Execs, homemakers do their bit

Youths from villages are learning useful skills such as computers and communicating in English, thanks to generous residents of the Millennium City who have committed a few hours of their busy week to teach them.

Youths from villages are learning useful skills such as computers and communicating in English, thanks to generous residents of the Millennium City who have committed a few hours of their busy week to teach them.

HT Image

Many youths from the economically weaker section of society have also found jobs. Dinesh Kumar, 19, a salesperson at Tata Chroma in Palam Vihar, learned a lot from the volunteers and he still seeks help whenever required.

“I didn't know how to appear for an interview, but now I am confident to compete with well-educated people,” said Kumar.

Some of the volunteers are corporate employees while some are homemakers. Vandana Baliga, 46, a resident of Sector 46, teaches English to a group of 11 children in Jharsa village. An NGO also runs a small informal school at the village where teenagers are trained for jobs.

“Earlier, I was apprehensive about the response I would get from the children. Then I saw them reciprocating, which was quite exhilarating. You feel satisfied when you help them learn new skills,” she said.

Alka Goel, 42, a senior manager working with an electronics firm, used to take out time till recently to teach the underprivileged during weekends.

“I mentor employees in the company where I work, and in the same way I shared my knowledge with the village children and tell them about the power of being positive,” said Goel.

NIIT Foundation is one of the organistions that runs a school and draws volunteers from all walks of life. “We have people from the hospitality sector and even the military. Some students also help us,” said Rinky Sharma.