THEFACES behi ndwhatwedo
THEFACES behi ndwhatwedo
STORI ES
FROM THEGROUND
AtU&I webel i evei nt hepot ent i alofever yper s on. Andwewor khar dt ohel pi ndi vi dual s r eal i z et hatunt appedpot ent i al .
Rubi ni Thi si sast or yofal i t t l egi r lwhocoul dn’ tsi tst i l l .Rubi nii sasevenyear ol dwi t hl oadsof spunkandener gy–andar eal l yshor tat t ent i onspan. WhenU&Ivol unt eer sbegant heyeart ut or i ngatt heGoodShepher dHomewher eRubi ni l i ved,t her ewasonet hi ngt heyal lagr eedon:Li t t l eRubi niwasahandf ul .Shecl i mbedt he wal l s,shewal kedoutofcl asses,sher ef usedt oopenherbooks.Sheexcel l edatonet hi ng– bei ngt hecl assbul l y . Dur i ngt hef i r stacademi cassessmentoft heyear ,Rubi niscor edadi smal12outof50.“ I wantt obeapol i ceof f i cer .Idon’ tneedt ost udy , ”Rubi niwoul dt el lt het ut or s. ButU&Ivol unt eer ssaw behi ndRubi ni ' sact .Theysaw al i t t l egi r lwhol ongedf orat t ent i on andf r i endshi p,al i t t l egi r lwhoneededt obeaf f i r med. “ I tt ooksomet i me,butgr adual l yRubi nist ar t edt ochange.Shebeganl i st eni ngt ot hevol unt eer sandt heyexpl ai nedt ohert hatbul l yi ngwasnotal r i ght , ”saysAshwat hy ,U&I ’ sT each Manageratt heGoodShepher dCent er . Sl owl y ,t hel i t t l egi r l ’ sdef ensescamedown.Nol ongerdi dshebul l yhercl assmat est oget at t ent i on.Sher espondedt ot hel ovet hatt hevol unt eer sshowedherweekaf t erweek. Rubi ni ’ sendof yearassessmenti mpr oveddr amat i cal l ywi t hascor eof40outof50.But , mor et hant hat ,shedoesn’ tseeknegat i veat t ent i onanymor e.Shehaswat chedand l ear nedf r om t heU&Ivol unt eer swhomodel edki ndnessandconcer n. T oday ,Rubi nii st hef i r stonet oar r i vei ncl ass.“ Comequi ckl y ,akkai sher e, ”shesays,hur r yi nghercl assmat est ot het ut or i ngsessi ons.Shel i st ensi nt ent l yandunder st andst hatshe needsaneducat i ont ohel phersucceed. Thi si st hest or yofal i t t l egi r lwhohaswhati tt akest of ol l ow herdr eams.
Deva Devai sanexcept i onalchi l d.Hei snat ur albor nchar merwhosesmi l ecanwar mt hecol destofhear t s.Hei sal soast at el evelat hl et e,acl ubl evelf oot bal l er ,passi onat eabout pr et t ymuchever yspor thehaseverpl ayed! Att hesamet i me,hi sacademi cswer eahugeobst acl e.Devahadat t empt edt opasshi s 10t hgr adeexamst wi ce.Bot ht i mesDevahadf ai l ed.Hewasr eadyt ogi veup.Hehaddeci dedt hatpur sui ngacademi cswasnotwor t hi t–eveni fi tmeantgi vi nguponhi sspor t s dr eams. That ’ swhenU&Ivol unt eer sst ar t edcoachi nghi m. Thr eemont hspr i ort ohi sf i nalexams,Deva’ st estr esul t swer ewor set hanever .ButU&I vol unt eer sknew t hatgi vi ngupwasnotanopt i on.Deva’ st ut or smadei tt hei rmi ssi ont o hel phi m passhi sexams,r egai nhi sconf i denceandl i vehi sdr eams.I nst eadoft ut or i ng hi m onceort wi ceaweek,t heymetwi t hDevaever ysi ngl edayf ort hr eemont hs.Att he endoft het hr eemont hper i od,Devaemer gedawi nner .Hehadnotonl ypassedhi sBoar d Exams–hehadhi sopt i mi sm backandhi shopesf ort hef ut ur ewer ebr i ght ert hanever bef or e.
