First Day with Teach India

I always had the burning desire of serving the underprivileged. The social initiative by The Time Group - Teach India appeared nice to me. I showed initial interest in the first version of Teach India in 2008 when I was in Pune, but since I relocated to Chennai didn't continue. So I was confident that I should do it this time in 2009.

Teach India is a program where it links willing volunteers with the needing NGOs who are into Education of underprivileged. It will be a 12 week association where we are expected to spend any of our 2 hours per week for those 12 weeks. TOI(The Times of India) leaves it to us whether to extend this 12 weeks or not.

On registering myself in the website http://teachindia.itimes.com/public_teach-india.php as a volunteer for Teach India, I received an invitation in the email stating that I had to attend a Volunteer Induction Program to be help on 18th July 2009 at 02.00P.M at DG Vaishnav College, Aumbakkam, Chennai. I was telling to myself that I should make it this time.

I was there at the venue on that Saturday afternoon and was happy to be joined by another 20 volunteers or so. A small introduction by the co-ordinator from TOI and then we are left with the participating NGOs in that specific area. I had Guild of Service, Bhumi, Disha and Nethrodaya to choose from. After lot of questioning and discussion I registered with both Bhumi and Guild of Service.

With Guild of Service I thought teaching the Hearing and Speech impaired students would add meaning to my life. With Bhumi my all my favorite of mentoring and teaching the children from economically weaker section was the option and so Ireadily opted for it.

One fine afternoon when I was feeling dizzy because of a heavy lunch, received a call from Mrs. Rani on behalf of Guild of Service. Now it is an invitation for the Volunteer co-ordination meet from Guild of Service at the Deaf and Dumb School at Thirumangalam, Chennai. I was informed that the meet is on 29th July 2009 at 10.00A.M. I started to feel it.

I was 10 minutes late for the meeting on 29th July 2009. Others had already assembled there and the introduction session was already over. No issues, I introduced myself and got long with others. A nice group and in the course of the meet it was the time schedule and who is going to handle which subject were decided. I opted for maths, Computers and English. I was informed that they know only one language - tamil and English is not even taught as second language for them. It seems they have one subject exemption even in their 10th S.S.L.C public exam. This school had classes from L.K.G to 10th standard. It had a total strength of 114 students. They provide free lunch for all the students. The lunch is arranged through sponsorship. I was bit bewildered on how to teach English and how to introduce a new language without confusing what they know now in tamil. I opted to visit them every Wednesday between 02.00 P.M and 04.00P.M. There were two girls who opted for computers and I told I will co-ordinate with them.