Why I Support Pratham

Interview with Dhruv Kothari

“I think education is the one thing that can’t be taken away from you. Even if you’re in the most horrible situation…, education can take you places… so I thought that if you can give education to one kid, that kid can become something really great in the world…”

– Dhruv Kothari

Dhruv Kothari is a 16-year-old high school student who became involved with Pratham soon after his parents told him about it. “I really found the cause interesting because it doesn’t cost much to help [educate] a child in India… so I really thought I could help” he said. 

“I do presentations with my friends and family whenever they come over to my house.” Dhruv’s initiative yielded swift results. In one week, he raised $420.

Dhruv mentioned his own education as part of what inspired him to get involved. “The thing is: I’m given such a good education in the U.S. and I took it for granted for a long while,” Dhruv said. He spoke emphatically about supporting Pratham’s cause: “I think education is the one thing that can’t be taken away from you. Even if you’re in the most horrible situation… education can take you places... so I thought that if you can give education to one kid, that kid can become something really great in the world. So if my $20 can help someone transform the world, then… you know?”

Dhruv continues to raise money in order to educate children through Pratham.  In July, he conducted a presentation at his father’s office. “That was the first time I did it out of my home,” he said. “I raised… $550 for that one… so I was really happy about that.”

Interview with Dipak Sarkar

“If I can be of some help in getting these children a better life, I’ll feel like I have done something meaningful… Lots of these children’s lives are changed because of the education they receive.”  

– Dipak Sarkar

Since March of 2002, Dipak Sarkar has been deeply involved with Pratham.  For six years, he served as president and has since then been working as a volunteer, primarily helping with fundraising. In 2003, Mr. Sarkar began visiting Pratham schools in Delhi, Lucknow, and regularly visits the program in Agra, his hometown. 

“It [is] very satisfying doing something for your hometown. Then, of course, when you meet all the children and the teachers, it’s very inspiring and encouraging. You see all the different circumstances they’re studying in, and many times they don’t even have a roof over their heads,” he said. “If I can be of some help in getting these children a better life, I’ll feel like I have done something meaningful… So many people get affected and they’re touched by the help few provide.  Lots of these children’s lives are changed because of the education they receive.”

Mr. Sarkar spoke highly of Pratham’s “mobile libraries,” a resourceful program that allows a child who has finished reading a book to select another one to read from the teacher’s book bag. Pratham also recognized the need for stories that reflected the children’s surroundings and used the local language.

Because there were not many books written in regional languages, Mr. Sarkar said, Pratham began publishing stories that focused on subjects drawn from the children’s immediate surroundings, such as birds and animals indigenous to the area. This helps the children become more interested in learning, and the more interested they are, the quicker they are to learn the material, he explained. “That has been a very successful program,” he said.

“We feel humble and satisfied that our efforts have resulted in so much good work… [with] so many children getting so much education out of this effort.”

Interview with Shailee Mehta

“When you give to an organization like Pratham, you know where your money is going… You’re giving [the children] a chance for a future; you’re giving their future a chance.”
– Shailee Mehta

Last year, Shailee Mehta and Raman Gulati decided to organize a dance show for young Indian-American professionals and wanted to donate a portion of the proceeds to a charity that they could feel confident supporting so they chose Pratham.

“When you give to an organization like Pratham, you know where your money is going,” Ms. Mehta said. Having worked with Pratham volunteers, she praised their swift readiness to help: “Everyone [was] very supportive and very nice. It was a good experience, and everyone was very helpful.”

Ms. Mehta also commended Pratham’s genuine work and dedication to educating children in India. “It’s a great thing, a great cause,” she said.

“With education…, you get to experience so much more. Your world isn’t just what’s around you anymore.” By supporting Pratham, “You’re giving [the children] a chance for a future; you’re giving their future a chance.”

Interview with Jalpa Shah

“Everything starts with educating yourself.”

– Jalpa Shah

Our volunteer spotlight features Jalpa Shah, who worked as an intern for Pratham in Baroda, Gujarat. During her five months of volunteering, Ms. Shah helped Pratham students improve their fluency in English. She described the bonds she forged with the children: “Every time I would walk through the community… they would just smile like they’ve known me for so long… It made me realize that I am doing the right thing because I impacted someone’s life.”

Ms. Shah also expressed her concern about child trafficking and cited children’s lack of awareness of their rights and how education is a major factor that could save their lives. “It’s always in the slums where children want to do more and want to get out so every opportunity they get, they take it and they don’t know that every opportunity is not the right opportunity. If they did go to school, and if they knew… that a person can’t put you in a car without your permission, that a person can’t take you somewhere without your parents being there – if a child knew, then certain things wouldn’t happen.”

Ms. Shah is a graduate of Political Science and Criminology and will be attending UC Hastings College of the Law in the fall.

Interview with Mohamed Hamir

“What Pratham does is it touches the people, uplifts the people, gives them opportunity.  Imagine the impact it has on society.”

– Mohamed Hamir

Since 2006, Mr. Mohamed Hamir has been involved with Pratham.  Mr. Hamir is a Pratham Los Angeles Board Member who advocates education as the key to creating a healthy democracy. “I very strongly believe that if we are going to build a civil, competent, democratic society, you cannot do it without educating your society.”

He poignantly spoke of the state of people in the slums of India: “All that is heartbreaking – when you see children’s lives absolutely wasted outright. What Pratham does is it touches the people, uplifts the people, gives them opportunity. Imagine the impact it has on society.”

Mr. Hamir described Pratham as a “very efficient philanthropy” as 94% of Pratham funding goes directly to the students and their educational needs. He also praised Pratham’s profound involvement and hands-on approach, including the development of children’s books, and dedication to educating people of all sects of society.

“This fits right into my own charitable contributions,” he said. “Supporting the cause of education is natural to me. You cannot create a modern society if you don’t have educated people – period… and Pratham does a fantastic job of educating the poorest of segments of society.”

Interview with Nehal Patel

“To remove the poverty in this world, the first step is education.”

– Nehal Patel

Nehal Patel learned about Pratham through Dhiren Mehta and Yogi Patel, whose presentation inspired her to give Pratham 25% of the profits made from selling her paintings.

“I believe in educating children, especially at the younger age.” Ms. Patel praised Pratham particularly for supporting females and because of Pratham’s motto: “Every child in school and learning well.”

“My goal is to get as many kids as possible… into school [and] helping as many women as possible,” Ms. Patel said. “Eventually, my goal is to take it to a level… to send thousands of children to school per month or year.”

Nehal Patel is an aerospace project manager at Raytheon. One of her pursuits is selling her artwork in order to support Pratham's work. Her art can be found at www.h2dvision.com.