From Streets to School: 12-Year-Old Brings Education to Community

As the bell rang, Sakthi and his friends quickly washed their plates, wiped themselves dry, and ran to stand in line for the assembly hour. They checked to see if their shirts had any creases, if their collars were stiff, the identity cards were placed perfectly, and hair neatly combed to the side. Their tummies were full with delicious upma, and their hearts with enthusiasm to start the new day.

Sakthi and his friends are living a happy life today.

This 12-year-old from Arni in Tiruvannamalai, Tamil Nadu, made it possible for 25 tribal children from his community to join school. He belongs to the Narikuruvar community – gypsies who don’t have a fixed home and move from city to city, selling and begging.

Sakthi, who has five other siblings, was eight-years-old when he decided to quit school. He had resigned himself to a future of selling beads and pins.

In 2014, an NGO named Hand in Hand identified Sakthi's community as marginalised, and began a program to spread awareness on the need to send their children to school. They assured their kids would be sent to a residential school where there was ample space to play, good food through the day, uniforms, dormitories and free education.

The Narikuruvars didn’t show any interest but Sakthi was convinced. He was brought to a school in Kancheepuram called Poongavanam.

Sakthi began to like school and realised that he wanted to study, become an engineer and make sure his parents don’t have to roam around the streets in the heat selling odd items.

In a few months, he convinced his parents to send his two sisters as well.

In our community, girls are not sent to school. No girl in our family has had any education. . . because when we hit puberty, they fear we won’t be able to manage to stay away from home. So we stay with our parents, selling or begging and get married early.

Rubini, Sakthi’s sister

He also began talking to families of the other kids back in his village about the facilities in the school, the nutritious food provided, and how their lives could become better if their children were educated.

When he would go back to the village during the holidays, everyone saw how a boy, who used to roam around the streets in tattered clothes, had transformed into a stickler for cleanliness.

Before he had started to go to school, Sakthi would pluck leaves and flowers and eat. He was so shabby. He would always wear dirty and tattered clothes, and sometimes even I wouldn’t be able to recognise my own brother.

Samco, Sakthi’s sister

Soon, parents began calling up the NGO, asking for their children to be admitted too.

A steady flow of tribal children began coming to the school. A community which neglected education began making sure the girls also go to school.

Back at home, my mother will be drunk all the time. I won’t even know where she is. We wouldn’t even get food. But here, the school gives us three meals of good food, teaches us so well, gives us bags, shoes, and even take us out for ice cream.

Arulmurugan, Sakthi’s friend

Back in the village, the children said they used to never go to school as the teachers of the government school were irregular and never motivated them to study. So they preferred to sell accessories to make money.

In this school, Poongavanam, teachers focus on helping children catch up with subjects. Every day, they are taught basic hygiene, computer classes, karate, communicating in English, and to treat each other as equals, all through visual aids and songs. They are even trained in music and dance, and compete with schools in and around Kancheepuram.

It took one small boy to cause a sea change.

Recognising Sakthi’s efforts to uplift an entire community, he has been nominated for the International Peace Prize for Children for the year 2017.

The award was previously won by Nobel laureate Malala Yousafzai, and is given to those who contribute towards changing the lives of children in difficult situations.

Life on the streets of Tamil Nadu is changing, one kid at a time.

Video Editor: Rahul Sanpui
Cameraperson: Smitha TK
Archive footage: Hand In Hand India

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