A school with a difference

Started by former councillor Lily Bawa around three months ago,the school has students in the age group of six to 13 years coming every evening from five to seven for lessons.

The children mainly hail from nearby Rella and Relli villages and also come from Sector 12 and 12A where their parents are employed as gardeners or domestic helps.

Bawa claims that she always wanted to help these children with their lessons as they did not get much support at home.

“The biggest problem was of space to open the school. I contacted the head of the gurdwara committee and he readily agreed to provide us with the infrastructure. I used to see these children idling away their time after school hours,so I thought of helping them utilise the precious hours learning something constructive,” she added.

The school which initially started with a handful of students now has nearly 40 children dropping in six days a week.

Two teachers not only help the children with homework,but also give them additional lessons on social etiquette,personal hygiene and communication skills.

“Coming from a poor background,these children lack social graces and we are teaching them basic things like saying thank you and please. At times,we also tell them moral stories apart from tips on personal hygiene,” remarks Bawa. She has also shortlisted around 20 meritorious students from the batch who would be given scholarships for academics till completion of their graduation. For this,she says she is in talks with an NGO and cannot reveal much yet.