The enthusiastic and socially responsible students and 3 college going girls from Patil Estate who Pankhudi, Pune had hired as teachers had been teaching a group of kids who were either dropouts or have never been enrolled to schools over the academic year 2008-09. All of them, along with some other interested kids, were enrolled into main stream schools this year in June’09.

Further details below:
Rohit, Nilesh, Raj and Vijay age 5-6yrs and hence could be enrolled in 1st std. Karishma, Sheetal, Ajay, Sagar, Sarika, Vidya and Anjali were age 10-13yrs and hence could not be enrolled in 1st std. As per guidelines/policies, a school principal cannot enroll childred directly in stds other than 1st. Hence, after numerous efforts by Pankhudi volunteers (led by Shrikanth and Ruby); coupled with the relentless guidance and efforts of Mr. Sudhakar Tambe (Adhyaksha, Pune Shikshan Mandal), Mr. Bhushan Nalage (Coordinator, Sarva Shikshan Abhiyan), Sassoon Hospital Children’s Ward, Suhasini Gohad (Medical Social Worker, Sassoon Hospital) and the entire team at Hermann center besides the children themselves; this task became manageable.

This entailed getting age certificates from Sassoon for all kids, getting leaving certificates for kids who were dropouts from a school which is different from the school that they were to be enrolled into, motivating kids and parents, teaching kids, appearing for SSA exam by elder kids on 20-21st April’09, negotiating for admitting younger kids at Bharat English School, and a lot more!
Rohit, Nilesh, Raj and Vijay are enjoying 1st std in Bharat English school these days and studying very well at Hermann center. Anjali and Sagar (both 3rd std), along with Sagar’s sister, have also been regular at Hermann center and Ambedkar School. Vidya (4th std) and Sarika (3rd std) almost regularly go to Ambedkar school, but have not been regular at Hermann center. Sheetal, Karishma and Ajay (all 4th std) are not regular either at Ambedkar school nor Hermann center.

Special efforts are being taken by Pankhudi-Pune volunteers for motivating Sheetal, Karishma, Ajay, Sarika and Vidya with the help of a unique morning batch (6:30am to 9:00am) everyday. Visits to Hermann center, Bharat school and Ambedkar school are being made on every Saturday to review the progress of the children.

This task entailed a lot of effort and commitment on all the parties involved and hence calls for appreciating the efforts taken. Pankhudi-Pune is commited to making this a bigger success than it already is and all efforts are being taken toward the same.