Sultanpur, Uttar Pradesh: Students from a nearby engineering institution cross the Gomti River to attend lessons provided by Koshish.
SULTANPUR, Uttar Pradesh: Underprivileged children gather every evening at 4 pm to attend two-hour classes conducted by volunteers of Koshish Educational and Welfare Society. The organisation, founded in 2011 by KNIT Sultanpur alumnus Chetan Giri Goswami, is supported by the institute’s alumni and aims to provide free quality education to students from economically and socially backward families. These students, who are enrolled in government schools in Sultanpur, find the Koshish classes extremely beneficial. The non-profit has helped several marginalised students secure admission in government polytechnic colleges and central government-run Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya (JNVs).
Since its inception, the NGO has helped 25 students gain admission in JNVs and nine students secure admission in government polytechnic colleges. Koshish Educational and Welfare Society follows a free education model, with college students volunteering to teach underprivileged kids. This model helps the volunteers to improve their communication and comprehension skills and enables them to remain connected through seniors and receive guidance and support whenever needed. At the same time, children from educationally-backward districts receive free quality education and can dream big.
Initially, parents were hesitant to send their children to the Koshish classes due to doubt in their motives. However, the NGO’s volunteers have now gained the trust of the parents, and the number of students attending the classes has increased from just five to over 200 students in the last 11 years. The NGO has taught nearly 2,000 kids through physical classes and provides guidance to students of Classes 11 and 12.
Koshish volunteers, who are current students of Kamla Nehru Institute of Technology, come from various districts of Uttar Pradesh. They are proud of the positive change that their efforts have brought into the lives of the children. Some of the children travel 1.5 km from their homes to attend the classes, and some even cross the river on boats to reach the venue. The students attending the Koshish classes are confident that they will score good marks in their board exams and clear entrance exams for good government schools and colleges.
The Koshish Educational and Welfare Society is a testament to the fact that a small group of determined individuals can make a positive impact in their community. The efforts of the NGO’s volunteers have helped several underprivileged students fulfil their dreams of a better future through education.
Volunteers of the Koshish initiative are not only helping underprivileged students but are also benefiting themselves. Raj Aryan, from Uttar Pradesh’s Hamirpur district, shared that he lacked confidence in public speaking before joining the initiative. However, teaching and interacting with students has improved his conversational skills and boosted his confidence. Aryan believes that he can now speak his mind everywhere and become a better human being.
Alumni from Kamla Nehru Institute of Technology (KNIT) in Sultanpur, who are currently holding good professional positions, are funding the Koshish initiative. Initially, the volunteers contributed their own money to buy necessary teaching materials. However, they may consider fundraising in the future depending on the situation.
Professor Ranjana Singh, from the Department of Political Science at KNIPSS, Sultanpur, has also extended her support to Koshish. She has been counseling parents and girls and is proud to see that the students taught by KNIT students are getting admission into prestigious universities like JNU, JNV, and polytechnic colleges.
Looking forward, Koshish aims to expand its model of holding physical classes for underprivileged children near colleges. The NGO plans to build a library and book-bank for Sultanpur students in the next two years. The initiative is also connecting with other states working towards similar goals.
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