GMDA CEO Pritam Saikia inaugurates the Reach to Teach initiative. Telegraph picture

Nov. 20: Samida, 11, is very happy today as her knowledge of English will no longer be confined to words like “good morning” and “good afternoon”.

Come December and like Samida all the underprivileged children of Hafiznagar will learn elementary English, Assamese and also Assamese culture and cuisine at the “Reach to Teach” school initiative of Universal Team for Social Action and Help (UTSAH), a city-based NGO working for comprehensive community development.

This school will not restrict its curriculum to mere learning. The children will be taught Gandhian principles, craft making, basics of practical hygiene and others.

“Our objective is to provide basic education along with cultural and practical knowledge which would help these children become better individuals. They can also apply such knowledge in practical field and earn a living,” said Miguel Queah, the chairperson of the NGO.

Classes will start from December 1 and will be held in an open field at Hafiznagar. The children will be taught by teachers and volunteers.

“We will also involve volunteers from old-age homes who will help the students with story-telling sessions, folklore and thus help them understand our local culture, traditions and customs,” Queah said.

There are government schools where the children of slum areas can go but lack of motivation prevents them from continuing their education.

Samida is an example of this. She might have had some schooling and has learnt words like “good morning” but household chores and grinding poverty prevented her from attending school.

“We worked in the slums for the past four months and found that there are government schools where these children can go to, but they lack motivation. So we are bringing the school to them and everything will be taught in a fun-filled way,” Queah added.

The NGO also plans to tie up with government schools for further assistance.

“The school is for children of all age groups. But we are working to involve some government schools so that the children can get certified educational degrees,” Queah said.

The chief executive officer of Guwahati Metropolitan Development Authority, Pritam Saikia, who attended the opening ceremony of the “Reach to Teach” as chief guest was overwhelmed by the response of the children of the slums who came to attend the ceremony.

“It is great to see an organisation working …in the slum areas. Moreover, I would like to help UTSAH connect to government departments which can facilitate the rehabilitation of the residents under the Rajiv Awas Yojana. I think UTSAH should be a part of the committee that would coordinate the Rajiv Awas Yojana delivery,” Saikia said.