WE ARE THE WORLD: Akash Saxena with his students
He is a logo designer, a photographer, a guitarist and a law student. But that's not why we are featuring this 23-year-old boy-next-door from Niti Khand I, Indirapuram. He is here on Spidey Buzz because of what he does on Sundays at his neighbourhood park.
And what he does is extraordinary: Akash Saxena is a virtual one-man school who has single-handedly taken on the responsibility of teaching almost 50 underprivileged kids in Niti Khand.
It began six months ago when he and 15 of his friends decided to set up a three-day-a-week school in a nearby park. But soon, all of his friends left one one by one, citing work commitments and lack of time.
End of school.
That's what would have happened if Saxena had not vowed to continue. Every Sunday, he still dedicates three hours to teach the kids of domestic helps, construction workers, rickshaw pullers, vegetable vendors and so on.
And it isn't an easy task, given there is a lot in the curriculum: Hygiene and Health, Moral Values, Music and Photography, Spoken English, Social Etiquettes (how to introduce oneself, how to wish good morning), Drawing and Dance... Well, Saxena teaches them all. And sometimes he invites someone with special skills — choreographers, musicians, artists — to talk about their subjects. His own sister-in-law teaches meditation and yoga. Then there are the other little things such as how to read a watch, timetables and how to keep the environment clean. "In fact, I have asked them to keep small bags in their pockets, so when they see someone spitting or littering, they can go and give one to them to throw the litter in," he says. Last Sunday, the kids, in the age group of 3 to 14, were taught about various types of transportation and vehicles. "I first judge the child's cognitive and mental state, and then give him or her customised training," he says.
Of course, it isn't all studies and no play. Games such as khokho and musical chairs are played, and festivals such as Holi, Diwali and Christmas are celebrated. There are also competitions. How about making greeting cards? A forthcoming session will have a health check-up camp — Saxena has already spoken to a few doctors in the neighbourhood for this. He has also had a word with senior police officials to conduct a session on safety and security.
The kids love this, and every Sunday they assemble in the park on their own. But it wasn't always like this. There was a time when Saxena had to go around on his scooter to make-shift shanties and convince parents to send their kids to the open school. Most of the time parents were only too happy to do that.
But if there is one thing that annoys Saxena, it is people who come in for a day to celebrate their birthday with the kids, distribute cakes and gifts, take selfies, post them on Facebook and then disappear. "This isn't done. If they really feel for these kids, they should do something that lasts. These one-off gestures are temporary," he says. It is the same with high-profile NGOs, whose volunteers just land up one day, only to go to another place the next. This doesn't work.
But how does he fund Let's Create Happiness, the name of his project? Oh, it doesn't take much, he assures. He spends his own money, and his dad, who is in a publishing house (his mom is a government schoolteacher), brings notebooks, pens and pencils from his office. Sometimes he asks neighbours to give out anything they don't need, instead of selling it to the kabariwala. And people do donate. Why, only the other day, a guy landed up at the school to give away 50 drawing books!
However, despite his efforts, some of his students sometimes develop bad habits. "I was told by someone once that a few of these kids come to the park after dark to smoke. So one day I went there and caught them red-handed. I shouted at them and told them this kind of behaviour wouldn't be tolerated," Saxena says. Of course, he was successful in scaring them off the habit.
Not that Saxena is a sucker for compliments, but he certainly feels it would be nice if his neighbours came forward to give him a pat on the back. The RWA of his neighbourhood (where he moved with his family a decade ago), though active in organising Diwali melas and other events, has no contributions to make to the school.
No complaints, though, for Niti Khand I is one of the most peaceful neighbourhoods around, and "police presence here is very strong, with frequent night patrols".
So where does he see himself a few years from now? "I would like to build an online platform, where all my passions and hobbies — designing, photography, legal knowledge and love for social work come together," he says.
Given his hard work and commitment, looks like it won't take so long to fulfil his dreams.
