I teach because I learn.

On a rather dull Saturday, some time in 2008, I woke up at 10:00 A.M in the morning to find couple of missed calls from an unknown number. Being the curious myself, I called the number back to find who it was, someone from an NGO called me up to visit their school.

I was planning to go to a movie that day, promising my friends that I will be back in 2 hours, went to the school. As Steve Jobs said, you can only connect the dots backward - perhaps missing that movie was the best decision in my life. Six years and counting, Sahaya has become a part of my life. Without humbly bragging about my achievements and other nonsense I will write why I love to teach at Sahaya !!!

LEARNING!!!!

On the first day of Sahaya, I would have never imagined that I will be writing this post.

I learnt how to take photos: I will never call myself a photographer but to create better memories of our efforts, achievements and appreciate fellow volunteers, somebody has to do it. (Un) Fortunately, I got this chance.
Who is doing this better now: Akhilesh Marathi

I learnt to listen: Whenever we ask volunteers to give some ideas, we get a lot of them - A LOT. Patiently listening to all our volunteers and give feedback to them requires good listening skills. Being the bad listener I am, I took almost four years to learn this skill.
Who always does this better: Eshwar Babu

I learnt how to be a team-player: We all love to be individuals, but sometimes it requires a collective effort to make things happen. The greatest example in Sahaya is setting up our first library. Everyone contributed, everyone helped, everyone succeeded.
Who always does this better: Every volunteer in Sahaya

I learnt how to communicate: Yes, I am a poor communicator even now, but I am far better after Sahaya. Talking to people, expressing your ideas, giving feedback require tremendous communication skills. Sahaya is the place where I learnt this.
Who always does this better: Divya Panjala

I(we) learnt to make things happen: Field trip - never done, Science Fair - never done, setting up a library - never done, using khan academy in classes - never done....All these were before Sahaya, we are making all these things happen. And of course, the satisfaction is immense.
Who always does this better: Sahaya

I learnt to make friends:  Sreeram, Srikanth, Dharani, Eshwar, Divya, Phani, pilla Sreeraam, Srinath, Anirudh - if I continue, this list will go on for pages together. Both on and off Sahaya, people who I have met in Sahaya have become "friends forever."

I learnt to learn: All those questions that kids asked, all those issues that we have to resolve, all those initiatives that we have to take - everyday that I am part of Sahaya, I learn something new, something that makes me better than yesterday.

"I teach because I learn and there is no better way."

Seven Years - And Counting!

Each year Awesome volunteers, supporters and dreams alike people, come together to share with us their passion towards Sahaya, unveiling the key to Organization success. always creative; always brave.

Most exciting day with some of the influential leadership team and volunteers, who inspire, teach, and guide us as we face the many challenges and opportunities which lie ahead in the future, in an event that gathered volunteers from all our schools.

A feeling of quality of our work is the amount of time we are willing to expend on it but also the fact that we are willing to take chances while doing it

PRIZE-GIVING:
Our mission is to discover, recognize, and promote the sparkling stars and effort of volunteers who create unique experiences that are useful, innovative, intuitive, and inspiring. This year we've gladly given this recognition to:

Sreeram Best Volunteer Male	Aishwarya Best Volunteer Female
Ganesh Best Emerging Volunteer - Male	Kranti Rekha Best Emerging Volunteer - Female
Mounika Best Facebook Group Post	Ravali Dara Best Blog post
Vinod Bala Best Idea	Aishwarya and Team Best Team
Nova Prabhu Best Attire - Male	Sirisha Best Attire - Female

Thank you Eshwar, Divya, Subhramanyam Aditya and Akhil, without your energy, knowledge and enthusiasm none of this would have been possible. Thanks!

A better way to grow up is SHARING

This year we had great team to lead us and new enthusiastic volunteers who showed their determination towards Sahaya. Words cannot even come close to expressing the gratitude working with such an amazing Volunteers and being a part of this wonderful experience. The compassion you show to the children is an inspiration for us all.

We’ve noticed how you treat children with respect and kindness, no matter what the situation is. You went above and beyond to make sure that our sessions or events we organize be it Swecha2K14, Teachers day, Empowering sessions, Reading activities, Computer workshops, organizing a book collection drive, and a career guidance session which are meant for enriching and empowering the next generation were all taken care of either through spending time or through contributions. Your words and actions go a long way toward helping kids be inspired and stay a life long learners. We want you to know that your work hasn’t gone unnoticed, and we are grateful to you.

It’s not for money, it’s not for fame,

It’s not for any personal gain,

It’s just to care and share knowledge.

It’s a feeling that you’ve been a part, of helping children enrich their dreams,

That makes you want to volunteer.

So thank you, being a part of our mission and for helping Sahaya be more committed and strong.

Career Guidance Program

Well it’s been a great year till now many great ideas turned from dreams to reality. And among them the one that stands out unique and exceptional would undoubtedly be the Career Guidance Program for class X Students.

On 21^st February 2015, we conducted the Career guidance program for class X students at ZPHS Kukatpally. Harsha Vardhan Ayyagari, one of the senior volunteers has taken up the session with an interactive presentation, motivated many and to add on I can say that everyone present at session were motivated.   

The presentation started with how to choose a career path, how to know one self also included each and every aspect that one could choose or take up after schooling to be precise after 10^th class. Harsha along with Akhil explained briefly about all the opportunities that one has after he steps out of his schooling. 

I still remember a girl named Soni came down to me and asked me what it takes to be a CARDIOLOGIST, well a small brain has started to think so much that actually motivated me to work more towards my career. And there was another who was so adamant that she wanted to only Polytechnic later followed by degree and then come back to the same school where she took this decision and help the upcoming students in their career. Her zeal and confidence made her lay the first stone towards her success. 

To end up I must say that it’s been a great day and a great session as well came to know about many things and learned many things.

The will to succeed itself is a key ingredient of success.

The Story Begins With You!

At the end of two weeks of promotion the book collection looks like this. Pretty good going when the promotion was made in schools and colleges.

The outpouring kindness of the contributors always warms my heart, So many schools, colleges allowed us to set up a drop box and do campaign in their premises. Many of our volunteers did not hesitate to do a campaign in their apartments and gather hand full of books for children. It is amazing how it all balances out for children in need!

Well we are still short of target books this year. 

As a part of reading sessions, designed to inspire kids to spend time reading that help develop the critical thinking, vocabulary and language skills a pre-readers needs, we need to accommodate them enough quality books. 

And that is why we encourage any size of contribution, new or gently used books even if it is just one book! 

Imagine the possibilities - Donate new or gently used books and imagine how far a passion for reading could take a child.