Sector-6: Helping Hands for the Hoping Hearts

Helping Hands for the Hoping Hearts

Children are the living form of God. Everyone gets attracted by their smile, cuteness and innocence. All parents try to give their children the best in everything. But some of them fail, due to their economic condition, background or profession. Some are very poor and due to their bad economic condition; they are bound to send their children to work. At an age when they are supposed to work for their dream, they work to feed their family. There are many children, who are very talented but due to lack of resources  quit their education after a certain time period. Some are even unaware of school. We come across these types of children daily. AASRA aims to help those underprivileged children to some extent. In 2013, it included Sector-6 as one of its workplaces. It is one among those areas, where due to poverty children don’t get proper education. Not exactly a slum but somewhat underdeveloped.

   Temples on the mountains, small streams, greenery are all combined in such a way that anyone can fall in love with this place. The evening prayers, lights, ringing bells of temples bring peace in mind. The beautiful holy place inculcates spirituality. ‘Jagannath Ashram’ is also a part of Sector-6. Here, the majority of people are daily wage workers. AASRA helps nearly 35 families of Sector 6 by guiding 40 children in studies.

There are forty members who frequently visit Sector-6. Weekly the members go for 3-4 visits. Sector-6 is approximately 15Km from NIT campus area and auto is the common mode of transport. Arup Bhaiya, a benevolent resident of Sector-6 plays a very important role. He takes the AASRA members to Sector-6 in his auto for every visit. Never once does he ask for his payments and has to be forced to accept the auto fares every time. Whenever members go for a visit the children always welcome them with their smiling faces. Apart from studies the club also teaches them many other things. Although everyone is not good at studies, many are good in other activities like sports, dance, singing etc. Therefore, not only studies but other events too like sports, dance, debate etc. are conducted to enhance their skill and knowledge in extra-curricular activities. Children eagerly participate in their respective fields where they are

good at. AASRA’s annual event at Innovision, LSY is one among those that kids are always excited about. It helps them expand their knowledge in the world of science. Those who are good at studies are given special attention for JNVST (Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya Test) and other scholarship tests. Peer learning is followed so that each child can clear their doubts within themselves. Some senior kids like Meera and Rakesh are quite capable of teaching the smaller children. They help the smaller kids by guiding them. It evolves the spirit of a teacher in them. Festivals like Diwali, Dussehra, Holi, Raksha Bandhan creates a unique atmosphere here. Celebrating these festivals with these kids is a blissful experience.

Not only the children here, the club also tries to help their family. ‘Diya Project’ is one such initiative, which is conducted during Diwali. The underemployed women of the community make Diyas which are then sold in the campus to generate seasonal employment for them. Arup Bhaiya and all community members dominantly contribute to Diya Project. People here are very good at making handicrafts too.

Every year AASRA gives prizes to some children for their all-round performance and sincerity in studies. Last year the “best boy” prize was given to Rakesh from Sector-6. In one of our biggest achievements last year, Sector-6 had a hundred percent result in 10th board exams in a place where passing the matriculation is still not that common. Last year, Ajay Raban from Sector-6 also got a job in Bangalore after completing Hotel management under PMKVY. Later, he moved back to Rourkela to work at Sarovar court and has now bought a bike and helped in his sister's marriage.

Everyone in the club prefers to behave more like an elder brother/sister than a teacher to those hoping hearts. Children share their problems and dreams with us and are always excited to learn new things. Now they know about education and the importance of being educated. They see bigger dreams and have set out on a journey to fulfil them. The bond between the members and the children has grown into something quite unique and special.

While there is no doubt that these efforts are causing some changes there is still a long way to go. Our society needs more awareness and helping hands. We look forward to the times ahead with hope.

                                                                    - Content by Manaswinee Karan