The girls wanted to teach basic literacy skills to mothers in their locality who were not educated. They held weekly classes where 4 mothers learned to write their names. Through regular practice with slates at home and in class, the mothers gained confidence in their writing. At a celebration party, the girls presented the mothers with framed photos as gifts. Both the students and teachers felt proud of their accomplishments and want to continue classes to learn more.

1. A DFC 2012 PROJECT BY ANANDO

2. POONAM
AMRITA
All of us live in
the same locality
and have been
friends for a long
time. So we AMISHA
decided to work
together for this
year’s DFC
project POOJA
SARASWATI

3. Our mothers
are very dear
to us and we
wanted to do
something for
them

4. While we all go
to school many
of our mothers
are not literate.
Whenever they
have to sign a
letter or
document they
give their thumb
impressions

5. We wanted to
change that …we
wanted them to
be able to say
confidently that
they could sign!
And we could
teach them
ourselves!

6. We visited the
houses in our
locality and
talked to our
mothers, aunts,
grannies and
neighbors to
learn of their
views

7. We asked them
about when
they had spare
time and how
often they
could get
together.
10 ladies
showed an
interest in our
venture!

8. With the help of
our mentor we
drafted a letter
and took
permission to
use the local
community room
We could now
meet here every
Sunday
afternoon.

9. It was now time
to get ready for
our teaching
experience!
We collected
paper, pens,
slates , chalk and
dusters …making
sure everything
was clean and
ready to use.

10. Before long our
classes had
started !
Out of the 10
ladies, 4 came to
learn. But we
were not
disheartened…..
it would help us
teach more
effectively we
felt.

11. We held our
classes for 1 hour
every Sunday
afternoon.
In between we
encouraged them
to keep
practicing. The
ladies could take
the slates home
to do so.

12. Those who were
not teaching
helped with
organizing tea,
alerting
everyone when
the classes would
start and
generally
running errands.

13. One of the
mothers
already knew
how to sign
her name .
But she
wanted help
to perfect the
letters and
improve the
way she
wrote.

14. Another wanted
to learn at home
as she felt shy
about coming to
the community
centre, which is a
public place.
So one of us
taught her at
home.

15. Soon
everyone was
writing their
names
confidently !

16. And then they
were writing
with pens as well
as with chalk.
We were
surprised to see
that it was more
difficult for the
ladies to write in
pen than in
chalk.

17. SUCCESS!

18. We wanted to
give something
to the ladies to
reward them for
their efforts and
help them
remember this
experience.
So we made
picture frames
and inserted
their own
photographs in
them.

19. On the last day we
had a party! We
held it at Amisha ‘s
house and all of us
played hosts.
Amisha thanked
everyone and then
we presented the
gifts to our
students.

20. All the ladies spoke
of their childhood
experiences with
education and why
they never went to
school. There were
some interesting
stories there!
They also said that
they would now be
proud to ask for a
pen every time they
had to sign rather
than extend their
thumbs.

21. We were a bit scared at
first as we thought that
the ladies would not listen
to us and we would get
scolded at every turn! But
it turned out just the
opposite……
It did not matter that
only 4 came. We were
able to teach them
better.
The last day when
everyone was so happy BAHUT BAHUT
gave us a warm glow BAHUT MAZA
inside. It was the best They can hold their AYA!
day! heads high now!

22. All the ladies
want to learn
more !
We are planning to set
up more classes and
teach them basic
numbers and reading
skills in the coming
months