The idea
To fill this void, we started a teacher training and development program in a Muslim community in Goripalya, Bangalore as pilot. The idea was to onboard unemployed, educated youth from the community; give them pre-service teacher training and place them in schools in their own neighbourhood, where staffing needed a boost.
The effect aka the ‘Magic’
Afreen, a bright 18 years old girl, was one among the first to register for our pre-service (community) teacher training & development program. She was forced to leave her studies after grade 12th as it is not considered good for girls/women in her community to go out. She says, “It is such a life-changing opportunity for me. I learn so much; gained confidence and now, I can even work because my parents have no qualms about my working in the neighbourhood.”Faiz says, “Its a dream come true. My father drives auto-rickshaw. I am doing my graduation through correspondence. My father had got my driving license ready and to me, future was already chalked out....until MANTRA started these classes. Now I am a teacher. Now that I have discovered what bliss it is to with children, I really cannot imagine my life otherwise.”
What started as a program to create a pool of effective teachers for our students in the under-privileged community has today turned into a skill-building and empowering experience for the youth in the community..!
Help us take our community teacher development program to more and more number of such amazing young minds, who have the passion to improve quality of life for communities and their environments. Support us put the values of community development into action.