
Altaf Qadri / AP
Founder of a free school for slum children Rajesh Kumar Sharma, second from right, and Laxmi Chandra, right, write on black boards, painted on a building wall, at a free school run under a metro bridge in New Delhi, India. At least 30 children living in the nearby slums have been receiving free education from this school for the last three years.
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Altaf Qadri / AP

Altaf Qadri / AP
Rajesh Kumar Sharma, teach Somnath, an underprivileged Indian slum child at the school.

Altaf Qadri / AP
Students help to keep the school clean.
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Look at the intensity of these children.... how does this compare to children in the states?
No comparison. In the US poor children are pushed through the education system in a way that ensures they end up dumb workers. They are sucked into consumerism, ego, and classism early on in life. If these children were raised western, they would already be disenfranchised and dysfunctional.
Unfortunate that this is still hapenning. We r playing with the lives of children who r the future buildres of the nation. All praise to the teachers. Still if no action is taken by the governmnt; we need to redefine democracy
Does anyone know if there is an organization set up to help these kids? Is there a way we can donate them school supplies?
If you ever find out, I hope that you'll come back to this article and post it.
There is an organization called Teach for India.
I am trying to get in touch with Mr. Rajesh Kumar Sharma.. Once I can do that I will share the information with you !! I have been able to track down the photographer and have sent him an e-mail yesterday!
@TheYazi
Could you provide me with the email address of the photographer? I am looking to get in contact with Mr. Rajesh Kumar Sharma as I live in New Delhi myself. I am waiting for your reply or just email me at ranavikramart@gmail.com. I would really appreciate any kind of input from you.
Vikram Rana
ranavikramart@gmail.com
An incredible example of what it means to get an education. I googled to find a non profit arm for the Free school for slum children and founder Rajesh Kumar Sharma but can't find anything.
Hats off to organisers
Education is not the only part of the equation to solve the problem of this level of poverty. Birth control is essential. The world's poorest frequently have mutiple children. If these people do not have access to birth control and use it the problems are going to get much worse than what you see in the pictures.
Thank God for the poor not putting a dollar value on reproduction or their reproductive organs. Humanity is not the property of the Rich. Humanity does not exist only for the rich. The entire world was rich, and had plenty, until demons from the cold decided they should have the rights to own resources that belonged to everyone of the sun. Those who need to understand this will.
Mr. Sharma is truly a REAL LIFE HERO! Seeing these children there willingly, so focused, makes one realize just how badly children & they're parents in the states take public schooling for granted.
Are all the students male?
first photo, last row, from left to right... the second children I think it's a girl...
second photo, right corner, up, I think, the same girl...
Is there any way to send assistance?
I am speechless to such an initiative where the monetary gain is secondary, the future of the young slum kids are given more importance. Aam Admi initiatives park off like this....
Notice that there are no girls allowed at the school....
Who said there weren't any girls "allowed" in that school? just because there is an absence of something doesn't mean it was forbidden by the school. Without any facts don't make such a heavy assumption. They are doing a good thing -- don't try to spin it.
first photo, last row, from left to right... the second children I think it's a girl...
second photo, right corner, up, I think, the same girl...
Dang. Old article. Wish there was an update - would love to know if anybody figured out how to reach him. There are girls - and lots of them - in videos of this story.
Tis better to light one candle....
First, this is truly inspiring. As someone who is nearing 40 and in school to be a Educational Assistant, the looks on these children's faces reminds me of why I want to do it.
Secondly: There are girls. Not many, but before making negative comments that might portray what is happening in a negative light, you should look closer.
First photo, back left by the bikes, a girl is looking toward the camera. Second photo, top right, blurred, but it looks much more like those two students are female.
Regardless, this is awesome, and I am sure those kids feel like the luckiest kids in the world.
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Does anybody else find it strange that these kids are dressed so nicely yet they are from the slums?
When I saw this picture. I was curious to know who are the idiot that decided it's best to used all the concrete in this picture to build the bridge instead of a school for this children?
An eagerness to learn!