“I was happy to be in a new school. All the teachers were teaching so well that I could understand everything in the class. I was surprised at myself and pondered over the question, “Am I the same person who was in the village?” Back in my village in Samastipur, Bihar I was not really interested in studying. But here, I enjoygoing to school and learning my lessons. My siblings too joined Gubbachi Buds, the preschool programme for small children. Now, they have got enrolled in the Government school where Gubbachi teachers run the Grades 1, 2 and 3 classes. They also enjoy going to school and are very interested in studies. My parents decided to stay back in the city only because of our studies. Even my mother received support from Gubbachi. Earlier, she used to work as a cook in the nearby apartments. Then Gubbachi helped us to set up a small stall and now my mother runs a dhaba (a small food stall). Our school is also a customer of the Dhaba.

My mother supplies boiled eggs to Gubbachi that they provide to all children as a part of the nutrition programme. My mother is now an inspiration for many women in the neighbourhood and they too want to start a business like my mother. This not only spreads awareness about gender equality and business skills in women, but through such initiatives, women also garner respect for themselves from society. In my free time, I teach English to my younger siblings and children in my neighbourhood. I am interested in many things. I am a good artist and painting brings me great joy. I have just finished Grade X and I am 16 years old. A few days ago, my NIOS Grade X results were announced and I have scored an average of 87%. With all the motivation I got from Gubbachi Learning Community, my goals have also changed. I plan to do a one-year course in coding. It is a skill I want to learn along with continuing my studies. I’m not sure yet what I will do, but learning design, or joining the IPS is on the top of my mind. Gubbachi helped my entire family and we are truly grateful to them. Their encouragement, support, and kindness nurture a person’s inner ability and skills thereby helping them progress towards having better days.” Vishesh, 16 years, ProActive NIOS Beneficiary, Kodathi, Bengaluru