Highlights-
- Sandeep Mahto provides free education to underprivileged students.
- His NGO also helps these children in career counseling and trainings.
“Education is the most powerful weapon we can use to change the world”! One of the most famous sayings of Nelson Mandela justifies the importance of education. Education plays a most vital role in one’s life. But not all are fortunate enough to receive an education. Students in villages or tribal areas drop out of school owing to family responsibilities or other circumstances. To uplift the children from these areas, a man from Madhya Pradesh has come up to enlighten the education in such unprivileged areas.
Sandeep Mahto is an electrical engineer from Itarsi, Madhya Pradesh. He’d been offered a wonderful career, but he was determined to make a difference in the lives of impoverished and tribal children. Sandeep along with the team provides free education to these youngsters, helps them get into reputable schools, and provides guidance and career counseling.
How did the mission get started?
Sandeep claims that while studying, he discovered that the majority of poor and tribal children do not complete high school. When he began researching it, he discovered that due to their family background the children are unable to complete their education. Their parents do not have money, so they rely on their children to leave education and start earning. Following this, he realized that something needed to be done for these poor kids.
Started with 50 children
Sandeep founded Bharat Calling, an NGO that helped him open a school for 50 children. He started it with the help of residents of the village. Though initially, he had to face several problems in persuading the villagers, eventually they all got agreed with him. The number of children began to rise gradually. The team also went out of their way to reach out to children in nearby areas. Their enthusiasm in this grew, and children from the neighboring villages also joined the campaign. Sandeep began teaching children in those villages as well. Following that, gradually the team got expanded and it spread across the state.
Career counseling
“When young children reach the end of high school, they are faced with the dilemma of what to do next. The children we were teaching were having similar issues. Then we decided that simply providing education would not suffice. We must also advise the children on what they should do next and where they should go”, Sandeep.
Training for a better future
Sandeep began offering career counseling and coaching to children in addition to his academics. Then he set up free coaching to help students prepare for competitive tests. Arrangements were also made for students who required financial assistance to continue their education. Not only that, but they also provide children with fellowships. His campaign is also attracting children from other parts of the country. Aside from that, they also run children’s summer camps.
Guardian angel for many students
Sandeep teaches these poor children for free, helps them get into good schools, guides them, and provides career counseling. Many of his students are studying in medical and engineering fields. Some of them have also started working in good organizations. Sandeep has so far aided 48 thousand children.
Received various awards and recognitions
Sandeep has garnered numerous national accolades for his efforts. He has also received funding and fellowships from various sources. Not only that but in 2014, a documentary about his work in the unique example series was displayed on the KBC stage. Thirteen persons were chosen from throughout the country for this series. Sandeep was one of them as well. There he was complimented by Bollywood megastar Amitabh Bachchan.
