Playing Santa all year round with the gift of a level-playing field to children from disadvantaged backgrounds

The Revati Nyaan Foundation works mainly towards computer literacy and building English language skills of children from disadvantaged backgrounds. “As today’s generation becomes computer savvy, there is a section of children who have never handled an electronic device. English is also important if they have to compete in the global job market,” said Bhamare.

Some of the children that come to the foundation go to corporation schools, some have dropped out. “A few girls who have dropped out of school come here. Some boys who have joined these classes work early in the morning as newspaper boys or clean dishes at restaurants. These are children of daily wage workers, society watchmen, househelps, delivery boys, etc,” said Bhamare.

The Revati Nyaan Foundation works mainly towards computer literacy and building English language skills of children from disadvantaged backgrounds. (Photo Credit: Special Arrangement)

One of the students, Chandni, left school two years ago. She had completed Class 11 in her village. The pandemic and the economic crisis that followed forced her family to migrate to Pune. It also meant Chandni dropping out of school. She started helping the family survive by working as a househelp. She works the whole day but manages to attend classes early in the morning. She earns eight to ten thousand rupees per month and hopes that with the computer class certificate and operational knowledge she will get a more dignified job.

Bhamare, a medical doctor, said they also deal with issues like domestic violence and addiction. She takes time to educate them about health, environment and other small things that make a difference.

For computer literacy, the foundation runs classes of MS office, scratch coding, MS-CIT and tally. But apart from class learnings, there are sessions on arts and crafts, career counselling and a focussed one on English, a key to opportunities ahead. The students are also taken on excursions like visits to NDA Pune, spa sessions, etc. This year, 20 children went to watch the world cup matches hosted in the city. “I want them to experience things they wouldn’t otherwise experience. Maybe in one of these numerous experiences they find their calling”, said Bhamare who is also their mentor. “They tell me everything, from the ordinary to the dramatic. Every child is heard and healed as far as possible,” she says.

This all started during the Pandemic. Bhamare observed that the children of her househelp had lost their interest in academics. They couldn’t access online education and were just loitering around. So she decided to intervene. “These two three children got their friends on board too and their numbers kept increasing. As people started coming forward with donations, I thought of registering it as an NGO”, said Bhamare.

Bhamare said, “I don’t know where I am going from here. But from a few kids I went to 120 kids. Maybe I am doing something right, that even though it is not compulsory and kids have not paid any fee, they are still showing up every day to learn.”