOs hire the youth under a two-year fellowship program to help them get connected to the real education system. The hired teachers are then asked to teach courses in remote areas, so they can understand the importance of their role to bring about a change in the education system.
Pratham
The organization is led by Madhav Chavan and Farida Lambay, with a mission of filling the gap in the educational system. Pratham is working with the youths and the children in the slums of Mumbai city to bring about a change in the education system. It focuses mainly on high quality but low cost and replicable interventions to better the education in the slums.
Barefoot College-India
Inspired by the ideals of Mahatma Gandhi, this organization, led by Bunker Roy, is a voluntary organization that believes in the limitless potential of the rural people. Their primary focus is not only limited to education, but also works in the field of health, safe drinking water, skill development, women empowerment, and electrification through solar power. They are dedicated to sustainable development in each community where poverty resides.
The Akshaya Patra Foundation (TAPF)
Set up in 2000 and situated in Bengaluru, the organization addresses malnutrition and education for deprived youngsters. Operating on a public-personal partnership model affords sparkling and nutritious food to kids in government and authorities-aided faculties as an enforcing business enterprise for the authorities’ noon meal schemes. With an imaginative vision that no infant shall be deprived of schooling due to starvation, it targets to feed 5 million youngsters till the end of 2025. TAPF specializes in a generation to assist their operations, with its ultra-modern kitchens receiving international acclaim. Today, TAPF is the most significant not-for-run noon meal program, serving 1.76 million youngsters in 12 states. On February 11, 2019, it commemorated the serving of three billion sustenance.
Akanksha Foundation
In 1991, Shaheen Mistri, along with a few friends, set up the organization in a lecture room and at the holy-call high school in Mumbai. 60 afterschool facilities were set up over the subsequent sixteen years, the assistance of instructors and volunteers, to help 3,000 atypical children. This college venture was a collaborative effort of the foundation and the municipal corporations of Mumbai and Pune. Today, it runs 21 colleges in the towns. It works to design robust teams and structures that can ensure progress in student success, child development, and community engagement. It develops remarkable educators, empowers teachers with best practices in pedagogy, and guarantees stakeholders are held liable for pupil development.
Child’s Right and You (CRY)
Rippon Kapur and his six friends began CRY with ₹50 and an urge to enhance the plight of underprivileged Indian youngsters. CRY acted as a link between people who wished to contribute sources, with organizations that lacked sources. Today, it works as a successful NGO of satisfied, wholesome, and creative children. Their rights are covered in a society built on respect for dignity, justice, and fairness. The NGO also plays a vital role in advocating for baby rules.
There is an endless list of NGOs working for education, such as Kartavya, Saakshar, Bhumi, Digantar, Manzil, SCMOL, Prerna, Parivar, SPID, and many more. These institutes are striving endlessly to provide children and youth with opportunities to learn from scratch and develop into responsible individuals. NGOs are acknowledged for their presence to revive humanity every day. Every individual must contribute to the cause in whichever manner they can. If someone can give in monetary contributions, they must do so. In case an individual can come forward for help through resources, they must step forward. The rural conditions of the country can only be uplifted through education, one and all are aware of the same, and now, it is time to act.
