This Bengaluru Couple Has Changed The Lives Of Children Of Construction Workers By Giving Them Education

Life

The inception of Diya Ghar

The couple started when they sold some the ancestral property that belonged to Saraswathi in December to start off with Diya Ghar. After finishing off with her teaching assignments, Saraswathi enrolled herself in a Montessori training centre. She said, “ We were sure that we wanted to use the Montessori method of education to the kids in Diya Ghar because of the good foundation it gives.”

“These children with whom we intended to work with had several issues like that of malnourishment and developmental delays – the Montessori system is very beneficial because of the emphasis on cognitive development along with physical development. Undoubtedly, it is expensive to set up Montessori pre school and to have skilled teachers but after seeing our own kids benefitting from the system, we would not have settled for something else,” she sounded determined.

Saraswathi pointed out that this was a unique feature of Diya Ghar, as there are hardly any NGOs who are carrying out Montessori training for children.

Getting across to the people have been difficult, I agree. In fact, we have had mixed responses from them. Some of them have been very welcoming and trusting and have agreed to send their children to Diya Ghar. Some, on the other hand, have not been so open.”

On being asked the reason, Saraswathi was candid enough to say, “Well, they are all mostly migrant workers – one day they are here, after some days that might shift to somewhere else. They earn on a day-to-day basis and sparing a thought about their children’s education is a luxury.”

“But we have a wonderful experience last year of seeing a child from our organisation walk through the gates of a government school – that in itself gave us a lot of validation for the work we were carrying out. God willing, we would have three more children who shall go to First Standard next academic year,” she smilingly added.

Diya Ghar’s long-term plans involve getting connected with a number of other NGOs in the city so that even if the workers shift their base, their children’s education goes unhindered.

“Also we have mostly restricted ourselves to the preschools because those are the foundational years for a child which needs to be taken care of – hardly any other options are available for such young kids. Anganwadi is not a good alternative; they are too few and are starved of resources,” Saraswathi explained.

Diya Ghar has the facility of picking up the children from their homes and dropping them back. This, Saraswathi feels, has been a major boost for the parents to send their wards to their institution.

The kids are picked up at 8:30 and brought to school. They are given a wash and changed into their uniform. Then follows prayer and breakfast. The learning process starts off from that time on, till 12:30 when they have home-cooked lunch from Saraswathi’s place. The kids take a nap, and after that, they are kept busy with various activities like that of colouring etc. By 4:15, they have milk and snacks and then they are changed into their home clothes and sent back to home by 4:30-45.

Diya Ghar: the path ahead

“The name Diya Ghar bears the significance of bringing the shining light of education in the lives of everyone, especially those who are underprivileged. We believe that every child is special and it is our duty to give them a wonderful childhood shielding them from negligence, malnourishment, emotional and sexual abuse,” Saraswathi said.

According to her, the biggest difference they have been able to bring about is to provide a safe haven for the construction workers’ kids who used to otherwise accompany their parents to the sites, which is hazardous. “Also we have been able to make them realise that their kids also have potential and are destined to a life better than theirs – this feels like a great achievement for me; we have been able to bring hope to their lives,” she said.

One of the hurdles that Saraswathi faced is that of getting trained Montessori teachers for the children. “ But later I realised that it was not the skill that was so important, it was the urge to do something for these kids that was the driving force. Skilled professionals often have different careers in their mind. So, after that, I started looking for people who were keen to serve, invest in these children – their training part is taken care of by me,” she added.

“Diya Ghar has strengthened my hope that we can make a difference in each life,” she said. “Every seed that we sow, we might not be able to see the fruits it bore, but I feel, we have been called upon to do this service,” she added.

appreciates the work that Saraswathi and Shyamal are carrying out with the children of the construction workers. In her words, Saraswathi feels that she blessed because she has had the opportunity of working with ‘God’s own children’. We wish all the very best to this inspirational couple for their future endeavours – we hope they touch much more through their initiative and brighten up more lives.