Teach for Change: Initiative that touches, changes lives

Hyderabad: Teach for Change, the Deccan Chronicle-backed initiative to get professionals to teach children in government schools, is now aiming at 1,000 volunteers. It has been so successful that it is being taken other metros.

Teach for Change volunteers told this newspaper that the programme had helped them find the path to self-satisfaction. “We have heard of Corporate Social Responsibility, but Teach for Change has helped us fulfill our Individual Social Responsibility,” one volunteer said.

Chaitanya M.R.S.K., who started the campaign, says Teach for Change is targeting 1,000 volunteers and expansion to Chennai and Bengaluru.

The volunteers at Teach for Change teach English and extra-curricular subjects to students at government schools. Volunteers devise their own curriculum to teach English, but the Indian School of Business has offered to design it to make it more organised.

Sangeetha Rajesh, mentor and special educator at Teach for Change, was apprehensive at the beginning. “The dreams that the volunteers have and their spirit are unbelievable. We have volunteers from all walks of life. The beginning was difficult as they learnt the practical difficulties of teaching. They are not professionals. But we kept discussing and going on,” she said.

Ms Rajesh said she didn’t think that men could remain as committed as women, but admits she has been proved wrong.

Homemaker Jaya Sreekantham said the opportunity to do something for society attracted her to Teach for Change. “I read the article in DC and thought it was the opportunity I was waiting for. I really wanted to do something for society. The children can’t even write their names in English. So we had to start at the very basic level,” she said.

Interior designer Shilpa Balaji is now devoting most of her time to Teach for Change. “My mother worked very hard for my education. And I want to give something back to society. Deccan Chronicle told me how and I am grateful to Teach for Change for the opportunity,” she said.

Speaking of her students, Ms Balaji says, “Kids in government schools are so intelligent and street smart. But they come to school after finishing their household work or with their younger siblings in tow. Some children don’t come after a week. It feels very bad but also strengthens the resolve to do something for them,” she said.

Another volunteer Hema, a housewife, said she used to teach the children of her watchman. When she learnt of Teach for Change, it made her dream bigger. “I thought I could change lives of children in a few days. It’s a lot more difficult and needs perseverance but at the end of the day it gives immense satisfaction to teach them,” Ms Hema said.

Nivedita Varma, 24, an analyst with a software company, said, “My colleague showed me the Deccan Chronicle article on Teach for Change and we applied right away. I liked the training and aspects about child psychology. It was intriguing. If at least 10 out of the 70 kids we teach learn something, it is a job well done.”

Volunteers say that in the end it is not just English but a whole gamut of aspects that they are opened to during the interactions.

“They grew very fond of us. And we discuss a lot of things through English learning. Their thinking is expanding,” Ms Nivedita said.

“I go after my day’s work to teach at government schools and it is rejuvenating. It is like fulfilling Individual Social Responsibility. All of us want to give back to society but don’t know how,” said software professional Y. Ashok, 25.

Teach for Change needs volunteers to support its activities in government schools. Interested persons can reach the initiative at www.teachforchange.in