Basava Basavai sachi l dwhodoesn’ tl ethi sdi sabi l i t i esgeti nt hewayofwhathedoes.I ft her ei s onet hi nghel ovesmor et hananyt hi ngel se,i t ’ smusi c.Ever yt i meU&Ivol unt eer satt he Boys’Homet ur nedont hemusi c,Basavawoul dbet hef i r stt oj oi ni n.Hi sspi r i twasnot cr ushedbyhi sci r cumst ances.Basava’ sdadi si npr i son.Hi smom hadcommi t t edsui ci de. Hehi msel fwasbor nwi t hdi sabi l i t i esandwasl i vi ngi nani nst i t ut ewher eper sonalat t ent i on wasal uxur y . WhenU&Ivol unt eer sst ar t edi nt er act i ngwi t hBasavahehadar equest :coul doneoft hem t akehi mt ovi si thi sdadi npr i son?Ourvol unt eer swentt heext r ami l e.Theymadesur e Basavahadoppor t uni t i est ovi si thi sdad.Wi t ht hatdr eam f ul f i l l ed,Basavahadonemor e wi sh.Hewant edt odancet ot hemusi chel oved.Fort hel astt hr eeyear s,U&I ’ sphysi ot her api sthasbeeni nvest i ngi nBasavat ohel phi mi mpr ovehi smot orski l l s. I twasabeaut i f ulmomentwhen,af ew mont hsago,Basavaper f or medi nt heChi l dr en’ sDay dance.Basavacoul dn’ thavebeenhappi er ,andU&Ist af fcoul dn’ thavebeenpr ouderoft he youngmanwhosi mpl ywon’ tl etl i f ekeephi m down!
Pr ut hvi Li kemostoft hechi l dr eni nt heBoys’Home,Pr ut hvii sunabl et ocommuni cat et hr ough wor ds.Hewasachi l dwhokeptt ohi msel f ,somet i mesappear i ngdi si nt er est edi ni nt er act i ngwi t hot her s.But ,U&Ivol unt eer swer eamazedwhen,oneday ,Pr ut hvir anupt oachi l d whohadf al l eni nt hepl aygr ound.Wi t houtbei ngasked,Pr ut hvihel pedt heboyup,t ook hi mt ot hewashr oom,cl eanedhi swound,andgavehi m agl assawat er . I nanot heri nst ance,U&Ivol unt eer swer eatt heHome,pr epar i ngf orat eam act i vi t ywhi ch i nvol vedbl owi ngbal l oonsandt yi ngknot sont hem.Thi ngswer egoi ngsl ow andt heywer en’ thavi ngmuchsuccess.I twast hent hatPr ut hvist oppedby .Hebl ew t hebal l oons,t i ed knot seasi l yandsl i ppedawayqui et l y . Thi syoungboy ,whof i r str anawayf r om U&Ivol unt eer s,wasnow hel pi ngt hem.That ’ st he l eveloft r usthi sU&Ibi gbr ot her sandbi gsi st er shavebui l twi t hhi m.U&Ivol unt eer s commi tt ohel pi ngchi l dr enl i kePr ut hviever yweekatt heGover nmentHomesf ort heMent al l yChal l enged.Theyseebeyondt heunr esponsi venessandsi l ence.Theyseet hehear t oft hechi l d,andper si sti nhel pi ngt hem. And,ever ysi ngl et i me,t heygetbackmor et hant heygi ve.
Abdul Abduli san11–year ol dwi t habi gsmi l eandspar kl i ngeyes.Butwhathi ssmi l edi dn’ tr eveal wast hathef acedachal l enge–abi gone.I nhi s11year s,noonehadgi venhi m enoughat t ent i ont oseei fhewasact ual l yl ear ni nganyt hi ngatschool .I nst ead,hewassi mpl ypr omot edt ot henextgr ade–j ustsot henumber sl ookedr i ghti nt hebooks. So,her ewasAbdul ,a6t hgr ader .A6t hgr aderwhodi dn’ tknow hi sABCs.A6t hgr aderwho hadbeenwr i t t enof fasdumb,asur ehi ghschooldr opouti ncoupl eyear s. That ’ swhenU&Icamei nt oAbdul ’ sl i f e.Wi t ht heat t ent i onofhi sU&It ut or s,Abdulf i nal l y begancommi t t i ngt ot het ask.Maybei twashi sU&It eacher s’cr eat i veconsequencesf or comi ngl at et ocl ass–Abdulwasmadet owr i t et heal phabetdownever yt i mehewast ar dy . Maybei twasbecauseAbdulneededt heoneononeat t ent i on.What evert her eason,Abdul f i nal l yst ar t ed“ get t i ngi t . ” Hi st ut orAnujr ecal l s,“ I nhi sf i r stassessment ,Abduldi dn’ tevenknow hi sABCs.Byhi s secondassessmenthegota50outof50onhi st est .I twasapr oudmomentf oral lofus. ” Noonecoul dbel i evet hei reyes.Especi al l ynotAbdul .Hesaw t hest ar sonhi st estpaper andbeamedwi t hpr i de.Fort hef i r stt i meever ,hehadaper f ectscor eonat est .Hi smot her seei ngt het estr esul t swassur eAbdulhadf akedt her esul t s. OnAbdul ’ si nsi st ence,hi smom camet ot heU&ILear ni ngCent ert omeethi st eacher .Coul d i tbet hatheboyhadaper f ectscor e?Ordi dhel i et oher ?ButAbdulknew t hatt het r ut h waswaymor eexci t i ngt hanal i e.Hehadgotaper f ectscor e.Andhedi dn’ tdr eam i tup! U&It ut or swor kwi t hki dsl i keAbdulonadai l ybasi s.Theyseei ndi vi duall ear ni ngneeds. Theyt aket het i met ocr eat i vel yt eacheachchi l d.Theyi nvesti neachchi l dandi nst i l lt hem wi t hanI candoi tat t i t ude. Abduli soneof850chi l dr ent hatU&Ir eachesoutt oever ysi ngl eday .Come,j oi nusaswe commi tt ogi vi ngeachchi l dt heconf i dencet oshi ne–i nt hecl assr oom andbeyond.
