School

It was during a trip that Suhani, for the first time, saw the Bandhwari landfill and was shocked at its state. When Suhani read up on the various kinds of plastics she became alarmed at the statistics about the non-recyclable MLP.

Until three years ago, 12-year-old Karan would be continuously scolded by his parents and teachers for his inability to read and write in English. Today, he happily attends his school, and can read and write, thanks to Dr Nandini's research!

“When I was in grade 9, I started taking an active interest in working on issues around air pollution. I have worked with United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), Delhi Metro, and also with the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) on various issues pertaining to the environment,” says the proactive teenager.

As you walk into the school, the entryway is filled with posters and bright charts espousing the virtues of sustainable development and Swachh Bharat. The school also has also withdrawn dustbins from classrooms to help students be mindful of the waste they generate.

For the children of Seem, education was limited to the pages of hand-me-down textbooks and outdated curriculums. Until a couple threw open the doors of their home to them! #Respect #RealLifeHeroes

“The smile that I see on the faces of my children after my class and the fact that they don’t feel like leaving, that’s my highest award,” says Remya Iyer, who would travel 70 km everyday to teach despite raising two young kids.

While we all are happy to complain about things that could be better or not done, we equally should highlight the excellent work done.

"I was pregnant with my daughter, when my son was diagnosed with ADHD. For the next four years or so, no doctor even mentioned the possibility of Autism, so when I heard this, it shattered me. I remember crying uncontrollably for the next few days, but I was not ready to let that fail me. Instead, I was stubborn and changed my problems into my strength! And my daughter, Prerna was instrumental in this," she shares.

Children in the Netherlands are said to be among the happiest—they also excel in math, science and literacy.

"Things that we take for granted are often the most crucial. A desk, chair or a blackboard might sound to be the most basic requirement in a school and yet there are hundreds of schools in rural India that are devoid of them. This was our attempt to break that bubble and bring forth a sustainable solution."