Conversations Today Your journal about the world of NGOs and Social Enterprises RNI No.TNENG/2013/52428 | Volume 6 | Issue 9 | September 2018 | 12 Pages | For Free Circulation Only | www.msdstrust.org PUBLISHED BY: P.N.SUBRAMANIAN on behalf of Manava Seva Dharma Samvardhani, COVER STORY 391/1, Venkatachalapathi Nagar, Alapakkam, Chennai - 600 116 and printed by him at FOR THE LOVE OF WORDS Express Press, Express Gardens, No.29, About Katha, an NGO based in New Delhi, that Second Main Road, Ambattur Industrial Estate, brings children living in poverty into reading and Chennai - 600 058. Phone : 044-42805365 quality education Editor : Marie Banu 6 Alumni Talk Profile Chit Chat Promising a good beginning Freedom In-Step With Progress “I wake up every day feeling alive to my responsibilities.” Satyadev’s efforts to revive About Freedom For You interest in vedic mathematics Foundation, an organisation An exclusive interview with 3 and Abacus in pre-school 9 based in Navi Mumbai 12 Mr M. Mahadeven education Focus 2 Conversations Today • September 2018 Buy your fancy stuff FROM THE from an Indian slum EDITOR One woman is helping to transform Asia’s biggest slum into a global online market place. Dear Reader, “If you can read this, thank a teacher.” – Harry Truman All those who have been a part of any learning or training process or have been through the education system are aware of the significance of teachers. Teachers are like lamps that spread knowledge, awareness, and help channel the innate intelligence of students into something truly fulfilling and enriching. Teachers not only play a crucial role in imparting knowledge, but also help to inculcate compassion, empathy, and shape the perceptions of learners. Our parents are the first teachers in our lives and impart the most important values of life since the day we are born, for learning remains a lifelong process. However, once we join school, the role of a teacher becomes very important, as we look up to them for knowledge, guidance, and encouragement. The hard-work and efforts that teachers put in building the future citizens of the nation should always be appreciated and applauded. It takes a big heart to shape little minds, and celebrating Teachers’ Day is just a way of thanking and expressing our gratitude to them. In India, 5th of September is celebrated as Teachers’ Day - the birthday of a great teacher Dr. Sarvapalli Radhakrishnan, who was a staunch believer of education, a well-known diplomat, scholar, and former President of India. This day is one of the most special days in a student’s as well as a teacher’s life. Our parents will always remain to be as our first and last teachers, but the Ma’am, if I may ask, what business have you in together, Dharavi has a high concentration of contribution of our teachers in our lives is “Dharavi?” Nayeem enquired. artisans and craftsmen. also invaluable which we must recognize The driver was surprised, yet careful to tame his These are hardworking people. And though they and cherish all our lives. They are curiosity with a measure of politeness. “Dharavi is earn little, they seemed quite content and happy responsible to a great extent for where we slum area, you know? Many poor people. Not safe.” to me. are today, and therefore let us show our I’d heard much about this infamous “largest slum respect and gratitude to them. in Asia” in the heart of Mumbai, India, and wanted Making a difference to see it for myself. So how does an online business like – Marie Banu Besides, Nayeem had also pointed out that DharaviMarket.com make any difference to them, I the finest leather bags and wallets, including the wondered. branded stuff, were made right here in the slum. What do they do with the extra money they earn As I walked around the maze of narrow from online sales – the money that doesn’t go to a alleyways in between makeshift shelters, I was wholesaler or traditional retailer? greeted by friendly nods from shopkeepers One of the artisans, Abbas, had a simple and artisans, as well as children with oversized response: “Instead of working every day, they now backpacks running around shouting “Hi!” as they allow themselves to take a day off every now and trailed behind me. again.Now with this additional income, we can take The place was full of life and colour, and I our families out to enjoy.” wanted to take in everything. I like the idea that my buying of a wallet or bag could contribute to a parent taking some time off Craftsmen from a 15-hour-a-day, 7-day work week, to spend it EDITORIAL Sombodhi, my contact, told me that Dharavi with his children. is home to many migrants – some estimate that —A story by Our Better World – the Latha Suresh one million people live here – who’ve come from digital storytelling initiative of the Singapore surrounding rural areas hoping to find better