Summer so far

I have always wanted to work for developmental issues and working in Chintan has actually provided me the platform to see how things work. In that sense, working in Chintan has been a gift and more than what I could ask for being a freshman. The weather is as hot as it gets, which gets me very tired. Nevertheless, it is unbelievably comforting to see hundreds of smiles of little kids whose lives have been transformed by Chintan’s work in educating the children in waste picking communities. Indeed, the project that I am working in Chintan relates to the further education of these children and provides these under privileged communities with role models in the future. So far, Chintan only assists in mainstreaming the children (in primary school level) who otherwise would not go to school. My project aims at selecting some children amongst these children to prepare for an exam; the exam, when passed, assures them free education until they finish high school in a system with highly qualified teachers. I can connect well to these children because my family also had problems in funding my education and I appeared for this exam and was selected when I was in grade 6th. Since my selection in the school, there was no looking back and life presented itself with many opportunities, which would otherwise be, literally, impossible. It was making use of these opportunities that I went to UK and then came to Upenn. Subsequently, I am preparing a manual to help Chintan equip these children for those exams. In order to make it fair for under privileged students without sufficient books and teachers, these exams only test the mental ability and mat ability of the students. I firmly believe that there are children in these communities who have the potential to be successful, regardless of their socio-economic conditions. My project is to make this belief a truth in the years to come.

This summer has been one of my most adventurous ones. Though, the arrival in Delhi was not as eventful due to housing issues (which got settled last week only, hahahaha), I only love the internship more and more each day. Just to add a little more, I am very happy and proud to be part of the amazing intern group. Everyone is eager to help and ready with invaluable advice. Moreover, they are all very funny, which comes as a boon when we are stuck in traffic for hours and the temperature makes sure not to be anything below 110° F. Apart for eagerly waiting for our delicious tiffin-boxes for lunch, we are eagerly waiting for the monsoon!!!