With plates in hand, children run to the bus. Every day it arrives in the slums of New Delhi to pick up local schoolchildren.
Inside, they teach and feed all those for whom online education is not available. Families in the area can’t afford computers or smartphones. Regular schools are closed because of the coronavirus pandemic.
“We want the children in these slums to understand that learning is the ticket to life. If you study, you can get a good job, which means you have a future and you can dream bigger,” said Ebna Edwin, coordinator of the Hope School Bus Project.
Lessons at the mobile school last two hours. The children are taught math, English and Hindi. There are outdoor classes as well. In addition, each child gets a hearty lunch.
“My children go to school bus activities. They have changed for the better and enjoy learning. I like that they are getting an education, because we want them to have a good future,” Mumtaz Begum expressed her hope.
TejasAsia, a non-profit organization, came up with the idea for the school buses. The project was launched before the pandemic, but in the current circumstances, it has become even more popular. According to UNICEF, nearly 247 million Indian children out of a million and a half schools are affected by the anti-pandemic restrictions.