work International Foundation Marie Banu opportunities. (www.ourbetterworld.org) Along with a hotchpotch of cultures coming Design: Blink Foundation 3 Alumni Talk Conversations Today • September 2018 Promising a good beginning Arietis is a for profit venture that intends to revive interest in vedic mathematics and Abacus. ducation is a very personal journey Efor every child. Its reception is determined by not only methods and children’s individual capacities, but also by other factors like activity aids, family situations, tuitions, etc. Anything a child “I was inquisitive. I receives outside his or her classroom to support this journey has a very strong saw the impact of pre positive influence on the outcomes. “I do not want to accept affordability as the school education on driving force in this sector. The domain of preschool education is largely driven by private players, making it out of reach children’s cognitive for the underprivileged kids. I want this to change,” says Mr A Satyadev, founder development. It of Aalamuri Foundation, a charitable trust based in Hyderabad. promised a very Coming from an industrial background, Satyadev had no knowledge of the development sector. engaging beginning to He witnessed the changes liberalisation brought about in the industries in his children’s education early twenties. On learning the dynamics between big corporations and small, experience.” regional companies, he realised the opportunity to further study the flow of work and processes in different industries. “It is more important for small pre schools and schools run by with staff and senior batch mates, he companies and enterprises different managements. Soon, his feels, helped him understand how to prepare themselves for tenure as the Director of a play resourceful he was with his experience such changes. They must be school - IRIS Florets in Kondapur from the industry and the enthusiasm in open to it, otherwise, they and partner at Virinchi Vidya pre school education. He soon worked will lose out even before Mandir - an initiative for on a model to reach out to under upgrading themselves,” innovative pre schooling for under privileged children. warns Satyadev, recalling privileged children gave him new Satyadev came up with the thought of how industrial automation insights. “I was inquisitive. I saw utilising physical and human resources became an urgent need, then. the impact of pre school education within orphanages. As children went to With experience, he became on children’s cognitive school during the daytime, he wanted to aware of the dangers of one- development. It promised a very use the space to provide pre school person driven organisations, engaging beginning to children’s education for kids from the orphanage both in the profit and non profit education experience. But its and neighbourhood. According to him, sector. While he gained inaccessibility to a majority of pre school education not only influenced expertise in industrial children for different reasons cognitive, social development, but also automation, channel disturbed me. Why should ensured that children were motivated management and concept selling affordability and accessibility keep enough to continue their education. It over the last twenty eight years, children away from pre school lays a strong foundation for a child’s he became more conscious of the education?,” asks Satyadev. character and personality. He also importance of systems and processes, He founded the Aalamuri Founation intended to provide free classes on and their values in both the sectors. “At The couple had thought of along with his wife in 2013, as a family Abacus and vedic mathematics for one point when I felt I was ready to building a vedic education trust that can enable simple social interested children. “I believe my model aspire higher, I decided to work initiatives. The foundation provided addresses both accessibility and independently. I started with a small centre but lessons from scholarships and free abacus training for affordability in the areas we work in. We battery industry. However, market underprivileged children. The couple have started the programme in three fluctuations led to an upsurge in the another organisation that had thought of building a vedic orphanages and are delighted to see the price of lead and I shifted focus to education centre but lessons from interest in the children. We may be distribution of batteries across India. worked on low cost pre another organisation that worked on low testing the waters now but we feel The experience gave me the confidence schooling encouraged them cost pre schooling encouraged them to reassured by the fact that education to do consultancies for other aspiring do a thorough research on pre schooling never dies. Therefore, there is always entrepreneurs,” he says.