STORI ES
FROM THEGROUND
Whi l ei t ’ sourgoalt oi mpactunder pr i vi l egedchi l dr en, of t en t i mesvol unt eer s ’ l i vesar et r ans f or medaswel l . U&Ihasbeen changi ngt heper cept i onofyoungpeopl ear oundt hecount r y. Thes ear echangemaker swi t hami s s i ont omakeadi ffer ence. Theyar et hechanget heywantt os eei nt hei rcommuni t i es .
Raveena Ourvol unt eerRaveenar ecal l st hemomentwhent hechi l dshet ut or saskedherwhenshe woul dvi si tnext . “ NextSunday , ”sher epl i ed. “ ComeonSat ur dayal so,pl ease?”r equest edherl i t t l est udent ,war mi ngRaveena’ shear t . Li t t l emoment sl i ket hesef i l lourcl assr ooms-ever ydayt est i moni esofhow ourvol unt eer s ar ebui l di ngbondswi t ht hei rst udent s.
Honey Ourvol unt eerHoneyhasof t enbeent ol dbyherpeer st hatshei sagoodt eacher .Af t er spendi ngt i meatourBangal or eLear ni ngCent er ,sher eal i zedt hatacademi cswasonl ypar t ofherski l lset .Shet eachesherst udentt i memanagementski l l s,hel pshersetper sonal goal sandi si nvol vedi nmol di ngherst udent ’ sper sonal i t y .T oHoneyt hi si snotapar t t i me vol unt eerst i nt .Thi si shercal l i ng. Wi t ht hi sbondbet weent eacherandst udent ,i t ’ sonl ynat ur alt hatourst udent st ot hr i ve undert hement or shi p.AtoneofourBangal or ecent er s,ast udentr epor t edpr oudl yt hather New Yearr esol ut i onwast ospeakEngl i shf l uent l y ,addi ngt hatsheknowscandoi twi t hher akka’ sgui dance.Shehadputhert r usti nherakka( bi gsi st er ) ,becausesheknew t hatwasa saf epl ace.
Kapi l an “ Ever ycl assi sanew oppor t uni t yt of i ndcr eat i veandf unwayst ot eachmyst udent s,and t hi sweek,Iusedt hegame‘ Bi ngo’t ot eacht hem f i vel et t erwor ds.Theyhadanabsol ut e bl ast ,andbyt heendoft heweek,al lt heki dsatt hecent r ehadpi ckedupt hegameand l ear ntawhol enew setofwor ds!Thi sgoest oshow t hatsomet i mes,event hesmal l estof i deasr esul t si nt hebi ggestofchanges. ” -Kapi l an,Coi mbat or eLear ni ngCent er Kapi l anandhundr edsl i kehi mi nvestt hei rt i meandt al entt obet hechanget heywantt osee t hr oughourU&ILear ni ngCent er si n10ci t i esacr ossI ndi a.
Rebecca Af t eraf unandl ear ni ngf i l l edU&Icl ass,t heol derki dsatU&IMysor e’ sChayadeviTr ustgo t ot hei rchor es.Theysi tt oget herandmakedoughbal l sf orchappat i s;t heboyshel pout t oo.Buti tf eel st ooear l yt osaygoodbyet ot hei rt ut or s.Ever ysi ngl et i me,t heyaskt hei r t ut or st owai tal i t t l el ongerandj oi nt hem f ordi nner .“ Theyi nsi st ,somet i mesevenbl ackmai lus.Suchi st hei rl ove, ”says U&Ivol unt eerRebecca.Ourki dsdon’ thavet ogi veback. ButwhenU&It ut or sbecomef ami l y ,t heywantt o.
Yashas wi ni Yashaswi ni ,vol unt eeratU&IBangal or e' sLear ni ngCent er ,Ni r mal aVi dyal ayar eal i zedt hat addi ngcr eat i vi t yt ohercl assspar kedent husi asm i nherst udent sandyi el dedbet t err esul t s.Shei sgoi nganext r ami l enotj ustbyusi ngst or ybooksal ongsi del essons,butal so bymaki ngsur et hatherst udentappl i esconcept st hathei st aughtbeyondt hepr escr i bed t ext ,i nor dert ost r engt henhi sf oundat i ons.Shei sdet er mi nedt obr i ngoutt hebesti nher st udent s:" Someday ,t hesel i t t l ef eetwi l lgopl aces,l et ' sdoourbi tt osuppor tt hem. "