Founder's Story

IT STARTED WITH A SLATE & PENCIL

Mahesh... A school teacher in a government school had already become an avid biker by 2007. Once on his way on such a joy ride, with his wife, found a kid just 5 Km from Barshi town. So to find such a disoriented boy in the street, Mahesh enquired, if the boy attended school. Miserable boy, who was interested in schooling but didn't have even a pencil and state to get started. He found that boy was an orphan and a few like him were migrant workers' children!

The child in THIS case had a strong desire to learn and asked Mahesh for the slate and pencil... This was a turning point in Mahesh and his wife's lives. They were moved by the poverty, sadness and utter helplessness of such children...

And yes, though Mahesh provided the kid, with what was needed, the incident etched deep in his heart to do something for those, who had bleak futures looming over them. The great endeavour, which now stands as a testimony of a great mind, kick-started, by sharing a simple pencil and slate with the depressed and deprived class... Boy

A pencil in hand and a slate to express what one learns, are the best two tools for a student to progress Mahesh, a teacher could catch THIS important principle. He thoroughly thought about how best he could bring about this kind of change.

A positive turnaround in the lives of destitute children... Children of fate to say...!!!

THEN 1 SCHOOL

That's how Mahesh and Vinaya, his supportive wife resigned from their secured government jobs to start the first nomadic school in the slum area. They could understand that mere schooling won't work, and thought to give necessary ambience for the children to grow without being persecuted. So the idea of making a residential school came to the fore. They could borrow land from Credit Unions, to provide the destitute children facing abuse, and sexual harassment orphans. A safe place...So Mahesh started the residential school for these children, free from abuse, creating a safe ambience. There, he started a residential school in a tin shed, for orphans, and abused, sexually exploited children. Impressed by their efforts, Dr Vikas Baba Amte, a senior and respected social worker and also a confidant of Anandwan, along with Mr Kaustubh Amte, helped them in their struggle. Later, Mahesh started sharing photos of school activities on social media. Thereby some financial and material help started coming in. Well-wishers saw their rupees changing lives