Although we all know how alarmingly low the literacy rates in India are, only some of our initiatives fructify into projects that stir a positive change. Very few go that extra mile to teach what they know, only so that thebane of illiteracy may be eradicated.
Meet Vineet Devaiah, who took that big step to make a meaningful contribution to tackle illiteracy. “In April 2008 when I graduated from Cornwell University, I felt my life lacked direction — despite an Ivy League degree. That’s when I resolved to do something that would add value to my life,” he says.
Ticked off by the idea of leading a “selfish life”, he spent the next year on the drawing board, talking to non-profit organisations and indulging in some extensive research on drop-out rates and illiteracy in government schools. The results of these analyses led to the establishment of Gurudakshina — a non-profit organisation that comprises “confident, enthusiastic and young individuals” willing to mentor children from government schools and guide them through their education.
Initially, it was difficult to convince people, while very few came out supporting the cause, says Devaiah. “The toughest part was convincing people that mentoring goes a long way.
For someone who cannot afford a meal, it’s a dream to think of a mentor,” he says.
“Most of us have very supportive parents who have guided us all the way; thereby we have never felt the need for a mentor,” he adds, before revealing that his parents are completely unaware of this endeavour, although he knows they would be proud if they learn about it.
At first, his team set out trying to establish contact with various non-profit organisations such as Sikshana, Youth for Seva, The Youth Parliament Foundation, Rotaract and Nirmaan in Mumbai and Delhi and NIT-K (National Institute of Technology-Karnataka, Suratkal) to help authenticate their venture. Later, they approached schools, which were initially reluctant. But they too co-operated — as they understood the motive of Gurudakshina — “to instill confidence, not just sponsor a child or teach him a subject”.
The next step was to recruit mentors, the procedure of which is very stringent Devaiah claims. Only after elaborate sessions during which time they seek to determine the genuineness of those who wanted to be mentors, do they zero in on the final choices.
Once recruited, these mentors are bound for a minimum of five years; one would be able to sieve the really interested from the merely curious ones, Devaiah believes. “Anyone who can spend around eight hours a month, that is 20 full days in five years can be a mentor with us. Those 20 days can change many lives,” he says.
Narrating an instance where a headmaster volunteered to offer ‘mentees’ to Gurudakshina, Devaiah says, “Three mentees, who were brilliant in academics, had dropped out of school. These students were identified and directed to us to re-orient them to academics.” So the teacher-mentor-mentee relationship is always well co-ordinated as they are always in touch with one another.
“We work with the teachers in schools who select mentees,” Devaiah says. The compatibility between mentors and mentees is given emphasis. Working with zero operational costs and managing with a lean foundation, they intend to go steady this way.
What is most fascinating here is that the 23-year-old co-ordinates with his team of six members in India, while living in Trenton in New Jersey and being employed with an eco-company called Terra Cycle there. “I co-ordinate Gurudakshina activities when I am not working,” he says. “I have great co-ordinators who take care of everything… If I could shout out to them, I would say — ‘you guys are awesome,’” he says.
We think his venture is awesome in itself.
For more details, check out: http://gurudakshina.wordpress.com/about-us/
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