Khushi and Laxmi hail from an outskirts slum in Bhubaneswar, where they’ve been friends since childhood and are currently studying at the same college pursuing their B.Ed. Both harbor dreams of securing government jobs and becoming full-time teachers after completing their B.Ed. However, the challenge lies in the fact that their slum, situated on the outskirts of the city, lacks educational facilities.
The only available option is the government school. The duo faces limited opportunities for extracurricular studies since the city’s skill development and employability organizations don’t extend their services to this small community of around 50 families residing in the outskirts area. Recognizing the need for change, Bandita ( Program Coordinator – ThinkZone ) decided to focus on this neglected area. Initially, Bandita was skeptical about finding suitable youths for our EmpowerEducators program. Moreover, the remote location presented challenges for regular training due to transportation issues. Despite these concerns, Bandita ventured into the area and discovered that only two girls, Khushi and Laxmi, were pursuing college education.
Khushi and Laxmi were delighted to learn about ThinkZone’s program. They recognized its potential to impact children within their community. They were particularly enthused about the idea of benefiting local children who lacked educational opportunities after school hours. However, the geographical distance posed a challenge. Bandita assured them that transportation would be arranged, and they would receive access to the ThinkZone App for continued learning even outside the training sessions. The training commenced, and within a few days Khushi and Laxmi started their learning center, but initially, no children came there. Most parents were unaware of the program. To address this, Khushi and Laxmi initiated a door-to-door campaign, explaining the importance of the learning center. Their efforts paid off, and on the first day, 11 children attended the learning center. Though in their initial days, Khushi and Laxmi consistently secured top positions on the ThinkZone app’s leaderboard.
At first, it was just Khushi and me. But with our efforts, we brought eleven children to our class. Our impact isn’t just on us; it’s on these eleven kids. Playfully in class, we say, ‘1+1 isn’t just 2 for us; it’s 11!
-LAXMI
They dedicate time to reading, managing classes, and handling administrative tasks. Expressing their gratitude, Khushi and Laxmi acknowledge that while they were initially hopeful for jobs, Bandita Ma’am made them realize they could be self-employed. With guidance from ThinkZone, they believe that starting is not as challenging as it seems. They extend their thanks to the entire ThinkZone team for providing the necessary guidance and support.
