Rakesh, a resident of a slum in Cuttack, Odisha, worked as an assistant in a small shop in his neighborhood. His daily tasks included organizing shelves, maintaining shop hygiene, and assisting customers. He took great pride in his work, always completing his tasks with enthusiasm. However, deep inside, Rakesh carried a regret.
He felt that if he had completed his education, his life might have turned out differently. Nevertheless, he believed in destiny and accepted his current circumstances.
One day, during his lunch break at 3 pm, Rakesh noticed a training camp that was happening nearby. He had passed by it numerous times before, but this time, he decided to stop and inquire about it.
He asked the trainer what was happening, and the trainer explained that it was a capacity-building camp conducted by an organization called ThinkZone. This camp aimed to train teachers and aspiring teachers to establish educational businesses like coaching centers, with the goal of providing quality education to children in the community. The idea struck Rakesh, and he couldn’t help but think, “If only such opportunities were available when I was a child, my life could have been different.” He smiled and returned to work but continued pondering this idea.
He realized that it was his responsibility to help the children in his community, as he had experienced the challenges they faced firsthand. The following day, Rakesh visited the training camp again and expressed his desire to contribute to the vision. The trainer suggested he become a teacher, but Rakesh, having completed only up to the 8th grade, didn’t believe he could effectively teach children. He thought it might not be fair to them.
Instead, he proposed that he could assist in the operations and ensure the smooth functioning of the learning centers. He would help community teachers set up their centers and manage them effectively.
Rakesh went door to door in the community, motivating parents to send their children to these learning centers.
He assisted eight educators in establishing their centers and helped enroll students. Over time, he not only supported educators in setting up centers.
I was consistently perplexed about what meaningful thing I could do, uncertain about what to pursue. ThinkZone not only assisted me in finding the answer but also provided the support to walk on this path, helping me figure out what I will do.
-RAKESH
He assisted eight educators in establishing their centers and helped enroll students. Over time, he not only supported educators in setting up centers but also learned about program implementation, monitoring, and other operational aspects.
He continued to work with multiple educational and social organizations, dedicating himself to implementing educational programs in his community. Currently, he collaborates with 5 to 7 organizations on a freelance basis, striving to provide quality learning opportunities for children in his slum and nearby areas.
Reflecting on his journey, Rakesh humbly says, “I stumbled upon this opportunity by accident, and it has allowed me to expand my scope of work across various domains.” He is content with his role in the education sector, supporting community teachers and creating a better learning environment for the children in his community.
