You, A Volunteer

I joined The Hope Foundation’s Volunteer Programme as a volunteer teacher for Spoken English in February 2022 in one of the Child Care Units. Initially the girls took some time to open up to me and so did I. But gradually, as time passed, they found not only a teacher in me but also a friend and a guide. They lovingly call me a nickname, ‘Raju’. Every Saturday, their smiling faces and glittering eyes makes me forget the stress of the entire week. I realise that they aspire to become successful in life and that they are willing to work hard for it. I hope that I can inspire and guide them to fulfil their dreams. I wish them all the very best. I also greatly appreciate all the staff of the Child Care Unit for being such wonderful guardian to the girls.

My time in ‘Life Skill’ was a learning experience. My role was to prepare an English curriculum and to teach English to the students of ‘Life Skill’. I am humbled by my co-ordinator Sabitri Ma’am, all co-teachers, and students. It was a unique experience which enriched me to think how our educators silently invest in our life. I must appreciate and congratulate ‘Life Skill’ for such initiative. It was a thought-provoking and challenging responsibility as the English curriculum demanded a thorough understanding of the student’s socio-cultural and economical background. These students are underprivileged children of our society and many are state-migrants but their talents know no boundary. During teaching time, I got ample occasion to dialogue with the students, while sharing their life stories they revealed their longing to achieve excellence and their stories helped me to develop the curriculum. The Student’s love and gratitude towards ‘Life Skill’ for such a learning window and passion to rise above their socio-economic situation is praiseworthy. Equally, ‘Life Skill’ is also devotedly encouraging and planting the seed of optimism by sharping the skills of the students. I am grateful for the responsibility to convey English as a ‘language of opportunities’ to the students, which will prepare them compete with the outside world. Truly, a “transformative” step by ‘Life Skill’ to boost the inner confident and exhibit student’s deservingness in the job market. I am thankful to Jhulan Ma’am for such opportunity and boundless awe-inspiring experience. I wish all the best to all the students.

“I know Kolkata like the back of my hand.” I always exaggerated till the day I joined Hope. For me Kolkata was Esplanade, Coffee House, Gariahat, Princep Ghat, Maddox Square bla bla bla with a long list.” But my list never contains the slum behind the Dhakuria AMRI (though I visited the hospital 1000 times before), a shelter for more than 1700 families, the list never has “Ashirbad Boys Home” no less than “a real home” for more than 50 homeless children and many other places full of people from my city I never did care about. Yes, HOPE gives me an insight of my city and the people living there, who were far away from my previous world of fun, enjoyment and carelessness. Coming to the people, I would never know, there is a 6 year old girl living in the roadside of Esplanade, who is way better than me in terms intelligence when I was at her age, there is a differently abled child living in one of the HOPE boys homes whose general knowledge and IQ is higher than most of us, unless I joined this organization.