Kilkari - A learning experience

By Pranjal Dhanda

So, basically it started with Harry, pushing me to write a post for Dil Se blog. And I made a list of the things I wanted to write about and not to write about. I’ll try my best to convey my feelings to anyone kind enough to read this post.

It began on 5th May,2011. Pushpa escorted me into Kilkari, where I saw bunch of girls, combing each other’s hair. Teachers discussing their curriculum. After a quick talk with Anubhav, I laid out my plan to teach English and Maths, which did not work out for long, considering I’m a bad teacher. But I did not give up - I still teach General Knowledge and Science at another NGO.

My first teaching day was just about the girls, to know girls, about their aspirations and dreams. I’ll always remember how Rekha wanted to become an Air Hostess. What is absolutely remarkable is their desire to learn, grow up and change their conditions. The dreams might seem unacheivable to us, but at least it’s a dream. Life’s nothing if you don’t have any dreams. I came close to my one of my favourite students, Razia who didn't even know how to write her full name. She would just write RAZIA ZUB, because this is what’s been written on her locker. My best buddy there has been Deepak. Why won’t he be? He’s my little stuttering rockstar. He used to ask for my phone “ Didi, et fotto lele do na” 

We came there to teach, what we got back was Life. At least I did. Everybody around me knows that I’m happiest when I’m around my little kids. They just make my day. When these children can fall and then stand up, start walking again. Why can’t we? Most of you are familiar with the lives they used to lead, so I won’t ponder over those points. 

The staff at Kilkari is so helpful and open to suggestions, discussion. Especially Farzana ji and Kranti Ji. These two women truly deserve lots of appreciation for what they do. Every day. It is very difficult to teach the children who have gone through the full force of life’ brutality at such a young age. 

There are most things to what I got back from Aman Biradari, besides happiness. I got three great friends. Sarah, Christine and Ramzan, who are just absolute fun to work with. 

Ramzan being the most special one because he used to be a kid at Ummeed, who grew up, studied and now is working with Aman Biradari and getting a SALARY! 

But the most important thing I take away from this ngo is my true calling. For a student who just completed Engineering and was in the classic dilemma of “what to do with my life.” How to use it for good. Why am I here? Aman Biradari surely put the first block to the riddle and yeah, I worked my way from there. 

It is wonderful to finally find out what are you meant to do in life. I truly thank Aman biradari for being the light at the end of the tunnel. 

I will miss those days when children would come running to me when I entered through the iron gates of Kilkari and would say Bye Didi, Bye Didi, till they no longer could see me. 

The kids are adorable and so enthusiastic for their futures and everything Aman Biradari’s doing for them. Yes, they do take things for granted like every kid their age. But they come back appreciating things soon. Littlest things like Reading stories brings the smile on their faces and once you start reading, you’ll never guess, when about 20 children came and sat through your whole story sessions. 

As I said before, you think you are going there to teach. But you end up learning more than you could ever have expected.