Garima Vishal, an IIM Lucknow graduate has started a school in Bihar for under privileged children. Her school is unique in following a different teaching model than the regular ones being followed in the country. She has introduced the three pillar teaching module in her school that takes together students, teachers and parents on the way to progress. Her school, Dejawoo makes children feel at home while working towards their holistic development.
Let’s know about her school and her journey in making it.
1. When did you decide to change your career from engineering to education?
I was always interested in teaching. Since the time when I was a little girl, I liked teaching my younger cousins. But changing my career from engineering to teaching was a big step. I could only do it because I recognized the need of the hour. I consider education to be the way to the change.
2. Had you always been interested in social work?
I always liked helping others. When I wasn’t involved in any social work, I remained on the lookout for needy people whom I may help. When I was studying at MIT, I shared my views with my friends about giving something back to the society. Together we decided to work for society someday but we didn’t know exactly what we were going to do.
3. What compelled you to work for the under privileged section of the society?
While I was at Infosys, I met a small boy while commuting from work. Through him I got to know that so many kids in the colony never went to school. They didn’t have a school in vicinity. I started taking evening classes with them for Maths, English and Hindi. We had established a good bond when I had to move out of Bhubaneshwar. But I knew my direction now- working for the education of under-privileged kids.
4. Tell us a bit about your school.
Our school focuses on the personality and overall development of children. We follow a new approach for education, it’s a three pillar system. We formulate the school syllabus after a lot of research. Our team comprises of eminent members from many fields to finalize a curriculum that serves for holistic development of children. We employ highly educated females whose potential was getting wasted as they were not working after marriage. This way we ensure profit at both ends. We also hold workshops and training classes for parents to let them understand how they play a vital role in the learning process of their kids.
5. What were the difficulties you faced while coming up with Dejawoo?
The major difficulty was convincing my parents. But once I started with it they also understood and supported me. I also faced financial difficulty but as they say, where there’s a will, there’s a way. I always found a solution to the problems and none of them seem so big now.
6. Your effort at improving the picture of education is for Bihar or the nation?
I’m not working for Bihar especially. I’m working for kids all over India. I don’t want them to stay clueless like our generation had been. We were told to follow our passions but most of us didn’t have any clue about our passions. There was no time to explore ourselves. So I want students to get a chance to try their hands at different things, explore themselves and be ready for every situation. Also, the education needs to be more practical and moral. I’ve started with Bihar because here we needed the change the most.
7. How has your experience been so far?
When you’re working for your passion, you don’t fell exhausted even by going a mile extra. I’m doing something which feeds my soul so I’m more energetic with each coming day. I feel complete with my students. Recently I got a call from a parent saying that her kid was crying on Sunday because he wanted to come to the school. She requested us to open the school on Sundays as well, and this is what I count as my success.
8. What would be your message for the youth?
Explore yourself, find your passion and work for that only.
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