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Straight from the heart

Young NRIs Anila and Neha prefer social work to a luxurious vacation

In control Neha and Anila find joy in teaching children

Two teenagers opt to spend their vacation teaching schoolchildren from morning to evening without a trace of weariness. Something to write home about. Anila and Neha have been born and brought up in the USA. They could have gone on a Europe tour, pla yed soccer or just relaxed at home watching television for an entire month.

A chance visit by an acquaintance of their parents’ introduced them to the concept of an NRI-run school for the economically backward children in the slums of Hyderabad. “It was then that the idea was born last year. We were just waiting for a fairly large break from school to come over to India and gain some real time experience working on humanitarian ground. And here we are,” says Neha cheerfully.

California-based Anila explains why the same service could not be taken up closer home. “In the US, you can work in a law firm, or a corporate but when it comes to teaching in a school, the regular teachers will not give up their classes to accommodate us. It’s got to be after school hours when we have to ask students to stay back and try teaching them. That’s not what we were looking for.”

“Back in the US we have started something called Alpha Reach, an interactive portal to enable many other youngsters to join us in the cause of serving the under-privileged kids. Our website www.alphareach.org has just been launched. We both have come here as pilots. We want to go back and send some of our friends,” says Neha who is in her twelfth grade in New Jersey.

Do the children here listen to their kid teachers? “We are teaching class VI and IX – all the three sections. Initially we were not taken seriously but then that’s only for a day or two. Later, we were seriously into teaching English, Math and Biology which the kids picked up fast going by the review lessons,” say the little teachers.

The nervousness has weared off for Neha who feels the kids love and understanding has made her a favourite with her students. “They have no problem in communication, they are good in English,” echoes Anila.

The ICFAI Republic School, an NGO housed at Kukatpally, takes care of all the basic necessities for the underprivileged children providing them with quality education, nutritious food and smart clothing, which is one of the reasons that tempted the girls to come over to Hyderabad. Its not just all work and no play for the duo. “We have gone over to the Chudi Bazar, enjoyed Paradise biryani and had mouth-watering dosas at Chutneys.” It comes as a pleasant surprise that Neha is a black belt having completed seven grades in five years and Anila is a Bharatanatyam dancer who will be giving her ‘arangetram’ in the coming year. “We are going to miss them,” is the best compliment the young teachers got from their students as they got ready to leave for their home.

RANEE KUMAR

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