Innovative learning

A firm believer of Swami Vivekananda’s tenets of selflessness and charity, Vasundhara P. had started visiting children at a slum in Madhapur over a decade ago. Today, she runs Nachiket Tapovan in Kavuri Hills with 240 students from LKG to Class X.

Her school is self- sustaining and her team had consciously chosen not to approach the government for financial aid. Surprisingly they have come up with innovative methods to help run the institution. “Since 2011, we have been moving across in the city, collecting newspapers and dry plastic and selling them so that they can be recycled instead of ending up in landfills. In April we had collected around 3,600 kg of newspaper, and in 2012, we collected 29,700 kg of waste, generating funds amounting to ` 2,38,534,” says Vasundhara.

Throughout the year, the school conducts waste awareness presentations in schools and communities also participate in various exhibitions across the city where they put up their arts and crafts work, made from waste.

“Our biggest challenge was to find teachers, since we can’t afford too many paid teachers, the institution is run mainly with the help of volunteers Initially it was difficult to get people on board, but as the school grew, as did the volunteers . Today, we have 50 volunteers , who help the children with academics and cultural activities,” she shares.