A Tale of Tuition Centers!

Ahmedabad ‘Chali’ Tution Center (ACTC)

This project took off sooner than envisaged. A free-of-cost tuition center for the not-so-privileged kids in Maninagar, Ahmedabad has now been operational since Jan end. Currently, we help kids from standard 5-7 with their difficulties in Maths, Science and English, 8 hours a week. We intend to commence exercises on “critical thinking” or “values inculcation” shortly, looking to increase the probability that the young ones grow up to be thinking and responsible citizens unlike many hailing from their sort of background. Whatever we have done thus far could be realized only through the admirable sustained efforts of Ruchi, Jay, Ankita, Dolly and their gang – our teachers! Quite inspirational work at such a young age, esp. by Ruchi – my little sister I can never be adequately proud of – and Jay who both are just about half way through their Bachelor’s in Computers. This idea was actually conceived by Sejal when she came to know of the existence of this ‘chali’ through her maid. The two of us, then, started visiting the chali a couple of times in every Ahmedabad visit. The fact that we had to make four home visits in a relatively short span of time helped this cause. Things soon fell in place – We had people in terms of family and friends and a place offered by a family from the community. By the final day of our last visit, we were taking the first class of the center. Let me not miss out on mentioning the contributions of Seju’s mom, Archit, Harita, Gauri Aunty and mom in getting this on board. If any of you ACTC guys are reading, the next challenge for us is to sustain what we have and begin the work on the “values/thinking” aspect.

Community Computing Center (C Cube)

Since March, some of us, AIDers, have been involved in running a free computer center for some economically backward slum kids, near IBM, on the Bannerghatta road. For most of them, this was the first time they were exposed to a PC they can operate. So, we have just been doing basics thus far – identifying various computer components, getting familiar with the OS, using painting software, among other things.

I know that teaching computers to slum kids isn’t a social activity that finds unequivocal approval form all parties. Indeed, there is merit in the argument that higher preference should be given to crying issues such as fairer (higher) wages, health-care, social security, addiction and work conditions. Sady, for many part-time contributors like me, the availability of time is a limiting factor in effectively contributing towards these fundamental needs of slum dwellers. Achieving higher wages for construction labourers or better work conditions for female garment workers is a herculean task which demands dedicated activism – sensitizing/awakening people and protesting/fighting against government and/or corporate forces, over a considerable length of time. So, many find the task of teaching their only feasible way of making regular weekly contributions.

I concede that teaching school subjects like science, math, English and accounts will always bear more fruit, and we are determined to expand the center to cover all of them. We began with computer only because kids are naturally drawn towards it (a sophisticated toy in many of their eyes), making our task of motivating them to attend the sessions easier. Having said all this, activism leading to systemic changes, beyond any doubt, is the ultimate sustainable solution, from a non-governmental perspective. Thanks to organizations like ivolunteer and SJS, I have had the opportunity to partake in some protests of this kind, the latest of which was one on human trafficking.

PS: Even after the course is done, we plan to keep the center going for twin purposes: the kids stay hands-on, and through them, the elders see beyond their limited horizons through the power of internet.

[New] Articles on C Cube in The Hindu and Citizen Matters