Unveiling the inspiring journey with Pehchaan The Street School

On April 18, 2017, I came across a post with the description “Celebrating 2nd Anniversary of Pehchaan The Street School and if you want to join message on Facebook” as I was reading through Facebook postings.

I messaged “I want to join” on Facebook out of a deep-seated desire to help the world, and I received the response that you can join starting next week. While I was excited, I was also a little nervous to visit that location where I did not know anyone

A large group of young people were waiting at the corner of the metro station bridge when I finally entered the subway on April 22nd, 2017, but I said, “Let’s call them.” I dialled their number, and when someone answered, he was grinning and waving from that corner.

I set out on the street with that group, and as we made our way through the slum, we eventually arrived at our sukoon ghar, or “Pehchaan’s first centre.”

Amazing energy emanated from that location, and on that one day only, I felt a connection to it. I still recall a few children approaching me and saying, “Didi aaj hum aapse pad-henge,” to which I simply nodded and replied, “Okay.”

At this point, I had a realization that said, “How much you take for granted your life, Kanika, you have so much and see these children who are smiling even though they are denied the chance to pursue their fundamental right to education.”The experience changed my outlook on life since I realized how challenging life can be for certain people.

The next weekend, I returned there with that group, and this time I made a point of actively participating in all activities, from setting up the centre to wrapping it up. With every weekend that went by, there was a greater and greater desire for happiness and fulfilment.

I was assigned the duty of running the centre in the first week of June. I was nervous because I was the newest member of the team, but with everyone else’s help, everything went amazingly. I was praised for organizing one event for the first time, “Independence Day” in August and told, “I am proud of you.”I shared the same inner feeling that I had done something nice. Even when I received my first wage, I had never experienced this level of joy, yet it was as though I had passed a test.

From this point on, the transition from volunteer to responsible member began. Now, Pehchaan The Street School had became an integral part of my life, we worked incredibly hard to register Pehchaan The Street School in 2018. I joined this group legally, and it had evolved into another family to me where everyone was working hard to make Pehchaan The Street School even greater.

After registration, we worked incredibly hard to expand our reach by opening new centres and now we have 10 centres including one vocational centre in Delhi NCR. From small-scale to large-scale donation drives for school bags, blankets, and stationery, celebrating each festival with these children was a breeze for all of us. Numerous media channels covered Pehchaan The Street School, and we went live on 104 FM in the year 2019. These were a few moments that made us all proud, including me.

Pehchaan The Street School completed 8 years this April and with this, I have also completed 6 years of an amazing journey. I contributed very little to Pehchaan The Street School till now, but it gave me an“identity” of “Kanika Di” that I always treasure and am grateful for. Whereas most people spend their entire lives running around aimlessly looking for something to do with their lives, this school gave me a purpose for my life which will go wherever I go.

Inked

Last but not least, I just wanted to say: “Join this social cause and perhaps you will discover your own identity as I did.”

Website link below

https://pehchaanstreetschool.org